Pine Bluff, AR- With all of the fanfare surrounding the 2012 Golden Lion football team, the long list of post-season honors are a true testament to the hard work that head coach
Monte Coleman, his coaching staff and his players have put in all season.
This has been an exciting time for football at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; the goal all season long was to compete for a SWAC championship along with a 10 win season. Both of these goals are in sight for the Golden Lions this year.
Because of the success of the team this year accolades have poured in from all over the country. The most notable of course is head coach
Monte Coleman, who is nominated for the Eddie Robinson award. The Eddie Robinson Award is presented to the national coach of the year in FCS.
Next up is
Brandon Thurmond; with his NCAA leading 16.5 sacks, Brandon has put himself in an elite group of football players. Thurmond is nominated for the Buck Buchanan Award. This award is given to the outstanding defensive player of the year in FCS. Thurmond was also selected a 2012 AFCA first team All- American.
Although individual efforts are rewarded, this is still a team game. The Golden Lions as a unit have amassed quite a few post season honors.
A nationwide sports service, College Sports Madness, recently released their 2012 SWAC All- Conference team. This listing is completely separate from the listing released by the SWAC office.
Monte Coleman was named coach of the year while,
Brandon Thurmond took home defensive player of the year. When asked about this honor Coach Coleman had this to say, “I want to thank all the people who voted for me at College Sports Madness. This will rank amongst some of the greatest honors I have received”, said Coleman.
On the first team All-SWAC for College Sports Madness the Golden Lions had six players to receive this honor. Offensively, Ben Anderson was selected at quarterback,
Ladarius Eckwood was selected at wide receiver and
Terron Armstead was selected as an offensive lineman. On defense,
Brandon Thurmond was selected at defensive line,
Bill Ross was selected at linebacker and
Ryan Shaw was chosen at defensive back.
Next on the second team,
Justin Billings was selected at running back;
Tyler Strickland was selected at kicker. On defense,
Damien Lee was chosen at defensive lineman;
Xavier Lofton and
Jer-ryan Harris were selected at linebacker.
Rounding out this list, on the third team,
Dennis Jenkins was selected at running back, Chris Wilson was selected at offensive lineman and
Andre Mitchell was chosen at punt returner.
For the official SWAC All-Conference selections, between the first and second team, the Golden Lions had 13 total selections.
Brandon Thurmond led way for the Golden Lions, being selected the defensive player of the year.
On the first team All-SWAC for offense Ben Anderson was selected at quarterback,
Dezmond Beverly was selected at tight end and Chris Wilson was selected at offensive lineman. Defensively, Thurmond was selected at defensive lineman,
Bill Ross was selected at linebacker and
Ryan Shaw was chosen at defensive back.
Tyler Strickland was chosen at place kicker.
Second team honors offensively are as follows,
Justin Billings was chosen at running back,
Ladarius Eckwood was selected at wide receiver,
Terron Armstead and
Kenny Eagle got the nod at offensive lineman. Defensively,
Robert Dorsey was selected at defensive lineman and
Jer-ryan Harris was chosen at linebacker.
The Golden Lions will depart on Thursday for a championship match-up, Saturday December 8
th, against the Jackson State Tigers in Birmingham, AL at Legion Field. The kickoff is set for 12:02 pm. This contest will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
