Football Quintet Named All-Conference By College Sports Madness
Dec 17, 2014 | Football
NEW ORLEANS - Five Tulane University football standouts claimed All-American Athletic Conference honors by College Sports Madness as the national website tabbed junior cornerback Lorenzo Doss to the first team, senior offensive tackle Sean Donnelly and redshirt-freshman cornerback Parry Nickerson to the second team, and both junior defensive end Royce LaFrance and senior safety Sam Scofield to the third team.
Each of the five Green Wave honorees played in all 12 games during the 2014 season with Doss, Donnelly and Scofield starting each contest. The College Sports Madness honor is the second for two of the 2014 Tulane selections as Doss repeats as a first-team member from 2013 while Donnelly earned a spot on the third team a year ago.
The College Sports Madness listing comes out one week after the league coaches voted Doss and Scofield second-team All-American Athletic Conference while the duo of Nickerson and sophomore linebacker Nico Marley garnered honorable-mention recognition.
A native of the Crescent City and 2012 graduate of nearby St. Augustine High School, Doss led the team with nine pass break-ups (9) while ranking fourth on the squad with three interceptions, tied for fourth with one sack, fifth with 48 tackles (36 solo, 12 assists) and tied for sixth with 5.0 tackles for loss. He ranked tied for fifth in The American in passes defended per game (1.00) and tied for eighth in interceptions per outing (0.3).
Doss pulled down an interception, broke up a pass and posted three tackles on three occasions: all solo with 2.0 tackles for loss at Rutgers on Sept. 27; 2 solo, 1 assist vs UConn on Oct. 11; and 2 solo, 1 assist vs Temple on Dec. 6. In addition, he tallied a career-high seven tackles twice: 5 solo, 2 assists with a tackle for loss vs Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 13 and 2 solo, 5 assists at Duke on Sept. 20
The third-year standout also posted five solo stops and a pass break-up vs Cincinnati on Oct. 31 and at East Carolina on Nov. 22, tallied four tackles on two occasions - 2 solo, 2 assists at Tulsa on Aug. 28 and all solo vs Georgia Tech on Sept. 6 - and added three stops twice - 2 solo, 1 assists with a sack and a pass break-up at Houston on Nov. 8, and all solo with two pass break-ups and a tackle for loss vs Memphis on Nov. 15. Doss also logged a solo tackle and a pass break-up at UCF on Oct. 18.
Donnelly started all 12 games at right tackle as a senior and the native of Pelham, N.Y., helped the Green Wave offense average 346.8 yards per game (145.5 rushing, 201.2 passing). He helped Tulane running backs post 100-yard rushing efforts four times - including a 200-yard effort - and quarterbacks post 300-plus passing yards once. Along the way, Tulane saw three different running backs surpass the 100-yard mark in 2014, marking the first time that happened since 1998.
Donnelly was instrumental in a pair of 200-yard team rushing performances with a 254-yard effort at Tulsa on Aug. 28 and a 231-yard showing at Duke on Sept. 20. In addition, his pass protection helped the Green Wave throw for a season-best 301 yards at East Carolina on Nov. 22.
Nickerson started 11 of the 12 games in 2014 at cornerback and led the Green Wave with six interceptions while sitting second with six pass break-ups, tied for third with one fumble recovery and fourth with 51 tackles (40 solo, 11 assists) to go with 2.5 tackles for loss. His six picks rank tied for seventh in Tulane single-season history and stands as the most ever by a Green Wave freshman.
The 2013 West Jefferson High School graduate and native of nearby Terrytown, La., ranks second in The American in interceptions per game (0.50), tied for fifth in passes defended per outing (1.00) and tied for 48th in tackles per game (4.2) while sitting tied for seventh nationally in interceptions per contest.
He tallied a career-high eight tackles (6 solo, 2 assists) at East Carolina on Nov. 22, and was named American and Louisiana Defensive Player of the week and was tabbed honorable-mention defensive back of the week by the College Sports Performance Awards after recording seven tackles (3 solo, 4 assists) and a pair of interceptions to go with half a tackle for loss at Houston on Nov. 8, and also had seven stops (6 solo, 1 assist) with a season-best two pass break-ups and a fumble recovery vs Memphis on Nov. 15.
Nickerson tallied six tackles (all solo) and a pass break-up vs UConn on Oct. 11 and had five tackles and an interception twice - 4 solo, 1 assist at Tulsa on Aug 28 and 3 solo, 2 assists at UCF on Oct. 18. He added two tackles and an interception twice vs Georgia Tech on Sept. 6 and vs Cincinnati on Oct. 31 and wrapped up the 2014 campaign with five solo stops, including a tackle for loss, and a pair of pass break-ups vs Temple on Dec. 6.
LaFrance, who started the final 11 games of the 2014 campaign at defensive end, led the Green Wave with 6.0 sacks while sitting tied for first with two forced fumbles, third with 11.0 tackles for loss, tied for third with a fumble recovery, tied for sixth with a pair of pass break-ups and 10th with 34 tackles (19 solo, 15 assists).
A native of nearby Harvey, La., and a 2012 graduate of Helen Cox High School, LaFrance finished 10th in The American with 0.46 sacks per game and 15th with 0.83 tackles for loss per contest. He had career highs with five tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks vs UConn on Oct. 11, and added five stops with 2.0 sacks at Houston on Nov. 8.
LaFrance forced two fumbles with a sack and 2.0 tackles for loss among four total stops vs Memphis on Nov. 15 and added a four-tackle effort at East Carolina on Nov. 22 when he added a sack and a pass break-up.
Scofield, meanwhile paced the Green Wave with 94 tackles (60 solo, 34 assists) while ranking tied for second with three interceptions, tied for third with one fumble recovery, tied for fourth with one sack and tied for sixth in tackles for loss (5.0). The native of Lafayette, La., and 2011 graduate of St. Thomas More High ranked tied for eighth in interceptions per game (0.3) and 13th in tackles per outing (7.8).
He twice posted double-digit tackle totals with a season-high 17-stop effort (8 solo, 9 assists) with a tackle for loss at East Carolina on Nov. 22 and a 14-tackle outing (11 solo, 3 assists) at Tulsa on Aug. 28. Scofield logged nine stops (5 solo, 4 assists) with an interception at Houston on Nov. 8, posted eight tackles (5 solo, 3 assists) with a half tackle for loss vs UConn on Oct. 11 and added seven stops on three occasions: 1 solo, 6 assists with a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and an interception at Duke on Sept. 20; 3 solo, 4 assists at UCF on Oct. 18; and all solo vs Cincinnati on Oct. 31.
In addition, Scofield recorded six solo stops and a tackle for loss vs Georgia Tech on Sept. 6 and at Rutgers on Sept. 27, added a pair of five-tackle performances - all solo with two pass break-ups and an interception vs Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 13; and 2 solo, 3 assists with a pair of pass break-ups vs Temple on Dec. 6 - and had three stops (1 solo, 2 assists) with a half tackle for loss vs Memphis on Nov. 15.
2014 COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AWARDS
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shane Carden, East Carolina
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jacoby Glenn, UCF
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Marlon Mack, South Florida
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE COACH OF THE YEAR
Justin Fuente, Memphis
ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB - Shane Carden, East Carolina
RB - Kenneth Farrow, Houston
RB - Marlon Mack, South Florida
WR - Justin Hardy, East Carolina
WR - Keevan Lucas, Tulsa
TE - Alan Cross, Memphis
OL - Al Bond, Memphis
OL - Rowdy Harper, Houston
OL - Ike Harris, East Carolina
OL - Eric Lefeld, Cincinnati
OL - Torrian Wilson, UCF
K - Andrew Gantz, Cincinnati
KR - Chris Dunkley, South Florida
Defense
DL - Terrell Hartsfield, Cincinnati
DL - Martin Ifedi, Memphis
DL - Praise Martin-Oguike, Temple
DL - Terry Williams, East Carolina
LB - Tank Jakes, Memphis
LB - Jeff Luc, Cincinnati
LB - Terrance Plummer, UCF
DB - Lorenzo Doss, Tulane
DB - Clayton Geathers, UCF
DB - Jacoby Glenn, UCF
DB - Bobby McCain, Memphis
P - Mattias Ciabatti, South Florida
PR - Deshon Foxx, UConn
ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB - Paxton Lynch, Memphis
RB - Brandon Hayes, Memphis
RB - William Stanback, UCF
WR - Breshad Perriman, UCF
WR - Deontay Greenberry, Houston
TE - Bryce Williams, East Carolina
OL - Sean Donnelly, Tulane
OL - Parker Ehinger, Cincinnati
OL - Kyle Friend, Temple
OL - Taylor Hudson, East Carolina
OL - Austin Reiter, South Florida
K - Jake Elliott, Memphis
KR - Deion Sanders, Jr., SMU
Defense
DL - Matt Ioaniddis, Temple
DL - Jaryl Mamea, UCF
DL - Joey Mbu, Houston
DL - Thomas Niles, UCF
LB - Zeek Bigger, East Carolina
LB - Tyler Matakevich, Temple
LB - Efrem Oliphant, Houston
DB - Josh Hawkins, East Carolina
DB - William Jackson, Houston
DB - Adrian McDonald, Houston
DB - Parry Nickerson, Tulane
P - Dalton Parks, Tulsa
PR - Keiwone Malone, Memphis
ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM
Offense
QB - Gunner Kiel, Cincinnati
RB - Breon Allen, East Carolina
RB - Zack Langer, Tulsa
WR - Andre Davis, South Florida
WR - Shaq Washington, Cincinnati
TE - Mike McFarland, South Florida
OL - J.T. Boyd, East Carolina
OL - Quinterrius Eatman, South Florida
OL - Bryce Redman, Houston
OL - Garrett Stafford, Tulsa
OL - Darrell Williams, South Florida
K - Shawn Moffitt, UCF
KR - D'Angelo Brewer, Tulsa
Defense
DL - Derrick Alexander, Tulsa
DL - Royce LaFrance, Tulane
DL - Miles Pace, UCF
DL - Gavin Stansbury, Houston
LB - Steven Taylor, Houston
LB - Nick Temple, Cincinnati
LB - Brandon Williams, East Carolina
DB - Brandon Alexander, UCF
DB - Michael Mudoh, Tulsa
DB - Sam Scofield, Tulane
DB - Tavon Young, Temple
P - Worth Gregory, East Carolina
PR - J.J. Worton, UCF
