Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football racks up all-conference honors
11/28/2006 | 12:00:00 | Football
Nov. 29, 2006
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Brandin Jordan was named Freshman-of-the-Year, while Arkee Whitlock, Will Justice, Craig Turner, J.T. Wise, Braden Jones and Lorenzo Wims each earned first-team honors, as the 2006 Gateway Football All-Conference Teams have been announced.
Jordan (LB), a redshirt-freshman out of Kenner, La., is the second Saluki to win the league's Freshman-of-the-Year award since 1999. He is SIU's leading tackler with 96 takedowns, a mark which led all freshmen in the conference this season.
Whitlock, who hails from Rock Hill., S.C., garners first-team honors for the second-straight season. A Payton Award finalist, he finished four points behind Youngstown State's Marcus Mason in the overall voting for the Gateway's Offensive Player-of-the-Year.
Whitlock rushed for 1,748 yards and 25 touchdowns in 12 games this season. He also broke several school records and rushed for over 100 yards 10 times. Whitlock posted three 200-plus yard performances, as well.
Like Whitlock, Justice and Turner are repeat first-team performers.
One of the best centers in I-AA football, Justice anchors an offensive line which has allowed the fewest sacks (12) in the conference.
A native of Cordova, Tenn., he leads a Saluki offense which also ranks second in the nation in scoring (37.08 ppg) and third in the nation in rushing (245.25 ypg).
Turner, a return specialist from Boutte, La., returned 22 punts for 330 yards and one TD. He also became the school's all-time career punt return leader in 2006.
Wise is from Farmersville, Ill., and graces the first-team after taking second-team honors at fullback a year ago. He ran the ball 14 times for 59 yards, while catching 10 passes for 73 yards.
Jones, who transferred from Northwestern in 2005, is SIU's leading receiver with 32 catches for 521 yards and seven touchdowns. A native of nearby Harrisburg, Ill., he also caught a pass in 17 consecutive games.
Wims, who hails from Ft. Wayne, Ind., makes the first-team after being named to the Gateway's all-Newcomer Team in 2005. He registered 48 tackles, including five sacks for a loss of 43 yards. Wims also led the league with 13.5 tackles for a loss of 64 yards.
In addition to SIU's first-team picks, Craig Coffin (K), Micah King (LB) and Brandon Bruner (DB) collected second-team accolades, while Jordan, Aaron Lockwood (LG) and Darren Marquez (OT) were voted honorable mention.
Jordan, John Randle (RB), Shawn Smith (OG), Chauncey Mixon (LB), Scott Ravanesi (P) and Andre Tillman (DT) represented the Salukis on the league's all-Newcomer-Team.
