CLINTON, Miss. --- Derric Hawthorn, Detric Hawthorn, Marcel Newson and Cole Rotenberry have been recognized on the Gulf South Conference Football All-Decade Team, it was announced on Tuesday (June 16).

Rotenberry was selected to the First Team as a Special Teams Utility Player, while the Hawthorns earned spots on the Second Team. Newson earned an All-Decade Honorable Mention since the Choctaws weren't fully Division II eligible until his final season in Clinton.

Rotenberry (Batesville, Miss.) was a First Team All-GSC selection in 2019 as a Special Teams Utility Player after leading the league in kickoff return average (28.5 ypr). He also returned a kickoff 92 yards for a score in the victory over Shorter in 2019.

The former Northwest MS CC standout was MC's leading receiver in both of his seasons in Clinton, piling up 33 catches for 664 yards and six touchdowns. He caught all three of touchdown passes in 2019 in a victory over Florida Tech (Oct. 12).

Derric Hawthorn (Collins, Miss.) was also a First Team All-GSC selection as a defensive back, also earning Don Hansen All-American honors for his efforts in 2019. He led the Choctaws with 59 tackles, including 45 solo stops. He also scored three defensive touchdowns with a pair of interception returns and a fumble return for a score.

For his career, Hawthorn recorded 115 tackles with three interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He had 85 solo stops to go along with 2.0 tackles for loss and the three touchdowns.

Detric Hawtorn (Collins, Miss.) was a two-time First Team-GSC selection as an All-Purpose Back. As a senior, he rushed for 586 yards and nine touchdowns, also throwing for 635 yards and four scores with just one interception on the season.

For his career, Hawthorn rushed for 1,502 yards and threw for 1,310 more, while being responsible for 26 touchdowns, including 18 rushing scores. He was a finalist for the C Spire Conerly Trophy in 2019, honoring the top four-year college football player in the State of Mississippi.

Newson (Coldwater, Miss.) was part of the first recruiting class to come to Clinton after the move back to Division II and the Gulf South Conference. He was named an AFCA Division II All-American in 2016 and was a two-time nominee for the C Spire Conerly Trophy. He was also a First Team All-GSC selection as a wide receiver and returner in 2016.

The former Northwest MS CC standout is MC's all-time leader in career receptions per game (5.11) and single-season receptions per game (6.33 - 2016). He also went down as the top Choctaw in career all-purpose yards per game (146.2) and single-season all-purpose yards per game (180.6-2016). Newson finished his career with 97 catches for 1509 yards and 13 touchdowns in just two seasons, also returning a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in his career.

The GSC All-Decade Awards factored in the contributions from the years 2010-19 and were jointly selected by institutional personnel, coaches and league administrators.
 

---

Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and began competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.

The athletic department sponsors 18 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Men's and Women's 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.