KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Thirteen members of the 2016 Missouri Western football team were named to All-MIAA teams released Tuesday morning.
Highlighting Missouri Western’s selections were unanimous first team selections Josh Caldwell and Travis Anderson. For Anderson, it was his third consecutive first team nod as an offensive lineman. Caldwell became All-MIAA for the first time in his career.
FIRST TEAM
Josh Caldwell: The sophomore dominated the MIAA in his first season as the Griffons’ feature back. Caldwell led the MIAA with 1,408 rushing yards, finishing the regular season with 583 yards more than the conference’s second leading rusher. The Lee’s Summit, Missouri native was the only MIAA rusher to average more than 100 yards per game on the ground, finishing with an average of 128 per contest. Caldwell also finished second in the MIAA, averaging 133.5 all-purpose yards per game and his 10 rushing touchdowns were third most in the conference. It was Caldwell’s second honor this season after also being named a first team CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
Travis Anderson: The sixth-year senior became the first Griffon offensive lineman to earn three first team All-MIAA selections since Roger Allen. A stalwart at guard, the Derby, Kansas native started all 11 games for the Griffons in 2016 and finished his career with 40 starts on the interior of offensive lines that paved the way for two different first team All-MIAA running backs. Missouri Western had a 1,000-yard rusher each of the four seasons Anderson started on the offensive line. He also helped Raphael Spencer finish his career second on the MWSU all-time rushing yardage list.
SECOND TEAM
Max Oeser: The Griffons starting center for all 11 games this season earned his first All-MIAA selection as a junior. It was the second straight season the Springfield, Missouri native started every game for Missouri Western. Earlier this season, Oeser was recognized as a first team CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
James Huskey: The St. Louis, Missouri native picked up his first All-MIAA honor after missing the 2015 season due to an injury. The junior linebacker finished second in the MIAA in 2016 with 16.5 tackles for loss. Huskey recorded 61 total tackles with 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Donte Watkins: Now a two-time All-MIAA safety, Watkins led Missouri Western and finished sixth in the MIAA with 98 total tackles. Watkins’ 62 solo tackles were fifth most in the MIAA. The Blue Springs, Missouri native was also tied for the team-lead with three interceptions.
THIRD TEAM
Dijuan Ussery: The junior wide receiver from Rock Hill, South Carolina flashed his big play ability in 2016, finishing second in the MIAA with a 24.2-yard per reception average. Ussery’s 797 receiving yards led Missouri Western and were seventh most in the MIAA.
HONORABLE MENTION
Patrick Bolton (WR), , Blake Vandenberg (TE), Hayden Eatinger (OL), Daylon Harper (DL), Cody Lindsay (LB), Darrian Bass (LB), Tyrell Robison (LB)
Of Missouri Western’s 13 All-MIAA selections, 11 were underclassmen in 2016. The only All-MIAA selections from the seven-member class of 2016 were Anderson and Vandenberg.
2016 ALL-MIAA HONORS
MIAA Offensive Player of the Year – Kyle Zimmerman, QB, Northwest Missouri
MIAA Defensive Player of the Year – Sie Doe Jr., DL, Fort Hays State
MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year – Jaylen Zachery, RS, Central Missouri
MIAA Freshmen of the Year – Brenner Clemons, WR, Pittsburg State
MIAA Coach of the Year – Adam Dorrel, Northwest Missouri
First Team (Offense)
QB – Kyle Zimmerman, Northwest Missouri
RB – Josh Caldwell, Missouri Western**
RB – Shaquille Cooper, Fort Hays State^
WR – Jaylen Zachery, Central Missouri
WR – Mitchell Foote, Emporia State**^
WR – Levi Copelin, Pittsburg State
TE/FB – Jordan Grove, Northwest Missouri**^
OL – Chase Sherman, Northwest Missouri**
OL – Travis Anderson, Missouri Western**^
OL – Derrick Puni, Central Missouri
OL – Jarret Statsny, Emporia State
OL – Jamie Theiman, Northwest Missouri
K – Simon Mathiesen, Northwest Missouri^
PR/PR – Jaylen Zachery, Central Missouri**
**=Unanimous selection
^=Repeat First Team Selection
First Team (Defense)
DL – Eddie Vinson, Emporia State
DL – Sie Doe Jr., Fort Hays State
DL – Collin Bevins, Northwest Missouri**^
DL – Cass Weitl, Northwest Missouri
LB – Connor Harris, Lindenwood^
LB – Tyke Kozeal, Nebraska-Kearney
LB – Jacob Vollstedt, Northwest Missouri^
LB – Cody Heiman, Washburn
DB – Tevin Teamer, Central Missouri
DB – Raheme Dumas, Fort Hays State
DB – Kevin Berg, Northwest Missouri^
DB – Deron Washington, Pittsburg State
P – Carter Anchors, Pittsburg State
**=Unanimous selection
^=Repeat First Team Selection
Second Team (Offense)
QB – Garrett Fugate, Central Missouri
RB – Clay McKenzie, Central Oklahoma
RB – Phil Jackson II, Northwest Missouri
WR – Justin Brown, Emporia State
WR – Gary McKnight, Northeastern State
WR – Shawn Bane Jr., Northwest Missouri
TE/FB – Seth Hebert, Central Missouri
OL – Brandon Waggoner, Central Oklahoma
OL – Max Oeser, Missouri Western
OL – Codey Funk, Pittsburg State
OL – Bo Farrow, Pittsburg State
OL – Michael Miller, Washburn
K – Perry Schmiedeler, Washburn
KR/PR – Austin Panko, Pittsburg State
Second Team (Defense)
DL – Josh Powell, Central Missouri
DL – Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State
DL – Heath Wilson, Fort Hays State
DL – Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq, Washburn
LB – Kole Schankie, Emporia State
LB – Alex Schmidtberger, Fort Hays State
LB – James Huskey, Missouri Western
LB – Spencer Brown, Pittsburg State
DB – Monteze Latimore, Central Missouri
DB – A.J. West, Emporia State
DB – Donte Watkins, Missouri Western
DB – Anthony Lane, Northwest Missouri
P – Perry Schmiedeler, Washburn
Third Team (Offense)
QB – John Roderique, Pittsburg State
RB – Kenneth Iheme, Fort Hays State
RB – Luke Quinn, Nebraska-Kearney
RB – Cameron Wilcox, Northwest Missouri
WR – Connor Pulley, Central Oklahoma
WR – Dijuan Ussery, Missouri Western
WR – Bryce Chavis, Washburn
TE/FB – Kyle Swartz, Pittsburg State
OL – Chris Gomez, Central Missouri
OL – Sam Noble, Central Oklahoma
OL – Jordan Baldwin, Northeastern State
OL – Mason Dickey, Fort Hays State
OL – Ryan Huff, Northwest Missouri
K – Brandon Brown, Fort Hays State
KR/PR – Kendell Sparks, Lindenwood
Team Reflects Tie in the Voting
Third Team (Defense)
DL – Dalainey Taala, Central Missouri
DL – Deontay Wilson, Central Oklahoma
DL – DeAndre Glover, Emporia State
DL – Jonathan Harris, Lindenwood
LB – Dylan Albertson, Central Missouri
LB – Josh Monteagudo, Emporia State
LB – Kenneth Davis, Northeastern State
LB – Jarrod Bishop, Northwest Missouri
DB – Tre Dickerson, Emporia State
DB – Bakari Triggs, Lindenwood
DB – Edward Richey, Northwest Missouri
DB – Zach Franklin, Washburn
P – Stetson Broce, Missouri Southern
Honorable Mention
QB – T.J. Eckert, Central Oklahoma; Braxton Marstall, Emporia State; Jacob Mezera, Fort Hays State; Dimonic McKinzy, Northeastern State; Derek McGinnis, Washburn.
RB – Gabe Vandiver, Central Missouri; Jake Gandara, Central Oklahoma; Landon Nault, Emporia State; Calen Campbell, Lindenwood; Aaron Daniels, Lindenwood; Michael Rose, Pittsburg State.
WR – Kyle Echols, Central Missouri; Josh Crockett, Central Oklahoma; Layne Bieberle, Fort Hays State; DeSean Warren, Lindenwood; Deantrell Prince, Lindenwood; Scott Lathrop, Missouri Southern; Josiah Bennett, Missouri Southern; Jordan Morrison, Missouri Southern; Patrick Bolton, Missouri Western; Malcolm Moore, Nebraska-Kearney; Blake Holtmeier, Nebraska-Kearney; Austin Panko, Pittsburg State; Dre Washington, Northwest Missouri; George Sehl, Northwest Missouri; Brenner Clemons, Pittsburg State.
TE/FB – Reese Richards, Emporia State; Matthew Wendelberger, Fort Hays State; Blake Vandenberg, Missouri Western; T.J. Schieber, Northwest Missouri.
OL – Layne Fischer, Central Missouri; DeAndre Herron, Emporia State; Estevan Arana, Emporia State; Deshaun Lawson, Lindenwood; Mitche Moore, Missouri Southern; Hayden Eatinger, Missouri Western; Zach Beard, Nebraska-Kearney; Luke Browne, Nebraska-Kearney; Tyler Easter, Northeastern State; Ryan Dodd, Pittsburg State; Bob Marco, Washburn.
DL – Connor Flagel, Central Missouri; Carson Smith, Central Oklahoma; Donovan Walker, emporia State; Daylon Harper, Missouri Western; Tye Spies, Nebraska-Kearney; Caleb Mather, Northwest Missouri; Simanu’a Thomas, Pittsburg State; Trey Parker, Washburn; Spenser Matthews, Washburn.
LB – Jose Delgado, Fort Hays State; Cody Lindsay, Missouri Western; Darrian Bass, Missouri Western; Tyrell Robison, Missouri Western; La’More Wise, Northeastern State; Darian Morris, Northeastern State; Ethan Fugitt, Pittsburg State; Austin Tillman, Washburn.
DB – Diaron Rhodes, Central Missouri; Jackson Newman, Central Missouri; Rashad Dunningan, Fort Hays State; DeAndre James, Fort Hays State; Wesley Thomas, Lindenwood; Chris Goss, Missouri Southern; Ricky Green, Missouri Southern; Antwan Hadley, Nebraska-Kearney; Steffon Herd, Northeastern State; Devon Siers, Northeastern State; Jack Young, Northwest Missouri; Marcus Jones, Northwest Missouri; Corey Ballentine, Washburn.
K – Seth Hiddink, Central Oklahoma; Austin Morton, Emporia State.
P – Christian Fulham, Central Oklahoma; Justin Marcha, Emporia State.— MWSU Athletics —