Seven Kats Named To 1990s All-Star Squad
11/17/2013 6:36:00 PM | Football
Southland Conference, as part of its year-long 50th Anniversary commemoration, has announced its All-Decade Football Team from the 1990s. The team includes outstanding student-athletes from its member institutions from the 1990 season through 1999.
A total of 89 former student-athletes make up the 1990s All-Decade Team, including honorees from each of the 10 institutions that were football members at during the period.\
The Southland Football League was formed July 26, 1995, as a sport-specific consortium of the six Southland Conference football-playing institutions and two Alabama universities, Jacksonville State University and Troy State University. The SFL was immediately recognized as a power conference in Division I-AA, and the organization announced a multi-year television agreement with Prime Sports later that summer. The SFL remained intact through the 2001 season, before the administration of football was brought back under the main Southland Conference entity.
Sam Houston State placed defensive lineman Michael Bankston on the all-decade team, as the three-time all-conference first-teamer went on to a nine-year NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals. Other Sam Houston players on the squad include quarterback Chris Chaloupka, wide receiver Matt Dominguez, the Southland's all-time receiving yardage leader (3,273), punter Ryan Klaus, tight end Kevin Pesak, and offensive linemen Victor McKnight and Murphy Yates.
Conference developed a metric that analyzed numerous elements of a student-athlete's performance and value within the league at the time. Most notably, the conference honored “real-time” factors such as all-conference selection by coaches and a player's statistical performance among his peers at the time. Further, other components of selection including a player's effort toward helping his team win a championship or finish near the top of the conference, whether he earned individual honors from the league, if he participated in postseason bowls, and if he was drafted by or participated in the NFL.
The Southland Conference will continue to recognize all-decade teams throughout the 2013 season.
1990's All-Decade Football Team (89 players)
Donnie Ashley, KR, McNeese State 1997 1997 first-team All-American (AP)
Charles Ayro, LB, McNeese State 1998 1998 Defensive Player of the Year; First-team All-American in 1997 (Walter Camp, Sports Network, Sportsticker) and 1998 (AFCA, Walter Camp, Sports Network, USA Today/ESPN)
Michael Bankston, DL, Sam Houston State 1989-90-91 1992 4th Round Pick of Arizona Cardinals; 9-year NFL Veteran with Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals; 1991 first-team All-American (AP, Walter Camp, Sports Network)
Jeff Blackshear, OL, Louisiana-Monroe 1993 8th Round Pick of Seattle Seahawks; 9-year NFL Veteran with Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers; 1992 first-team All-American (Kodak)
Blair Bradley, DL, McNeese State 1997 1997 first-team All-American (Sportsticker)
Vincent Brisby, WR, Louisiana-Monroe 1991-92 1992 Receiving Leader; 1992 first-team All-American (Walter Camp, Football Gazette); 1993 2nd Round Pick of New England Patriots; 8-year NFL Veteran with Patriots and New York Jets; Participated in Super Bowl XXXI
Zack Bronson, DB, McNeese State 1993-94-95-96 1993 Freshman of the Year; All-Time SLC Leader in Interception Return Yardage (455 yds); 1996 first-team All-American (AFCA, Sports Network, Walter Camp)
Will Broussard, OL, Northwestern St. 1999 1999 first-team All-American (Walter Camp)
Jesse Burton, RB, McNeese State 1998 1998 Freshman of the Year; 1998 Rushing & All-Purpose Leader; 1998 Scoring Leader; Shares SLC game record of seven touchdowns scored
Andre Carron, LB, Northwestern State 1989-90-91 1991 Defensive Player of the Year; All-Time SLC Leading Tackler (521); 1991 first-team All-American (AP, Walter Camp, Football Gazette, Kodak, Sports Network)
Chris Chaloupka, QB, Sam Houston State 1999 1999 Player, Offensive Player & Newcomer of the Year; 1999 Passing & Total Offense Leader
Ron Cherry, OL, McNeese State 1994 1994 first-team All-American (AFCA, AP, Walter Camp, Sports Network)
Robert Cobb, QB, Louisiana-Monroe 1993 1993 Offensive Player of the Year; 1993 Passing & Total Offense Leader
Robert Daniel, DL, Northwestern State 1998 1999 6th Round Pick of Carolina Panthers; Participated two seasons in NFL, both with Panthers
Tarius Davis, DB, McNeese State 1998-99
Adam Diel, K, Nicholls State 1994 & 96
Matt Dominguez, WR, Sam Houston St. 1998-99-00 1997 Freshman of the Year; 1998, 1999 and 2000 Receiving Leader; All-Time SLC Receiving Leader (3,273 yds)
Henry Fields, RB, McNeese State 1995 Entering 2013 season, SLC's 2nd all-time leading rusher (4,358)
James Folston, DL, Louisiana-Monroe 1992-93 1993 first-team All-American (AP, Walter Camp, Football Gazette)
Mike Green, DB, Northwestern State 1998-99 1999 first-team All-American (AFCA, AP, Football Gazette); 2000 7th Round Pick of Chicago Bears; 9-year NFL Veteran with Bears, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins after being final pick in 2000 draft (Mr. Irrelevant).
Byron Gross, LB, North Texas 1989-90
Joey Hamilton, WR, Jacksonville State 1998-99
Adrian Hardy, DB, Northwestern State 1991-92 1992 first-team All-American (AP, Football Gazette); 1993 2nd Round Pick of San Francisco 49ers; 4-year NFL Veteran with 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals
Terry Irving, LB, McNeese State 1991-92-93 1992 & 1993 first-team All-American (AP, Walter Camp, Kodak, Sports Network); 1993 Defensive Player of the Year; 1994 4th Round Pick of Arizona Cardinals; 5-year NFL Veteran, all with Cardinals
Chris Jefferson, WR, Stephen F. Austin 1994 & 96
Kerry Jenkins, OL, Troy 1996 1996 first-team All-American (AFCA); Participated eight seasons with NFL's New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Participated in Super Bowl XXXVII
Jermaine Jones, DB, Northwestern St. 1997-98 1998 Player of the Year; 1998 first-team All-American (AFCA, AP, Walter Camp, Football Gazette, Sports Network, USA Today/ESPN); 1999 5th Round Pick of New York Jets; Participated two seasons with Jets, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys
Kerry Joseph, QB, McNeese State 1995 1995 Player of the Year; 1992 Freshman of the Year; Participated five seasons as defensive player with NFL's Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks; As a quarterback with Saskatchewan of the CFL, led Roughriders to 2007 Grey Cup Championship and earning CFL's Most Outstanding Player honor
Eric Kidd, DL, McNeese State 1992-93
Montressa Kirby, QB, Jacksonville State 1998 1998 Offensive Player of the Year; 1997 Total Offense Leader
Lee Kirk, OL, Stephen F. Austin 1995 1995 first-team All-American (Walter Camp)
Ryan Klaus, P, Sam Houston State 1995-96
Shonz LaFrenz, K, McNeese State 1997-98-99 1997 Scoring Leader; All-Time SLC Field Goal Co-Leader (66); First-team All-American selection in 1997 (Sportsticker), 1998 (Walter Camp) and 1999 (Walter Camp)
Vincent Landrum, LB, McNeese State 1994-95 1994 Defensive Player of the Year
Jose Larios, K, McNeese State 1993 & 95 1993 & 1994 Scoring Leader; All-Time SLC Scoring Leader (356 pts); All-Time SLC Field Goal Co-Leader (66); 1993 first-team All-American (AP, Sports Network)
Reggie Lawson, OL, Louisiana-Monroe 1988 & 90
Al Lucas, DL, Troy 1998-99 1999 Recipient of Sports Network's Buck Buchanan Award as nation's top defender; First-team All-American in 1998 (Football Gazette) and 1999 (AP, Walter Camp, Football Gazette, Sports Network); Participated over two seasons with Carolina Panthers
Pratt Lyons, DL, Troy 1996 1996 Defensive Player of the Year; 1996 first-team All-American (AFCA, Walter Camp, Football Gazette, Sports Network); 1997 4th Round Pick of Tennessee Titans; 3-year NFL Veteran, all with Titans; Participated in Super Bowl XXXIV
Mitch Maher, QB, North Texas 1994 1994 Player of the Year & Passing Leader; 1992 & 1994 Total Offense Leader
Tony Maranto, DB, Northwestern State 1997 1997 Defensive Player of the Year; 1997 first-team All-American (AFCA, AP)
Claude Mathis, RB, Texas State 1994-95-96-97 1996 & 1997 Player of the Year; 1994 Freshman of the Year; 1996 & 1997 Season Rushing & All-Purpose Yardage Leader; 1996 Scoring Leader; Enters 2013 season as All-Time Leader in Rushing Yards (4,694), All-Purpose Yardage (7,264) and Rushing Attempts (882) ; Holds SLC Single-Game Rushing Mark (310 yds vs. SFA, 1997); First-team All-American in 1996 (AFCA, AP, Walter Camp, Sports Network) and 1997 (AFCA, AP, Sports Network)
Clarence Matthews, RB, Northwestern St. 1994-95 1995 Offensive Player of the Year; 1995 Rushing & All-Purpose Yardage Leader; 1995 Scoring Co-Leader
Pat Matthews, TE, McNeese State 1998-99
Victor McKnight, OL, Sam Houston State 1998-99 1996 Freshman of the Year
Adam Means, OL, Texas State 1996-97
Michael Moore, OL, Troy 1999 1999 first-team All-American (AFCA, Walter Camp, Football Gazette)
Edward Moses, LB, Northwestern State 1992-93
Greg Necaise, DL, Northwestern State 1990 1990 first-team All-American (Walter Camp, Sports Network)
Pat Neck, P, McNeese State 1991-92-93
Reggie Nelson, OL, McNeese State 1997-98 First-team All-American in 1997 (AFCA, Sports Network, Sportsticker) and 1998 (AFCA, AP, Walter Camp, Sports Network); 1999 5th Round Pick of San Diego Chargers; Participated two years with Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars
Patrick Palmer, WR, Northwestern State 1996-97 1996 Offensive Player of the Year; 1998 6th Round Pick of Washington Redskins
Doug Pederson, QB, Louisiana-Monroe 1990 Season Passing Leader; 12-Year NFL Veteran with Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers
Erric Pegram, RB, North Texas 1991 6th Round Pick of Atlanta Falcons; 7-year NFL Veteran with Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers and New York Giants; Participated in Super Bowl XXX
Kevin Pesak, TE, Sam Houston State 1995-96-97 1997 first-team All-American (Sports Network)
Mike Pierce, DB, McNeese State 1990 1990 Defensive Player of the Year
Kavika Pittman, DL, McNeese State 1994-95 1995 Defensive Player of the Year; 1995 first-team All-American (AFCA, AP, Sports Network, Walter Camp); 1996 2nd Round Pick of Dallas Cowboys; 9-year NFL Veteran with Cowboys, Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers; Participated in Super Bowl XXXVIII
Roosevelt Potts, RB, Louisiana-Monroe 1991-92 1992 Offensive Player of the Year; 1991 Rushing Leader; 1991 & 1992 All-Purpose Yardage Leader; 1993 2nd Round Pick of Indianapolis Colts; 6-year NFL Veteran with Colts, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens
Darryl Pounds, DB, Nicholls State 1991-92-93-94 1991 Defensive Co-Player of the Year; 1994 first-team All-American (AP, Football Gazette); 1995 3rd Round Pick of Washington Redskins; 6-year NFL Veteran with Redskins and Denver Broncos
Ronnie Powell, RB, Northwestern State 1997 1997 Newcomer of the Year
Gilbert Price, QB, Texas State 1991 1991 Offensive Player of the Year & Total Offense Leader
Anthony Rabb, LB, Troy 1998-99 1999 Defensive Player of the Year; 1999 first-team All-American (Football Gazette)
Cisco Richard, RB, Louisiana-Monroe 1990 1990 Offensive Player of the Year; 1990 first-team All-American (Sports Network)
Mikhael Ricks, WR, Stephen F. Austin 1997 1997 Offensive Player of the Year; 1997 first-team All-American (AFCA, AP, Walter Camp, Sports Network); 1998 2nd Round Pick of San Diego Chargers; 7-year NFL Veteran with Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys
Reggie Rivers, RB, Texas State 1990 1990 Rushing & All-Purpose Yardage Leader; 1990 first-team All-American (Kodak, Walter Camp, Sports Network); Participated six seasons for the Denver Broncos
Cleve Roberts, OL, Troy 1997-98 1998 first-team All-American (Football Gazette)
Eric Roberts, K, McNeese State 1990-91
Greg Robinson, RB, Louisiana-Monroe 1992 1993 8th Round Pick of Los Angeles Raiders; 4-year NFL Veteran with Raiders and St. Louis Rams
Blayne Rush, OL, McNeese State 1991 & 93
Dana Scott, DL, McNeese State 1992-93-94
Terrance Shaw, DB, Stephen F. Austin 1994 1995 2nd Round Pick of San Diego Chargers; 10-year NFL Veteran with Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings; Participated in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVII
Matt Shepherd, DL, Louisiana-Monroe 1991-92
Spicer Sigman, OL, Texas State 1992-93
Eric Sloan, DB, Troy 1998-99 1998 & 1999 first-team All-American (Walter Camp)
Marcus Spears, OL, Northwestern State 1991-92-93 1994 2nd Round Pick of Chicago Bears; 11-year NFL Veteran with Bears, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans
Irving Spikes, RB, Louisiana-Monroe 1993 1993 Newcomer of the Year; 1993 Rushing & All-Purpose Yardage Leader
Marcus Spriggs, DL, Troy 1997-98 1998 first-team All-American (AFCA, Walter Camp, USA Today/ESPN); 1999 6th Round Pick of Cleveland Browns; 3-year NFL Veteran, all with Browns
Chad Stanley, P, Stephen F. Austin 1997-98 1998 first-team All-American (AFCA, AP, Walter Camp, Sports Network, USA Today/ESPN); Participated eight seasons with NFL's San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans
Tony Taylor, RB, Northwestern State 1998-99-00 2000 Offensive Player of the Year; 1999 & 2000 Season Rushing Leader
Kip Texada, DB, McNeese State 1989-90
Keith Thibodeaux, DB, Northwestern State 1996 1997 5th Round Pick of Washington Redskins; 4-year NFL Veteran with Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers
Ervin Thomas, OL, Texas State 1991 1991 first-team All-American (Kodak)
Jeremiah Trotter, LB, Stephen F. Austin 1996-97 1994 Freshman of the Year; 1996 first-team All-American (AFCA, Walter Camp, Sports Network); 1998 3rd Round Pick of Philadelphia Eagles; 11-year NFL Veteran with Eagles, Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Participated in Super Bowl XXXIX; Four-time Pro Bowl Selection
Darrick Vaughn, DB, Texas State 1999 2000 7th Round Pick of Atlanta Falcons; 3-year NFL Veteran with Falcons and Houston Texans
Cedric Walker, DB, Stephen F. Austin 1990-91-92-93 1990 Freshman of the Year; 1993 first-team All-American (AP, Walter Camp, Football Gazette, Kodak, Sports Network)
Donald Wilkerson, RB, Texas State 1994 1994 Offensive Player of the Year; 1994 Rushing & All-Purpose Yardage Leader
Kenny Wright, DB, Northwestern State 1999 4th Round Pick of Minnesota Vikings; 9-year NFL Veteran with Vikings, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns
Joe Wylie, OL, Stephen F. Austin 1995 1995 first-team All-American (AFCA, AP, Walter Camp)
Murphy Yates, OL, Sam Houston State 1990-91 1991 first-team All-American (Walter Camp, Sports Network)
Vic Zordan, OL, Louisiana-Monroe 1992 1992 first-team All-American (AP, Walter Camp, Football Gazette, Sports Network)
