Vandeven, McRoberts, MuCullough lead seven Southeast Missouri State football players honored by OVC

Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz believes quarterback Dante Vandeven's selection as the Ohio Valley Conference's Freshman of the Year on Tuesday was a good representation of what type of team the Redhawks had in Matukewicz's second season at the helm.

Vandeven was one of seven Redhawks recognized with the conference's postseason honors, which are voted on by the OVC's head football coaches and sports information directors.

Wide receiver Paul McRoberts, running back Tremane McCullough, offensive lineman Garret Baker, linebacker Roper Garrett, cornerback Mike Ford and punter Alex Knight also received All-OVC recognition.

"I feel like people recognized we're a young football team, and Dante was a signature piece of that because he's a quarterback, so we're happy for him," Matukewicz said. "Paul and all these other guys really helped Dante get in that position."

Vandeven, a Jackson graduate, played the last nine games for Southeast and started the final eight of the season. He was also named to the All-Newcomer team.

Dante Vandeven

The true freshman compiled 1,568 yards passing and 11 touchdowns, completing 62 percent of his passes. He threw seven interceptions, with three occurring in the final game of the season.

His average of 174.2 passing yards per game ranked fifth in the OVC. He was also fifth in the conference in total offense, averaging 206.7 yards per game.

He rushed for 292 yards and six touchdowns on 87 carries.

"I just loved his demeanor, how he was on the sidelines," Matukewicz said. "He never made excuses, owned everything he did, competed every snap. For the most part there wasn't really, really poor decisions. There were a couple, but for the most part I appreciated his decision-making."

McCullough and McRoberts were both named first-team All-OVC.

Paul McRoberts

McCullough, a junior running back who transferred from Arizona Western Community College, was also named to the All-Newcomer team. He had just five carries for 22 yards rushing in the first two games of the season combined, but he was relied on heavily once starting RB DeMichael Jackson tore his ACL in the third game of the season.

McCullough finished second in the conference with 1,028 yards rushing on the season and had five rushing touchdowns. He also had 33 catches and was second in receiving yards for Southeast with 279.

He became the first Redhawk to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season since 2012. His 220 yards rushing vs. Murray State was the first time a Southeast player had rushed for more than 200 in a game since 2012.

"Tremane was a kid that no one really knew about that just worked his way into being all-conference," Matukewicz said. "He's a great teammate, cares about others, works hard and is tough as nails."

McRoberts was a first-team selection for the second consecutive year. He had 940 yards and nine touchdowns on 76 catches to lead the Redhawks. His 29 career receiving touchdowns is a school record. He compiled 2,435 receiving yards in his four-year Redhawks career, which ranks third in school history.

Tremane McCullough

"He just had an awesome career here, and we're so excited that he's going to represent us in the future," Matukewicz said.

Baker, who started all 11 games at left guard, was named second-team offense. The junior helped pave the way for the Redhawks offense that averaged 182.9 yards rushing per game, which ranked second in the conference.

Matukewicz was impressed with Baker's physicality on the O-line.

"He gets people excited because he'll knock some guys on the ground," Matukewicz said. "He's also a team captain. People respect and listen to him being vocal."

Garrett, a junior inside linebacker, was named second-team defense. He led Southeast in tackles for the second straight year and was second in the OVC with 106. He's the first Redhawk to record 100 tackles in a season since 2012.

He had 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, which was 10th in the conference.

Matukewicz was thrilled Garrett received the honor this season after not being voted all-OVC when he had 96 tackles during his sophomore season, which was shortened when he broke his leg and missed the final three games of the season.

"I think last year getting hurt coaches kind of held that against him and must not have voted for him, and this year they did," Matukewicz said. "He had an extremely productive year."

Ford, a sophomore cornerback, also was named to the second-team defense. He started all 11 games and led the conference with five interceptions to go along with 44 tackles, two for loss, seven pass breakups and a sack. It was his first season at cornerback after spending his redshirt freshman year as a wide receiver.

"He led the conference in interceptions and transitioned very well," Matukewicz said. "He still has two more years, so you just feel very good about that position, and that's a critical one and just to bring him back feels so good because most of those all-conference guys are seniors."

Ford was the only defensive back named all-conference that was an underclassman. Nine of the 11 all-conference DBs were seniors.

Knight, the Redhawks' junior punter, was named a second-team specialist. He ranked first in the OVC and fifth nationally with an average of 44.8 yards per punt.

He punted 64 times on the season and had 29 land inside the 20-yard line. His season-long was 65 yards, which was one of three that went 60 yards or more. He had 18 punts of 50 yards or more.

"He's not a household name, but I can tell you he's as important to our success as anybody," Matukewicz said. "I mean the wind that we had this last game and the job that he did is amazing. He's Top 10 in the whole entire country but second-team in our conference so that was disappointing, but I also feel like there's some really good punters in our conference."

Jacksonville State junior quarterback Eli Jenkins was named the OVC's Offensive Player of the Year and Gamecocks' coach John Grass was named the league's Coach of the Year for the second straight year.

Eastern Illinois senior defensive tackle Dino Fanti and Eastern Kentucky junior defensive end Noah Spence shared OVC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

All-Ohio Valley Conference team

The 2015 All-Ohio Valley Conference team and awards as voted on by coaches and sports information directors and released Tuesday:

OVC Offensive Player of the Year: QB Eli Jenkins, Jacksonville St.

OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Year: DT Dino Fanti, E. Illinois

OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Year: DE Noah Spence, E. Kentucky

OVC Freshman of the Year: QB Dante Vandeven, SE Missouri

Roy Kidd OVC Coach of the Year: John Grass, Jacksonville St.

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

QB -- Eli Jenkins, Jacksonville St.

RB -- Troymaine Pope, Jacksonville St.

RB -- Tremane McCullough, SE Missouri

WR -- Paul McRoberts, SE Missouri

WR -- Josh Barge, Jacksonville St.

TE -- Ben Madon, E. Kentucky

C -- Casey Dunn, Jacksonville St.

OG -- Adam Wright, Jacksonville St.

OG -- Blake Burks, Jacksonville St.

OT -- Justin Lea, Jacksonville St.

OT -- Brett Eyckmans, E. Kentucky

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

DL -- Noah Spence, E. Kentucky

DL -- Dino Fanti, E. Illinois

DL -- Chris Landrum, Jacksonville St.

DL -- Ebenezer Ogundeko, Tennessee St.

LB -- Kamu Grugier-Hill, E. Illinois

LB -- Dawson Wells, Jacksonville St.

LB -- Tra'Darius Goff, Tennessee Tech

DB -- Jourdan Wickliffe, E. Illinois

DB -- Brandon Bender, Jacksonville St.

DB -- Jermaine Hough, Jacksonville St.

DB -- Folo Johnson, Jacksonville St.

SPECIALISTS

K -- Lucas Williams, E. Kentucky

P -- Keith Wrzuszczak, E. Kentucky

SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE

QB -- KD Humphries, Murray St.

QB -- Jarod Neal, UT Martin

RB -- Devin Church, E. Illinois

RB -- Roman Clay, Murray St.

WR -- Brock McCoin, Tennessee Tech

WR -- Rod Wright, UT Martin

WR -- Patrick Smith, Tennessee St.

TE -- Jesse Blackburn, Murray St.

C -- Charles Mouton, Tennessee Tech

OG -- Jessamen Dunker, Tennessee St.

OG -- Garret Baker, SE Missouri

OT -- Jackson Roberts, UT Martin

OT -- Jimmy Lowery, E. Illinois

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE

DL -- Devaunte Sigler, Jacksonville St.

DL -- Darius Jackson, Jacksonville St.

DL -- Bryce Krebs, E. Kentucky

DL -- Damani Taylor, UT Martin

LB -- Chris Kelly, E. Kentucky

LB -- Marquise Piton, E. Kentucky

LB -- Roper Garrett, SE Missouri

DB -- Marquis Clemons, UT Martin

DB -- Maleek Hall, Tennessee Tech

DB -- Dylan Chatman, E. Illinois

DB -- DeQuinten Spraggins, Murray St.

DB -- Mike Ford, SE Missouri

SECOND-TEAM SPECIALISTS

K -- Jackson Redditt, UT Martin

P -- Alex Knight, SE Missouri

RS -- Lawon DeBardelaben, Jacksonville St.

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM

RB -- Kendall Morris, Austin Peay

RB -- Devin Church, E. Illinois

DB -- Dylan Chatman, E. Illinois

RB -- Ethan Thomas, E. Kentucky

DE -- Noah Spence, E. Kentucky

DL -- Desmond Owino, Jacksonville St.

LB -- Joel McCandless, Jacksonville St.

RB -- Tremane McCullough, SE Missouri

QB -- Dante Vandeven, SE Missouri

DE -- Ebenezer Ogundeko, Tennessee St.

QB -- O'Shay Ackerman-Carter, Tennessee St.

WR -- Patrick Smith, Tennessee St.

DE -- Damani Taylor, UT Martin