WICHITA, Kan. – The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference is pleased to announce the 2024 KCAC Football Kessinger Division All-Division honorees and individual award winners, as voted on by the division's football head coaches.
Friends University and Southwestern College shared the Dr. Ted Kessinger Division title, both with 4-1 records against division opponents, and both 10-1 overall. The Falcons secrued the division's automatic bid to the NAIA Football Championship series, but the Moundbuilders also moved onto the postseason as an at-large selection.
Braden Howell of Southwestern College was named the KCAC Football Kessinger Division Player of the Year. Howell leads all of the KCAC and is tied for second in the NAIA in passing touchdowns (36), leads all of the KCAC in passing yards (2,649; ranks 12th in the NAIA), has completed passes at a rate of 69.4%, and has only thrown five interceptions on the year. He also has scored seven touchdowns on the ground on the season.
K'Vonte Baker of Friends University and Jalil Brown of McPherson College were named Co-Offensive Players of the Year for the Kessinger Division.
Brown ranks first in the division in total rushing yards (1,099), and leads the division in rushing touchdowns (14; tied with Luke Armstrong of Kansas Wesleyan University for most rushing touchdowns in all of the KCAC). He also has 38 receptions for 432 yards and four receiving touchdowns on the year, as well. His 1,551 all purpose yards on the season ranks sixth in the NAIA.
Baker ranks third in the Kessinger division in total rushing yards (895), and is second in the divsion in rushing touchdowns (13). He serves as the catalyst for the No. 1 rushing offense in the NAIA (4,552 total rushing yards for the Falcons, good fro 413.8 rushing yards per game). He also has 352 passing yards and two passing touchdeowns on the season, despite being in a run-heavy offense.
Bradley Myers of Evangel University was named the Kessinger Division Defensive Player of the Year. Myers ranks first all of the KCAC in total tackles (121), which ranks second in the NAIA. He also is tied for fifth in the Kessinger division in tackles for loss, with 10.5.
Jonah Edwards of Evangel Universiy took home the Kessinger Division Special Teams Player of the Year honor, Edwards has hit 14 of 15 field goals on the season (93%), with a long of 42 yards. He is perfect on extra points on the year; going 36 for 36. He is tied for fourth in total points (78) in the division.
Harley Blaske of McPherson College was named the Dr. Ted Kessinger Champion of Character award recipient for the Kessinger Division.
Friends University took home both coaching-related awards in the Kessinger Division. Terry Harrison was named the Kesssinger Division Coach of the Year by his peers, and the Falcons' offensive coordinator, Eric Kelly, was the division's Assistant Coach of the Year.
The full list of All-Division first team, second team, and honorable mention winners,
as voted on by the KCAC Kessinger division head football coaches, are listed below.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
| POSITION |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| QB |
Braden Howell |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Wichita, Kan. |
| RB |
Jalil Brown |
McPherson College |
R-So. |
Seagoville, Texas |
| RB |
Eric Williams |
Evangel University |
Jr. |
Irving, Texas |
| RB |
Elias Pino |
Friends University |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| FB |
Nick Cordova |
Friends University |
So. |
Atascocita, Texas |
| TE |
Harley Blaske |
McPherson College |
Sr. |
Sylvia, Kan. |
| WR |
Matt Holthusen |
Southwestern College |
Jr. |
Wichita, Kan. |
| WR |
Broc Lyle |
Evangel University |
So. |
Rolla, Mo. |
| WR |
Traven Lewis-Johnson |
McPherson College |
Jr. |
Montgomery, Texas |
| OL |
Kyree Watkins |
Friends University |
Sr. |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| OL |
CJ Anoa'i |
Evangel University |
Sr. |
Springfield, Mo. |
| OL |
Austin Tener |
Southwestern College |
Jr. |
Noble, Okla. |
| OL |
Kenyon Vigil |
Friends University |
So. |
Amarillo, Texas |
| OL |
Chris Foster |
McPherson College |
R-Fr. |
Enterprise, Ala. |
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
| POSITION |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| DL |
Zach Myers |
Evangel University |
Sr. |
Lee's Summit, Mo. |
| DL |
Jacardon Hardemon |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Bentonville, Ark. |
| DL |
Barrett Roads |
Friends University |
Jr. |
Wichita, Kan. |
| DL |
Ernest Ferrier III |
Bethel College |
Sr. |
Humble, Texas |
| LB |
Bradley Myers |
Evangel University |
R-Sr. |
Lee's Summit, Mo. |
| LB |
Isaiah Yehudah |
Southwestern College |
So. |
Wichita, Kan. |
| LB |
Noah Miller |
Bethel College |
Sr. |
Pond Creek, Okla. |
| LB |
Marquis Willoughby |
Friends University |
Sr. |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| DB |
Nehemiah Figueroa |
McPherson College |
Sr. |
Boyertown, Pa. |
| DB |
Nate Swofford |
Evangel University |
Sr. |
Ava, Mo. |
| DB |
Nolan Ewing |
Friends University |
Sr. |
Spring Hill, Kan. |
| DB |
Deago Stubbs |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
FIRST TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
| POSITION |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| UTL |
Jett Cheatham |
Friends University |
Sr. |
Enid, Okla. |
| UTL |
Christian Steward |
Southwestern College |
Jr. |
Brea, Calif. |
| K |
Jonah Edwards |
Evangel University |
Sr. |
Tulsa, Okla. |
| P |
Ryan Conner |
Evangel University |
Sr. |
Claremore, Okla. |
| KR |
Jamarie Jackson |
Bethany College |
Jr. |
Apopka, Fla. |
| PR |
Malaki Daniels |
Bethany College |
Fr. |
Junction City, Kan. |
| PR |
Drew Ripko |
Evangel University |
So. |
Mountain View, Mo. |
| PR |
Noah Roberts |
Southwestern College |
R-Fr. |
Stillwater, Okla. |
| LS |
Braelyn Jay |
Friends University |
So. |
Wichita, Kan. |
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
| POSITION |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| QB |
K'Vonte Baker |
Friends University |
Jr. |
Wichita, Kan. |
| RB |
Jarius Burnette |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Warner Robins, Ga. |
| RB |
Torriano Richardson |
Bethel College |
Sr. |
Detroit, Mich. |
| RB |
Martez Jones II |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| FB |
Cameron Harris |
Evangel University |
So. |
Springfield, Mo. |
| TE |
Josh Boyanton |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Mustang, Okla. |
| WR |
Bryce Chambers |
Southwestern College |
R-Fr. |
Scurry, Texas |
| WR |
Rafe Darter |
Evangel University |
R-Jr. |
Mount Vernon, Mo. |
| WR |
Josiah Buller |
Bethel College |
So. |
Inman, Kan. |
| OL |
Dominic Dawson |
Evangel University |
Jr. |
Mount Vernon, Mo. |
| OL |
Loggan Birch |
Bethel College |
Sr. |
Burleson, Texas |
| OL |
Haden Crawley |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Jenks, Okla. |
| OL |
Justin Clatterbuck |
Bethany College |
Sr. |
Salina, Kan. |
| OL |
King Moore |
McPherson College |
R-Jr. |
Dallas, Texas |
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
| POSITION |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| DL |
Kyair Warner |
Evangel University |
Sr. |
The Colony, Texas |
| DL |
Cameron Cornelius |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Cedar Hill, Texas |
| DL |
Lester Amos III |
McPherson College |
So. |
Alger, Ohio |
| DL |
Marco Torres |
Friends University |
Sr. |
Laredo, Texas |
| LB |
Joey Mars |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Piedmont, Okla. |
| LB |
Tate Seabolt |
Bethel College |
Sr. |
Cimarron, Kan. |
| LB |
Brandon Jones |
McPherson College |
So. |
Mobile, Ala. |
| LB |
Julian Carpenter |
Bethany College |
Sr. |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
| LB |
Khyree Marshall |
Bethany College |
Sr. |
North Versailles, Pa. |
| DB |
Gimarion Hutson |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Berkeley, Calif. |
| DB |
Josh Ciers |
Bethel College |
Jr. |
Houston, Texas |
| DB |
Kirby Lewis |
McPherson College |
So. |
Dallas, Texas |
| DB |
Robin Neely |
Bethel College |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
SECOND TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
| POSITION |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| UTL |
Kyle Cummings |
Evangel University |
So. |
Justin, Texas |
| UTL |
MJ Kuntz |
McPherson College |
Fr. |
Justin, Texas |
| K |
Cole Thompson |
Friends University |
So. |
Round Rock, Texas |
| P |
Kevin Dodd |
McPherson College |
R-Jr. |
Tecumseh, Okla. |
| P |
Cadon Clark |
Southwestern College |
R-Fr. |
Ark City, Kan. |
| KR |
Drew Ripko |
Evangel University |
So. |
Mountain View, Mo. |
| PR |
Kenyon McMillan |
Bethel College |
So. |
Salina, Kan. |
| PR |
Michael Lopez |
Friends University |
Fr. |
Wichita, Kan. |
| LS |
Caleb Higginbottom |
Evangel University |
R-Jr. |
New Castle, Okla. |
HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
| POSITION |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| QB |
Tristan Szabo |
McPherson College |
Sr. |
Sparks, Nev. |
| QB |
DJ Ciers |
Bethel College |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| RB |
Jett Cheatham |
Friends University |
Sr. |
Enid, Okla. |
| FB |
Josiah Hardrick |
Bethany College |
Jr. |
Oklahoma City, Okla. |
| FB |
Adryan Rodriguez |
McPherson College |
R-So. |
Amarillo, Texas |
| TE |
Brady Allen |
Evangel University |
Fr. |
San Diego, Calif. |
| TE |
Sam Becker |
Friends University |
So. |
McPherson, Kan. |
| WR |
Michael Young |
Bethany College |
So. |
Mansfield, Texas |
| WR |
Larry Cherry |
Bethel College |
So. |
Wichita, Kan. |
| WR |
Caden Lee |
Friends University |
Jr. |
Antlers, Okla. |
| WR |
Dillion Coleman |
McPherson College |
So. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| WR |
Kameron Hamid |
McPherson College |
R-Fr. |
Justin, Texas |
| WR |
Joe Smyth |
Southwestern College |
Jr. |
Palmyra, N.J. |
| WR |
Josh Edson |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Newton, Kan. |
| WR |
Ryker Grossner |
Bethany College |
Fr. |
Salina, Kan. |
| OL |
Ruben Almendarez |
Bethany College |
Jr. |
Harlingen, Texas |
| OL |
Isaiah Davis |
Evangel University |
Fr. |
Denton, Texas |
| OL |
Lukas Higgins |
Evangel University |
Jr. |
Nevada, Mo. |
| OL |
Kel Stroud |
Friends University |
Sr. |
Chapman, Kan. |
| OL |
Romin Jimenez |
McPherson College |
R-Jr. |
Arvada, Colo. |
| OL |
Calip Harjo |
McPherson College |
R-Fr. |
Okmulge, Okla. |
| OL |
Arnold Portillo |
Southwestern College |
Jr. |
Newcastle, Okla. |
| OL |
Christopher Shaw |
McPherson College |
Sr. |
Scotts Valley, Calif. |
| OL |
Dalton Phillips |
Friends University |
Sr. |
Choctaw, Okla. |
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
| POSITION |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| DL |
Humphrey Kakuba |
Bethany College |
Fr. |
Hickory Creek, Texas |
| DL |
Reese Bennett |
Bethel College |
5th Year |
Spring, Texas |
| DL |
Colton McCarty |
Bethel College |
Sr. |
Bird City, Kan. |
| DL |
Jaric Woodley |
Bethel College |
So. |
Manvel, Texas |
| DL |
Jacob Goad |
McPherson College |
Sr. |
Sapulpa, Okla. |
| DL |
Jaquez Wilson |
McPherson College |
Sr. |
Graysville, Ala. |
| DL |
Cam Fouts |
McPherson College |
R-Jr. |
Eddy, Texas |
| DL |
Carl Malvo Jr. |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Lewisville, Texas |
| LB |
Riley Childs |
Evangel University |
R-Jr. |
Nixa, Mo. |
| LB |
Andrew Arnold |
Friends University |
Jr. |
Antlers, Okla. |
| LB |
DreShaun Flowers |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
McAlester, Okla. |
| LB |
Corbin Williams |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Wichita, Kan. |
| LB |
Terry McCutcheon |
Bethany College |
So. |
West, Texas |
| LB |
Clayton Uber |
Evangel University |
Jr. |
Nixa, Mo. |
| DB |
Caleb Epperson |
Bethany College |
So. |
Maumelle, Ark. |
| DB |
Joey Sylvester |
Evangel University |
Sr. |
Mustang, Okla. |
| DB |
Brock Zerger |
Friends University |
So. |
Derby, Kan. |
| DB |
Sy Aponte |
Friends University |
Jr. |
Inglewood, Calif. |
| DB |
Chris Roshell |
McPherson College |
Sr. |
Grand Prairie, Texas |
| DB |
Corey McCoy |
Southwestern College |
Jr. |
Odessa, Texas |
| DB |
Britt Wittschen |
Southwestern College |
So. |
Springdale, Ark. |
| DB |
Avery Crawford |
McPherson College |
R-Jr. |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| DB |
Rodrick Edwards |
Bethel College |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| DB |
Erik Spring |
Evangel University |
So. |
Royse City, Texas |
| DB |
Kasey Lehman |
Friends University |
Fr. |
Fayetteville, Ark. |
| DB |
Kiare Worthy |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
San Diego, Calif. |
HONORABLE MENTION SPECIAL TEAMS
| POSITION |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| K |
Maxwell Barba |
McPherson College |
R-Fr. |
Chester, Md. |
| P |
Cole Thompson |
Friends University |
So. |
Round Rock, Texas |
| KR |
Kenyon McMillan |
Bethel College |
So. |
Salina, Kan. |
| LS |
MJ Kuntz |
McPherson College |
Fr. |
Justin, Texas |
| LS |
Nick Strong |
Southwestern College |
Sr. |
Dallas, Texas |
—KCAC—