Redhawks account for three positions on all-OVC first team

~ Casper, Jones, Simonhoff receive recognition from conference.

Southeast Missouri State's Edgar Jones, David Simonhoff and Adam Casper were named first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference Tuesday as voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

Jones, a senior defensive end from Rayville, La., led the nation in quarterback sacks per game and was fourth in tackles for loss per game. His 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss led the OVC.

Simonhoff, a senior punter from Coral Gables, Fla., is the first-team all-OVC punter for the third straight year, during which time he led the conference in punting every season.

Already a two-time Division I-AA All-American, Simonhoff averaged 44.8 yards per punt this year to rank second nationally.

Casper, a junior linebacker from nearby Anna-Jonesboro (Ill.) High School, was second in the OVC in total tackles with 108, including 63 solo stops. He tied for 25th nationally in tackles per game and tied for 11th nationally in solo tackles per game.

"I'm real happy for all three of those guys and they were all very deserving," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "In all three cases, numbers spoke for themselves. They not only had some of the best numbers in the conference but also some of the best in the country."

All three players should also receive serious consideration for All-American honors, particularly Simonhoff and Jones.

"I've got to think those two in particular, if you're dealing with numbers, should have a good chance of making it," Samuel said.

Special award-winners

Eastern Illinois senior tailback Vincent Webb and Tennessee-Martin junior tailback Don Chapman were voted the OVC's co-offensive players of the year, while Eastern Illinois junior linebacker Donald Thomas earned defensive player of the year.

Also, Tennessee-Martin's Jason Simpson was named coach of the year, and Tennessee Tech's Lee Sweeney was selected as the freshman of the year.

Webb rushed for 1,405 yards, while Chapman led the league and ranked ninth in the nation in rushing yards per game as he set a school record with 1,412 yards. He also ran for 15 touchdowns.

Thomas led the OVC in tackles with 127. He also had a league-high four fumble recoveries, and he intercepted two passes.

Sweeney, a transfer from Louisville -- he redshirted with the Cardinals last season -- led the league in passing yards (2,292) and touchdowns (17).

Simpson, in his first year at Tennessee-Martin, directed the Skyhawks to a share of their first OVC title as they gained their first Division I-AA playoff berth.

Eastern Illinois had a league-high seven players selected to the all-OVC first team, while Tennessee-Martin and Tennessee State followed with five and four honorees, respectively.