CLINTON, Miss. --- Mississippi College senior wide receiver Marcel Newson and junior punter Matthew Turoctte have been named to the 2016 Gulf South Conference Football All-Conference Teams, it was announced on Wednesday (Nov. 16).

Both players become MC's first All-GSC performers since 1995 with the Choctaws being fully eligible for GSC and NCAA awards in the 2016-17 academic year following a three-year transition process from Division III and the American Southwest Conference. Newson is the first Choctaw to earn First Team honors since Kevin Gaughf earned the honors in 1995.

Newson (Coldwater, Miss.) earned First Team honors as a wide receiver and return specialist after closing his career as MC's all-time leader in receptions per game (5.11) and all-purpose yards per game (146.2). He also ranks 2nd in school history in average yards per kick return (23.78) and 4th in average yards per catch (15.56).

In 2016, the Northwest MS CC transfer led the GSC and ranked 5th in Division II in all-purpose yards per game (180.6) and led the conference in receiving yards per game (94.8). Newson caught 57 passes for 853 yards and five touchdowns, capping his career with 97 catches for 1,509 yards and 13 scores.

Newson was the only player in the country to record touchdowns over 70 yards in four different ways in 2016. He recorded a 95-yard kickoff return, 83-yard receiving score, 75-yard rushing touchdown and 73-yard punt return score in nine games this season.

Turcotte (Philadelphia, Miss.) led the Gulf South Conference, averaging 42.6 yards per punt in 2016. He punted 32 times for 1,363 yards, including a career-long of 69 yards against Shorter University. He also landed eight punts inside the 20-yard line and had seven punts over 50 yards.

Over his first three seasons, the Neshoba Central standout ranks 2nd in school history in average yards per punt (42.35), punting 110 times for 4,658 yards.

Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.
 
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
 
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.