Scelfo, Allen claim Southland top honors while league-high 13 Lions earn All-SLC recognition

HAMMOND, La. – Led by Southland Conference Coach of the Year Frank Scelfo and SLC Offensive Lineman of the Year John Allen, the league champion Southeastern Louisiana University football program had a conference-best representation on the 2022 All-Southland Conference football teams released Wednesday by the league office.

Scelfo was named the Southland Coach of the Year for the second time after leading the Lions to an 8-3 record, their third SLC title in program history and first since 2014. The New Iberia, Louisiana native has guided SLU to the NCAA FCS playoffs in three of the past four years.

Allen, a Jackson, Mississippi native and SLU’s starting left guard, was voted the Southland’s top offensive lineman. He was one of six first team All-SLC selections for SLU along with junior punter Austin Dunlap, sophomore defensive back Jack Henderson, senior defensive back Ferlando Jordan, sophomore defensive back Zy Alexander and sophomore kick returner Gage Larvadain.

Larvadain also represented Southeastern on the second team at wide receiver and was joined by senior running back Carlos Washington Jr., sophomore tight end Ivan Drobocky, sophomore offensive lineman Dom Serapiglia III, sophomore offensive lineman Jhy Orgeron, freshman place kicker Riley Callaghan, junior defensive end Arlen Williams and sophomore linebacker Donte’ Daniels.

SLU’s 14 All-Southland selections (Larvadain occupied two positions) were the most in the conference, followed closely by UIW with 13, while McNeese and Northwestern State finished with eight apiece.

Beyond Scelfo and Allen, individual award winners included UIW graduate quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. (Player of the Year), McNeese senior running back Deonta McMahon (Offensive Player of the Year), UIW graduate linebacker Kelechi Anyalebechi (Defensive Player of the Year), Northwestern State junior wide receiver Zach Patterson (Newcomer of the Year) and Nicholls freshman linebacker Eli Ennis (Freshman of the Year).

The All-Southland Conference teams were voted on by the SLC head coaches and sports information directors. Coaches and SID’s were not permitted to vote for their school’s nominees.

No. 17/23 SLU will host No. 18/24 Idaho in the first round of the NCAA FCS playoffs Saturday at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium. Saturday’s game will be televised live on ESPN+ and can be heard live on Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM. The winner of Saturday’s game will advance to face No. 6 seed Samford Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. in Birmingham, Alabama.

2022 Southland Conference Football Individual Superlative Winners
Player of the Year: Lindsey Scott, UIW
Offensive Player of the Year: Deonta McMahon, McNeese
Defensive Player of the Year: Kelechi Anyalebechi, UIW
Newcomer of the Year: Zach Patterson, Northwestern State
Freshman of the Year: Eli Ennis, Nicholls
Offensive Lineman of the Year: John Allen, Southeastern
Coach of the Year: Frank Scelfo, Southeastern

First Team Offense
Pos. | Name | School | Cl. | Hometown
QB | Lindsey Scott Jr. | UIW | Gr. | Zachary, La.
RB | Deonta McMahon | McNeese | Sr. | Frostproof, Fla.
RB | Julien Gums | Nicholls | Sr. | New Orleans, La.
TE/HB | Travon Jones | Northwestern State | Fr. | Miami, Fla.
WR | Andrew Armstrong | Texas A&M-Commerce | So. | Dallas, Texas
WR | Taylor Grimes | UIW | Sr. | Godley, Texas
WR | Darion Chafin | UIW | Gr. | Wichita Falls, Texas
OL | John Allen | Southeastern | Jr. | Jackson, Miss.
OL | Caleb Johnson | UIW | Gr. | Mount Pleasant, Texas
OL | Evan Roussel | Nicholls | So. | Lutcher, La.
OL | Reid Francis | UIW | Sr. | College Station, Texas
OL | Calvin Barkat | McNeese | Sr. | Sachse, Texas
P | Austin Dunlap | Southeastern | Jr. | Slidell, La.
PK | Garrison Smith | McNeese | Fr. | Norwalk, Ohio

First Team Defense
DL | Chris Whitaker | UIW | Gr. | Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.
DL | Steven Parker | UIW | Sr. | Dallas, Texas
DL | Celestin Haba | Texas A&M-Commerce | Sr. | Columbia, S.C.
DL | Masry Mapieu | McNeese | Sr. | York, Neb.
LB | Kelechi Anyalebechi | UIW | Gr. | Pearland, Texas
LB | Kordell Williams | McNeese | Sr. | Carencro, La.
LB | Rodney Dansby | HCU | So. | Houston, Texas
DB | Jack Henderson | Southeastern | So. | Mandeville, La.
DB | Zy Alexander | Southeastern | So. | Loreauville, La.
DB | Ferlando Jordan | Southeastern | Sr. | Atlanta, Ga.
DB | Donte Thompson | UIW | Jr. | Pensacola, Fla.
DB | D’Ante Smith | Texas A&M-Commerce | Sr. | Richardson, Texas
KR | Gage Larvadain | Southeastern | So. | Donaldsonville, La.
PR | BJ Busbee | Texas A&M-Commerce | Sr. | Long Beach, Calif.

Second Team Offense
QB | Zachary Clement | Northwestern State | So. | Broussard, La.
RB | Carlos Washington Jr. | Southeastern | Sr. | Clinton, Md.
RB | Marcus Cooper | UIW | Gr. | Altair, Texas
TE/HB | Ivan Drobocky | Southeastern | So. | Bowling Green, Ky.
WR | Gage Larvadain | Southeastern | So. | Donaldsonville, La.
WR | Javon Antonio | Northwestern State | Jr. | LaPlace, La.
WR | Zach Patterson | Northwestern State | Jr. | Corinth, Miss.
OL | Dom Serapiglia III | Southeastern | So. | Jefferson Hills, Pa.
OL | Jhy Orgeron | Southeastern | So. | Galliano, La.
OL | Jimeto Obigbo | UIW | So. | Arlington, Texas
OL | Nash Jones | UIW | Jr. | Nacogdoches, Texas
OL | Caron Coleman | McNeese | Sr. | St. Louis, Mo.
PK | Riley Callaghan | Southeastern | Fr. | Ashburn, Va.
P | Brady Buell | HCU | Sr. | Traverse City, Mich.

Second Team Defense
DL | Arlen Williams | Southeastern | Jr. | Boothville, La.
DL | Perry Ganci | Nicholls | Jr. | New Orleans, La.
DL | Jomard Valsin Jr. | Northwestern State | Sr. | Port Arthur, Texas
DL | Jalyx Hunt | HCU | Jr. | DeBary, Fla.
LB | Donte’ Daniels | Southeastern | So. | Slidell, La.
LB | Tyler Jackson | Lamar | Jr. | DeSoto, Texas
LB | Dee Walker | Texas A&M-Commerce | Sr. | Moultrie, Ga.
DB | Jordan Jackson | Nicholls | Jr. | Prairieville, La.
DB | PJ Herrington | Northwestern State | Sr. | Natchez, Miss.
DB | William Hooper | Northwestern State | Sr. | Montgomery, Ala.
DB | Kaleb Culp | UIW | Jr. | Dallas, Texas
DB | Tyler Barnes | McNeese | Sr. | D’Iberville, Miss.
KR | Deonta McMahon | McNeese | Sr. | Frostproof, Fla.
PR | PJ Herrington | Northwestern State | Sr. | Natchez, Miss.

Southeastern All-SLC Individual Capsules

Head Coach Frank Scelfo | Southland Conference Coach of the Year
Named league’s Coach of the Year for the second time in his five-year tenure (2019) … Led SLU to third Southland Conference championship … SLU is part of NCAA FCS playoffs field for the third time in four years under his direction … Southeastern entered 2022 as one of six teams to finish ranked in the final top 25 in each of the past three years … Currently ranked No. 17 in Stats Perform and No. 23 in AFCA FCS Coaches … Only team to defeat No. 7 national seed UIW … Led Southeastern to a win over 9-2 Jacksonville State, which is in midst of transition to FBS.

OL John Allen | Southland Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year/First Team All-SLC
Starting left guard for the Lions … Graded out 92 percent or higher in all 10 games he played in …. Finished the regular season with 19 knockdowns … Named All-SLC for second time in career (2021 – Second Team).

P Austin Dunlap | First Team All-SLC
Leads the Southland Conference and ranks eighth in FCS with a 43.7 punting average … Twice named Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week …. Downed 17 punts inside the 20 and has 13 punts of 50-plus yards with a long of 64 … Three-time All-SLC (2021 – Honorable Mention; 2020 – Second Team).

DB Jack Henderson | First Team All-SLC
Henderson has been the most active Lion defender for a Lion defense that ranks near the top of the Southland in every defensive category … Credited with a sack and a forced fumble in 47-31 victory at Lamar … Intercepted a pass in 23-7 victory over Northwestern State … Made 10 stops in 28-27 win at McNeese … Finished with nine tackle in 40-17 victory at Nicholls … Named SLC Defensive Player of the Week after returning an interception for a touchdown in SLU’s 70-6 win at Central Connecticut State … Three-time All-SLC (2021 – Honorable Mention; 2020 – Third Team).

DB Zy Alexander | First Team All-SLC
Alexander finished the season tied for the team lead in interceptions … Returned a pick 47 yards for a touchdown in 40-17 win at Nicholls … Picked off a pass in 47-31 victory over Lamar … Named first team All-SLC for the second straight season.

DB Ferlando Jordan | First Team All-SLC
Led team in pass breakups … Two-time All-American was a key member of the Southeastern pass defense … Three-time first team All-SLC (2019, 2020, 2022).

WR/KR Gage Larvadain | First Team All-SLC (KR) | Second Team All-SLC (WR)
Southland Conference champion Lions’ most dynamic playmaker … Ranks among the league leaders in receptions, receiving yards, kickoff return average and all-purpose yardage … Named Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 45.5 yards per return in 47-31 win over Lamar … Caught seven passes for 137 yards in win over Northwestern State … Named first team All-SLC at kick returner and second team All-SLC at wide receiver for second straight season.

RB Carlos Washington Jr. | Second Team All-SLC
Leads team in rushing and tops the Southland Conference in rushing touchdowns … Seven of his rushing scores came versus conference competition … Rushed for three touchdowns versus Texas A&M-Commerce … Carried 23 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns in win over UIW … Also rushed for touchdowns in wins over McNeese and Northwestern State in first season with the Lions after transferring from New Hampshire.

TE/HB Ivan Drobocky | Second Team All-SLC
Leads Southeastern with six receiving touchdowns – four of which came versus Southland Conference competition … Caught two touchdowns in 40-17 win at Nicholls … Finished with three catches for 91 yards and a score in 28-27 victory at McNeese … Also caught a touchdown in 41-35 victory over UIW.

OL Dom Serapiglia | Second Team All-SLC
Starting center for the Lions … Graded out at 90 percent of higher in nine of 11 games … Finished the regular season with 31 knockdowns.

OL Jhy Orgeron | Second Team All-SLC
Starting left tackle for the Lions … Took over starting spot after two-time All-SLC left tackle Jalen Bell suffered a season-ending injury in the season opener … Graded out 90 percent or higher in seven games …. Finished the regular season with 13 knockdowns.

PK Riley Callaghan | Second Team All-SLC
Took over as starting kicker three games into the season and leads the Southland Conference with 14 field goals made … Twice named Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week … Made three field goals in wins over Jacksonville State and Northwestern State … Connected on two field goals in victories over UIW, Murray State, Lamar and Nicholls … Perfect under 40 yards … 4-for-7 behind 40 yards with a long of 47.

DL Arlen Williams | Second Team All-SLC
Second on the team with six tackles for loss on the season …. Tied for second in the Southland with two forced fumbles … Forced a pair of fumble and recovered one versus Texas A&M-Commerce … Credited with 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in 28-27 win at McNeese.

LB Donte’ Daniels | Second Team All-SLC
Leads team and ranks eighth in the SLC with 79 tackles … Twice named SLC Defensive Player of the Week … Posted 11 tackles and a tackle for loss in 41-35 win over UIW …. Recorded 10 tackles and the game-clinching interception in 28-27 win at McNeese …. Forced a fumble and recovered a fumble versus Texas A&M-Commerce.