BROOKFIELD, Ill. – The Southwest Baptist University football team had 10 players named to the 2016 Don Hansen All-Super Region Four Team, highlighted by Bubba Jenkins’ First-Team selection.
Jenkins was named first-team running back after finishing the season with 1,739 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. Jenkins broke the SBU and GLVC single season rushing record, while also becoming the GLVC’s all-time leading rusher. Jenkins finished 2016 with the 3rd most rushing yards in NCAA Division II and the 2nd most rushing touchdowns.
Earning second-team honors were Sammy Zeqiraj on the offensive line, Via Manuma and Vice Epenesa on the defensive line, and Shaun Hutchinson and D’Angelo Tucker who both spent time at linebacker this season. Zeqiraj, Manuma, Epenesa, Hutchinson, and Tucker were all named 1st Team All-GLVC. Manuma had a team high 19.0 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks, while finishing 5th in the NCAA Division II in sacks per game and 7th in tackles for loss per game. Hutchinson had a team high 100 tackles, and ranked second on the team in tackles for loss with 15.5, while Epenesa was second on the team in sacks with 5.0 and Tucker third on the team in sacks with 4.0.
Earning third-team honors were quarterback TJ Edwards, wide receiver Kendrick Payne, offensive lineman Jaylon Kuykendall, and defensive back Mygeish Dennis. Edwards finished the 2016 season with 3,242 passing yards with 34 touchdowns and 685 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns. Payne eclipsed the 1,000 yard receiving mark with 1,075 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Dennis had two interceptions to go along with 44 tackles on the season.
The 1st Team and 2nd Team selections advance to a national ballot from which the 2016 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America team will be named later this month.
