By: Michael Goss
KENNESAW, Ga – Kennesaw State football received 15 all-conference honors after it posted a 10-1 record and an undefeated season in Big South Conference play.
The Owls placed six players on the Big South's first team and four players on the second team. Kennesaw State also won four of the league's seven end-of-season awards. With the announcement, KSU has won at least one annual award in the last five seasons.
Coach of the Year
For the third time in his career, head coach
Brian Bohannon has been named the Big South Coach of the Year. Bohannon won the award in 2017 and 2018 when the Owls posted back-to-back Big South titles. In his seven seasons, he has compiled 62 career victories and is one away from tying the Big South record.
Offensive Player of the Year
Quarterback
Xavier Shepherd earned Offensive Player of the Year honors after a record-breaking season. The Nashville native is the second player in Kennesaw State history to win the award and first since 2018. The sophomore tallied 14 passing touchdowns which set a new KSU single-season record. He also rushed for an FCS-leading 19 touchdowns. Shepherd is the only quarterback in Owl history to win 10 of his first 11 starts. The quarterback has thrown for 1,181 yards and leads the team in rushing with 836 yards.
Special Teams Player of the Year
Senior Kicker
Nathan Robertson was selected as the Special Teams Player of the Year and is the third Owl in school history to win the award. Robertson converted on 45-of-45 PATs and went 9-for-12 on field goal attempts. The senior kicked a career long 48-yard field goal at Robert Morris which set a new school record. Robertson has 213 career points kicking and is the 12
th placekicker in Big South history to surpass the 200-point mark.
Defensive Freshman of the Year
Linebacker
Garland Benyard made an immediate impact for the KSU defense in his first season and was tabbed as the Defensive Freshman of the Year. Benyard is the first Kennesaw State football player to win the award since
Bryson Armstrong in 2017. The linebacker started the last five games of the regular season for the Owls and totaled 28 tackles (14 solo), three tackles-for-loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one blocked punt.
All-Academic Team
Senior receiver
Caleb O'Neal was selected to the Big South's All-Academic team after recording a 3.43 GPA. O'Neal is majoring in biology and has started all 11 games for the Owls' offense. The senior caught a career-high five touchdown passes this season and leads the team with 314 receiving yards.
First-Team All-Conference Offense
Shepherd (Offensive Player of the Year),
Jake Lassiter and
William Nana Fabu were selected to the first-team all-conference offense.
Lassiter played the most snaps on the team this season with 808. He was a pre-season first-team selection and blocked for the nation's number two rushing attack. Lassiter was the only starter on the KSU offensive line to start all 11 games.
Nana Fabu started nine of 11 games and recorded 638 snaps on the offensive line. The senior bolstered the offensive line from the center position and started 27 games in his KSU career. The award marked Nana Fabu's second all-conference selection, as he was named to the second-team in the spring 2021 season.
First-Team All-Conference Defense
Evan Thompson broke multiple records this season and was honored on the first-team all-conference defense. The senior totaled 92 tackles (49 solo), 9.5 tackles-for-loss, one sack and three pass break-ups. Thompson set the KSU single-game record for tackles with 17 against Gardner-Webb and became the first player in school history to record 10+ tackles in four consecutive games.
First-Team All-Conference Special Teams
Robertson (Special Teams Player of the Year) and
Jacob Potter were each named to the first-team all-conference special teams.
Potter snapped for all field goals and punts on the Owls' special teams. The senior totaled 94 snaps and helped Robertson reach multiple KSU and Big South milestones.
Second-Team All-Conference Offense
Zion Katina and
Terrell Paxton were the Owls' two representatives on the second-team all-conference offense. Katina totaled 599 snaps and recorded nine starts at three different positions on the offensive line. Paxton registered 518 snaps and posted nine starts at left guard. Both were instrumental in the success of the Kennesaw State rushing attack.
Second-Team All-Conference Defense
Seniors
Travis Bell and
Chance Bates were chosen to the second-team all-conference defense after outstanding seasons. Bell led the team in sacks with four and added six tackles-for-loss. Bates finished second on the team in tackles with 37 (20 solo) and recorded one interception with a 27-yard return. The seniors anchored the Big South's top defense all season.
Kennesaw State (10-1, 7-0 Big South Conference) is back in action this Saturday, Nov. 27 as it hosts Davidson College in the opening round of the FCS Playoffs. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Tickets are available for purchase by
clicking here.
For more information on Kennesaw State athletics, follow @KennesawStFB on Twitter or like Kennesaw State Football on Facebook and Instagram
FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
OFFENSE
QB Xavier Shepherd, Soph., Kennesaw State
QB Tony Muskett, Soph., Monmouth
RB Narii Gaither, Jr., Gardner-Webb
RB Juwon Farri, R-Jr., Monmouth
WR Caleb Snead, R-Sr., Campbell
WR Lonnie Moore IV, R-Sr., Monmouth
WR Jadakis Bonds, Jr., Hampton
TE Julian Hill, Sr., Campbell
OL AJ Farris, R-Sr., Monmouth
OL Jake Lassiter, Gr., Kennesaw State
OL William Nana Fabu, Sr., Kennesaw State
OL Mahmoud Shabana, R-Sr., Monmouth
OL Tyler McLellan, R-Sr., Campbell
DEFENSE
DL Brevin Allen, Sr., Campbell
DL Shaundre Mims, R-Sr., Charleston Southern
DL Ty French, Soph., Gardner-Webb
DL Wallace Cowins Jr., Sr., North Alabama
LB Evan Thompson, Sr., Kennesaw State
LB William McRainey, Soph., Gardner-Webb
LB Garrett Sayegh, Sr., Charleston Southern
LB Eddie Hahn, R-Sr., Monmouth
DB K.J. Smith, Gr., North Alabama
DB Malachi Buckner, Jr., Gardner-Webb
DB Eddie Morales III, R-Sr., Monmouth
DB Anthony Budd, R-Sr., Monmouth
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Nathan Robertson, Sr., Kennesaw State
P Ryan Kost, Jr., Monmouth
LS Jacob Potter, Sr., Kennesaw State
KR Lonnie Moore IV, R-Sr., Monmouth
PR Eddie Morales III, R-Sr., Monmouth
SECOND-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
OFFENSE
QB Jack Chambers, R-Sr., Charleston Southern
RB Elijah Burris, Fr., Hampton
RB Parker Driggers, R-Soph., North Alabama
WR Dexter Boykin, R-Jr., North Alabama
WR Terrance Greene Jr., R-Sr., Monmouth
WR Cayden Jordan, R-Jr., Charleston Southern
TE Gene Scott, R-Sr., Monmouth
OL Zion Katina, Jr., Kennesaw State
OL Dacquari Wilson, Jr., North Carolina A&T
OL Gabe Thompson, Soph., Gardner-Webb
OL Brian Syracuse, R-Sr., Monmouth
OL Terrell Paxton, Jr., Kennesaw State
DEFENSE
DL Travis Bell, Sr., Kennesaw State
DL Lorenzo Hernandez, Jr., Monmouth
DL Ricardo Watson, R-Soph., Robert Morris
DL Anton Williams, Gr., Charleston Southern
LB Jacob Roberts, Soph., North Carolina A&T
LB Jamar Shegog, R-Soph., Robert Morris
LB Chance Bates, Sr., Kennesaw State
LB KeShaun Moore, Jr., Hampton
DB Tyrese Wright, Jr., Monmouth
DB Hombre Kennedy, Sr., Charleston Southern
DB Darion Slade, R-Sr., Campbell
DB TJ Comstock, Sr., Gardner-Webb
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Axel Perez, Jr., Hampton
P Joe Gurley, Gr., North Alabama
LS Ethan Ray, Gr., Charleston Southern
KR Josh McNeely, R-Sr., Campbell
PR Kobe Warden, Fr., North Alabama
ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Levi Wiggins, DB, Gr., Campbell
Hombre Kennedy, S, Sr., Charleston Southern
William McRainey, LB, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Brandon Richards, LS, Soph., Hampton
Caleb O'Neal, Sr., WR, Kennesaw State
Eddie Morales III, DB/PR, Sr., Monmouth
K.J. Smith, DB, Gr., North Alabama
John Davis, LS, Sr., North Carolina A&T
Trevor Hicks, OL, Gr., Robert Morris
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Xavier Shepherd, QB, Soph., Kennesaw State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brevin Allen, DL, Sr., Campbell
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nathan Robertson, K, Sr., Kennesaw State
OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Elijah Burris, RB, Hampton
DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Garland Benyard, LB, Kennesaw State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw State
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
K.J. Smith, DB, Gr., North Alabama
