Eight Panthers Selected All-Gulf South Conference

By Ryan Jones // November 20, 2013

Stapleton Co-GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year

FLORIDA-TECH-GSC-580

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – Florida Tech placed eight members of its inaugural football team on the All-Gulf South Conference Team, announced by the league office Wednesday afternoon.

Earning recognition was linebacker Chris Stapleton, who was chosen Co-GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year. Tight end Gabe Hughes and wide receiver Xavier Milton were unanimous first team selections. Quarterback Bobby Vega, guard Ramsey Sellers, defensive lineman Skylar Sheffield, linebacker Justin Arcune, Stapleton and defensive back Manny Abad garnered second team honors.

“All of our players that received all-conference were deserving of the award,” head Steve Englehart said. “I know they are honored to be recognized among the best players in the Gulf South Conference.”

• Chris Stapleton, a redshirt freshman from Navarre, Fla., finished the regular season tied for first in the GSC in tackles for loss at 11.5, tied for third with two forced fumbles and in sole possession of sixth in tackles per game at 7.9. He is currently second on the team in the tackles department with 87 and has registered two sacks on the season.

• Gabe Hughes, a sophomore from Lighthouse Point, Fla., has caught 19 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown. He has snagged at least one pass in all, but two of the Panthers’ 11 games this season. His two biggest games were against former No. 1 Valdosta State and then No. 24 North Alabama. He hauled in six passes for 43 yards against the Blazers and then five balls for 47 yards against the Lions.

• Xavier Milton, a junior from Alameda, Calif., has been the primary target for the Panthers’ quarterbacks this season. He is currently first in the GSC in receptions with 70, tied for second in receptions per game at 6.4, fifth in receiving yards per game at 69.2 and tied for eighth with nine touchdowns. He has caught 70 passes for 761 yards.

• Bobby Vega, a fifth-year senior from Miami, Fla., has made a significant impact in his lone season in a Crimson and Gray uniform. Compared to his peers, he is first in the GSC in passing completions at 202 and attempts at 325, second in passing yards at 1,857 and touchdowns at 13, third in passing yards per game at 168.8 and fourth in total offense at 163.1 yards per game.

• Ramsey Sellers, a junior captain from Wiggins, Miss., has been a staple on the Panthers’ offensive line at left guard. He has been a catalyst in the success of Vega and the Panthers’ running backs in all 11 games. In addition to Vega’s numbers mentioned above, he has helped provide the blocking for redshirt freshman running backTrevor Sand, who ranks third in the GSC at 80.2 rushing yards per game after totaling 802 yards in 10 games.

• Skylar Sheffield, a true freshman from Henderson, Tenn., has held his own on the defensive line in his first season. He has recorded 29 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack in 11 games. He is coming off a six-tackle performance in the Panthers’ 17-3 regular-season finale win over Webber International last Saturday at Pirate Stadium.

• Justin Arcune, a redshirt junior captain from Los Altos, Calif., finished the regular season tied for third in the GSC in sacks with five, seventh in tackles with 85, 10th in tackles per game at 7.7 and 11th in tackles for loss with nine. He posted double figures in tackles two times, recording 11 at Delta State and 12 at West Georgia.

• Manny Abad, a redshirt freshman from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has been tasked with covering the opposition’s top receiver this season. He has risen to the challenge and helped the defense rank second in the GSC in pass defense, surrendering just 183.9 yards per game. The unit also ranks second in opponents’ third down conversion percentage at 34.2. On the season, he has 29 tackles, two sacks, one interception, eight pass break-ups and has recovered two fumbles.

PANTHERS PREPARING TO PLAY IN FUTURES BOWL

This week, the Panthers are preparing to play in the first-ever Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division II Futures Bowl against fellow first-year program Alderson Broaddus.

The game, scheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m., will take place on the campus of Alderson Broaddus at AB Stadium in Philippi, W.Va.

Tickets for Saturday’s game are $10 for reserved chair-back seats and $5 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Alderson Broaddus athletic office at 304-457-6262.

• Live video and stats will be available courtesy of Alderson Broaddus at GoBattlers.com and via SpaceCoastDaily.com
• Jim Mitchell and Paul Van Scott will provide commentary of the game at FloridaTechSports.com/live

Complete All-Gulf South Conference Team

West Alabama quarterback Kyle Caldwell was named GSC Offensive Player of the Year. North Alabama linebacker Tavarius Wilson earned the conference’s defensive player of the year accolade.

GULF-SOUTH-300-2 Delta State quarterback Tyler Sullivan was selected GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year. Sharing the freshman defensive player of the year award with Stapleton was North Alabama defensive back Philbert Martial. Delta State’s Todd Cooley was chosen the league’s coach of the year.

GSC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:	QB, Kyle Caldwell, West Alabama
GSC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:	LB, Tavarius Wilson, North Alabama
GSC OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:	QB, Tyler Sullivan, Delta State
GSC DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:	DB, Philbert Martial, North Alabama
	LB, Chris Stapleton, Florida Tech
GSC COACH OF THE YEAR:	Todd Cooley, Delta State

2013 ALL-GSC FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

POS	NAME	SCHOOL	HT	WT	YEAR	HOMETOWN
QB	Kyle Caldwell	West Alabama	5-7	165	JR	Dadeville, AL
RB	!Cedric O’Neal	Valdosta State	5-11	203	SO	Dublin, GA
RB	*Javae Swindle	West Alabama	5-4	162	SO	Thorsby, AL
WR	Ricky Hunt	Delta State	5-10	175	JR	Sardis, MS
WR	*!Seantavius Jones	Valdosta State	6-3	200	SR	Tucker, GA
WR	*Xavier Milton	Florida Tech	6-0	190	JR	Alameda, CA
WR	#Chad Toocheck	West Alabama	6-3	212	JR	Medina, OH
TE	*Gabe Hughes	Florida Tech	6-4	235	SO	Lighthouse Point, FL
AP	Chris Coffey (RB)	North Alabama	5-8	200	SR	Decatur, AL
C	Tyler Sizemore	North Alabama	6-2	305	SR	Apalachicola, FL
G	Garrison Ushery	West Georgia	6-1	335	JR	Austell, GA
G	*#William Wright	West Georgia	6-3	310	SR	Pompano Beach, FL
T	#Taylor Burnett	West Alabama	6-3	271	SR	Spanish Fort, AL
T	*Brandon White	West Georgia	6-5	305	SR	Cincinnati, OH

DEFENSE

POS	NAME	SCHOOL	HT	WT	YEAR	HOMETOWN
DL	*Taylor Carney	North Alabama	6-2	275	JR	Killen, AL
DL	Mario Gainer	West Alabama	6-0	245	SR	Gautier, MS
DL	Ryan Jones	West Alabama	6-2	250	JR	Irondale, AL
DL	!Diego Lubin	Delta State	5-11	230	JR	Winter Haven, FL
DL	*#Lawrence Virgil	Valdosta State	6-5	290	SR	Quitman, GA
LB	Tyrell Adams	West Georgia	6-2	215	JR	Atlanta, GA
LB	!Rory Island	Delta State	6-0	225	JR	Waveland, MS
LB	$Gabe Poe	North Alabama	5-10	210	SR	Pheba, MS
LB	*!$Chris Pope	Valdosta State	6-1	233	SR	Jackson, GA
LB	*!Tavarius Wilson	North Alabama	5-11	225	SR	Jackson, MS
DB	*!Malcolm Butler	West Alabama	5-11	180	SR	Vicksburg, MS
DB	*!Caleb Massey	North Alabama	6-0	226	SR	Sulligent, AL
DB	*Demetruce McNeal	West Alabama	6-2	185	SR	College Park, GA
DB	Dominique Wheeler	Valdosta State	5-8	177	SR	Stone Mountain, GA

SPECIAL TEAMS

POS	NAME	SCHOOL	HT	WT	YEAR	HOMETOWN
K	Mark Grant	West Alabama	5-7	160	FR	Panama City, FL
P	Dominic DeMasi	Valdosta State	6-3	188	SO	Savannah, GA
RS	Michael Davison	Delta State	5-0	160	FR	Avondale, AZ
RS	Derick Seward	West Georgia	5-10	195	JR	Wheatland, CA
BT	Chase Penland	West Georgia	6-0	205	SR	Brooks, GA
UT	Mabry Cook	North Alabama	6-2	240	SR	Brewton, AL

!—2012 First Team All-GSC			#—2012 Second Team All-GSC
$—2011 First Team All-GSC			*—Unanimous selection

2013 ALL-GSC FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM