BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Gulf South Conference announced its all-conference and annual individual awards following the 2023 football season, as voted by league's head coaches.

Mississippi College had four members of the 2023 squad named to the All-GSC Team's with Michael Shine receiving 1st Team honors, with Marcus Williams, Jason Betz, and Andrew Studer being tabbed to the 2nd Team.

Shine led the conference and broke the Mississippi College record for average yards per punt with 43.7 yards per punt. Marcus Williams was selected 2nd Team running back and return specialist after posting 851 rushing yards on 143 attempts, averaging 6.0 yards per carry, with three touchdowns. He also had 22 kickoff returns for 530 kickoff return yards and one touchdown for 95 yards. 

Jason Betz led the GSC with 84 total tackles with 53 solo tackles and 31 assisted tackles. He also tallied one sack, one forced fumble, and four tackles for loss. Andrew Studer was named 2nd Team by the GSC after serving the season as the Choctaws long snapper.

Delta State, the conference's co-champion, claimed two of the five annual awards as quarterback Patrick Shegog was named GSC Offensive Player of the Year, while Todd Cooley received Coach of the Year honors. West Florida also garnered two awards as defensive linesman John McMullen was named GSC Defensive Player of the Year, while linebacker Ralph Ortiz was named Defensive Freshman of the Year. West Georgia quarterback Cameran Brown received Offensive Freshman of the Year accolades.

In All-GSC voting, Delta State had a league-best 14 honorees including eight First Team selections. West Florida had 12 overall nods, followed by North Greenville, Valdosta State, West Alabama, Mississippi College, Shorter and Chowan. All nine football members were represented with at least one honoree, with a total of 66 student-athletes recognized.

ALL-GSC TEAMS (PDF)

Shegog became the 10th player in conference-history since 1971 to be earn the league's top offensive honors in back-to-back seasons. He is also the first Statesmen to accomplish consecutive awards since GSC Hall of Famer Scott Eyster. The graduate signal caller finished the season as the league-leader in passing efficiency (162.6) and interceptions thrown (2). A dual-threat, Shegog accounted for 2,740 total yards of offense, third among GSC leaders, as he threw for 2,194 yards and added 546 yards on the ground. Shegog was also GSC leaders in rushing touchdowns (1st/11), passing touchdowns (T2nd/25), passing completion (3rd/.615), passing yards (4th), and rushing yards (9th).

McMullen collected the conference's top defensive laurels, after finishing the season with a league-high 12.5 sacks, including 11 solos, for 80 yards. As a result, the graduate defensive lineman became the first West Florida recipient of the award. He also recored 44 tackles with 32 solo stops, 21 tackles for loss accounting for 108 yards, and three forced fumbles. As of the end of the regular season, McMullen's season sack total placed him fifth all-time among GSC leaders.

Brown was named the GSC's top offensive freshman accolades after picking up three weekly freshman awards during the season. The redshirt-rookie appeared in nine games for West Georgia as he completed 82-of-151 passes for 914 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. The dual-threat quarterback though also contributed on the ground rushing for 478 yards, averaging 6.3 per carry, while scoring six touchdowns. As a result, Brown was among conference leaders in a number of categories including rushing yards per carry (4th/6.3), passing completion (6th/.543), total yards of offense (7th/1,392), and total passing yards (8th). He is the second UWG recipient of the award and the first 2010 (Brandon White).

Ortiz earned top freshman defensive honors after a solid debut season campaign for the Argonauts. A three-time GSC Freshman of the Week honoree, Ortiz finished the season with 35 tackles, good for fifth among UWF leaders. He also recorded 11 solo stops, six tackles for loss and one sack. Among GSC leaders, the redshirt-rookie linebacker was tied-fourth with three interceptions and was one of just five players with a pick-six. Ortiz is the first West Florida recipient of the award since Trent Archie (2016).

For the fourth time in his career, Cooley received the conference's top coaching honors, moving him into a tie all-time with Jim Fuller and GSC Hall of Famer Bobby Wallace. The Statesmen's head coach led the team to a share of their second consecutive GSC title as they finished 7-1, with a 9-1 record overall, en route to reaching the NCAA postseason as the No. 2-seed in Super Region 2. Under his guidance, Delta State also led the conference in points per game (43.5) and total offensive yards per game (464.2).

For the full list of 2023 GSC All-GSC Teams and yearly awards, click here.

Delta State, Valdosta State and West Florida will represent the GSC in the 2023 NCAA Division II Football Championship and Super Region 2 action beginning Saturday. It is the ninth-consecutive season the conference has had two or more in the NCAA postseason and the 15th-time since 2000 at least three teams participated.

2023 GSC FOOTBALL AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Shegog, Delta State
Defensive Player of the Year: John McMullen, West Florida
Offensive Freshman of the Year: Cameran Brown, West Georgia
Defensive Freshman of the Year: Ralph Ortiz, West Florida
Coach of the Year: Todd Cooley, Delta State

First Team All-GSC*
Offense
QB: Patrick Shegog, Delta State#
RB: Corey Watkins, North Greenville!
RB: Rajaez Mosley, West Georgia
AP: Justus Durant, Shorter
WR: John Jiles, West Florida
WR: B.K. Smith, Valdosta State!
WR: Caden Leggett, West Florida#
WR: Terrill Cole, West Georgia!
TE: John Dietl III, Shorter
C: David Bodden, West Georgia!$
G: Keshawn Jennings, Delta State
G: Jaelon Brown, Delta State
G: Nymonta Doucoure, West Florida
T: Jacob Bruce, West Florida!@
T: Gavin Campbell Delta State
Defense
DL: John McMullen, West Florida
DL: Traevon Mitchell, Chowan
DL: Davonchae Bryant, West Alabama#
DL: Davonta Jackson, West Alabama
LB: Trevon Stanford, West Alabama!
LB: Gael Laurent, West Florida
LB: Jamarcus Smith, West Alabama
LB: Xavier Robinson, West Georgia!
DB: Deontae Overstreet, West Georgia#@
DB: Malik Jones, Delta State#
DB: Jacob Harris, Valdosta State
DB: Quincy Milhomme, West Florida
Special Teams
K: Nick Herber, Delta State#
P: Michael Shine, Mississippi College
RS: Alonso Franklin, Delta State
UTL: Robbie Evans, Delta State
UTL: Jaevan West, West Georgia
* roster expanded due to tie in voting
# 2022 First Team All-GSC
! 2022 Second Team All-GSC
@ 2021 First Team All-GSC
$ 2021 Second Team All-GSC

Second Team All-GSC*
Offense
QB: Sammy Edwards, Valdosta State
RB: Marcus Williams, Mississippi College
RB: Kelvin Smith, Delta State
AP: Alonso Franklin, Delta State
AP: CJ Wilson, West Florida
WR: Dre' Williams, North Greenville$
WR: Darius Nalls, West Alabama
WR: Council Allen, Valdosta State
WR: Jalen May, Delta State
TE: Noah Gillan, Valdosta State
C: Nolan Troyer, Jr., Delta State
G: Lewis McBeth, North Greenville!
G: Colton Beasley, West Florida
T: Devin Hannan, Valdosta State
T: Marvin James, West Georgia
Defense
DL: Timaje Porter, Delta State#
DL: Bryon Puryear, West Florida
DL: Keondre Williams, West Georgia
DL: Jacob Dorn, West Florida
LB: De'Iveon Donald, North Greenville#$
LB: Marc Harris, Shorter
LB: Walker Robinson, West Florida
LB: Jason Betz, Mississippi College
DB: Shamar Lewis, West Alabama#
DB: EJ Bradford, North Greenville
DB: Kyle Cass, Valdosta State
DB: Thomas Trey, Shorter
DB: Marlon Windham, Delta State!
Special Teams
K: Colin Karhu, North Greenville
P: Lance Calcutt, North Greenville
RS: Marcus Williams, Mississippi College
UTL: Jerrick Foster, North Greenville
UTL: Cody Earle, Shorter
UTL: Andrew Studer, Mississippi College