Five West Texas A&M football players were named to the 2012 D2Football.com All-America team which was announced this week. Senior offensive lineman Manase Foketi and junior defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks earned first team honors, while senior running back Khiry Robinson and junior quarterback Dustin Vaughan were second team selections. Junior kicker Sergio Castillo, Jr., earned honorable mention honors.
The Buffs, along with national champion Valdosta State and Missouri Western each had five selections to lead the 65 representing schools. Missouri Western running back Michael Hill earned Offensive Player of the Year honors, while defensive tackle Brandon Williams of Missouri Southern was named Defensive Player of the Year. Valdosta State head coach David Dean was named Coach of the Year for the second time.
Foketi, a native of Hesperia, Calif., came to WT after graduating from Kansas State. Foketi started all 15 games on the offensive line and earned Daktronics First Team All-America honors, as well as a finalist for the Gene Upshaw award. He also was named to the American Football Coaches Association First Team and was invited to the East-West Shrine Game, Jan. 19, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Foketi helped lead the Buffaloes to a 12-3 season and the school’s first berth in the NCAA Semifinals. He earned Don Hanson All-Super Region Four first team honors.
Westbrooks, a native of San Leandro, Calif., and Sacramento City CC, had an outstanding first season in a Buffalo uniform as he spearheaded the top pass rush in NCAA Division II as he recorded a school-record 19.5 sacks and 28 tackles for loss. The 6-4, 275-pound defensive lineman was named the Ron Lenz Daktronics Division II National Defensive Player of the Year and Super Region Four Defensive Player of the Year. Westbrooks was named Don Hanson All-Super Region Four Defensive Player of the Year and earned first team honors and he was the Lone Star Conference’s J.V. Sykes Defensive Player of the Year honors, while totaling 60 total tackles. His 28 tackles for loss were for 139 yards and his 19.5 sacks accumulated 116 yards.
Vaughan, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Calallen High School, had another outstanding season as he was one of eight finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy and was named Capital One/CoSIDA Division II Student-Athlete of the Year.
He finished the season with a career-high 4,712 passing yards which ranked third all-time in a single season, 45 touchdowns (second-most in a single season) as he was 359 of 555 and 13 interceptions for a 64.7 completing percentage and a 158.07 passing efficiency. Vaughan le the eighth-ranked passing offense nationally at 332 yards per game and the 12th-ranked total offense at 474.93 yards as both were tops in the Lone Star Conference. Individually, he ranked 10th in passing efficiency (158.07) and 10th in total offense at 323.4 yards.
Vaughan had 8,124 career passing yards as he is third all-time. He is just 1,675 away from the school-record set by Taylor Harris (2007-2010). He has 70 touchdowns with 593 completions in 949 attempts (62.5) with 19 interceptions in just two seasons as the starting quarterback.
He was named Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Year, the LSC Academic Player of the Year and earned Daktronics Second Team All-Super Region Four honors. He also was a Don Hanson All-Super Region Four second team selection.
Robinson, a native of Temple, Texas, and Blin JC, led the team and the conference with a school-record 1,621 yards on the ground in 13 starts this season. Robinson tallied 15 touchdowns as he averaged 124.7 yards per game ranking 13th nationally. He was 10th nationally in all-purpose yards as he average 173.23 per game. Robinson caught 38 passes for 430 yards and four touchdowns, while he had 19 punt returns for 175 yards and one kick return for 26 yards.
He had 10 games of rushing over 100 yards, including a career-high 235 yards rushing in the Buffs’ 38-30 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Chadron State (Nov. 17). Robinson had a career-high four rushing touchdowns at Eastern New Mexico (Oct. 20) and tallied a season-high 90 yards receiving on six catches against Tarleton State (Sept. 29).
Robinson was named LSC Running Back of the Year and earned first team all-conference. He also was a Don Hanson All-Super Region Four third team.
Castillo Jr., a native of La Joya, Texas, had a sensational junior season as connected on 20 of 23 field goals, including two of over 50 yards and a career-long 56-yarder against Abilene Christian (Oct. 13). He finished the season tied for ninth nationally in field goals per game a 1.33. He was a perfect 16 of 16 in attempts of less than 40 yards. He averaged 8.6 points per game ranking 35th nationally.
Heading into his senior year, he is 38 of 46 in field goals and 174 of 177 in extra points for 288 points as he ranked third all-time in school history in scoring, just six points behind Keithon Flemming (2007-2009) with 294 points.
Castillo Jr., earned Daktronics First Team All-America honors. He was a first team all-conference selection and a first team Don Hanson Super Region Four selection.
2012 D2Football.com Individual Award Winners
Offensive
Player of the Year | | Defensive
Player of the Year | | Coach of the Year |
| | | | |
Michael Hill
Running Back
Missouri Western | | Brandon Williams
Defensive Tackle
Missouri Southern | | David Dean
Valdosta State |
2012 D2Football.com All-America Team
First Team |
| | | |
QB | Zach Zulli | 6-2, 188, Jr. | Shippensburg |
RB | Michael Hill | 5-11, 205, Sr. | Missouri Western |
RB | Franklyn Quiteh | 5-10, 203, Jr. | Bloomsburg |
WR | Chris Bowen | 6-3, 215, Sr. | Wingate |
WR | Jeff Janis | 6-3, 215, Jr. | Saginaw Valley |
TE | Adam Shiltz | 6-4, 256, Sr. | Emporia State |
OL | Manase Foketi | 6-5, 320, Sr. | West Texas A&M |
OL | Garrett Gilkey | 6-7, 320, Sr. | Chadron State |
OL | Garth Heikkinen | 6-4, 315, Sr. | Minnesota Duluth |
OL | Mark Jackson | 6-6, 320, Sr. | Glenville State |
OL | Ryan Schraeder | 6-7, 305, Sr. | Valdosta State |
| | | |
DL | Zach Moore | 6-6, 282, Jr. | Concordia-St. Paul |
DL | Ethan Westbrooks | 6-4, 275, Jr. | West Texas A&M |
DL | Brandon Williams | 6-3, 325, Sr. | Missouri Southern |
DL | Ridge Wilson | 6-4, 256, Sr. | West Alabama |
LB | Carlos Fields | 6-2, 220, Jr. | Winston-Salem |
LB | Leron Furr | 6-3, 235, Jr. | Fort Valley |
LB | Kevin Lindholm | 6-2, 220, Sr. | Chadron State |
DB | Vernon Kearney | 6-2, 185, Sr. | Lane |
DB | Rontez Miles | 6-1, 210, Sr. | California |
DB | Dexter Moody | 6-3, 200, Jr. | Albany State |
DB | Don Unamba | 6-1, 192, Sr. | Southern Arkansas |
| | | |
K | Ryne Smith | 5-8, 180, Sr. | West Alabama |
P | Taylor Accardi | 6-2, 205, Sr. | Colorado Mines |
AP | Tyron Laughinghouse | 6-3, 175, Sr. | St. Augustine's |
| | | |
Second Team |
| | | |
QB | Dustin Vaughan | 6-5, 220, Jr. | West Texas A&M |
RB | Khiry Robinson | 6-0, 220, Sr. | West Texas A&M |
RB | Derrick Washington | 6-0, 215, Sr. | Tuskegee |
WR | Charles Johnson | 6-3, 225, Sr. | Grand Valley |
WR | Isaiah Voegeli | 6-0, 185, Sr, | Merrimack |
TE | David Pawelek | 6-3, 230, Sr. | Colorado Mines |
OL | Brian Clarke | 6-3, 290, Jr. | Bloomsburg |
OL | Ryan Jensen | 6-6, 300, Sr. | CSU-Pueblo |
OL | Edmund Kugbila | 6-5, 347, Sr. | Valdosta State |
OL | Eric Kush | 6-4, 305, Sr. | California |
OL | Tim Lelito | 6-4, 315, Sr. | Grand Valley |
| | | |
DL | David Bass | 6-5, 275, Sr. | Missouri Western |
DL | Ben Pister | 6-4, 280, Sr. | Missouri Western |
DL | Ty Powell | 6-3, 250, Sr. | Harding |
DL | Chris Schaudt | 6-4, 270, Jr. | Minnesota State |
LB | Jeremy Aguilar | 6-1, 235, Sr. | Texas A&M-Kingsville |
LB | Nate Dreiling | 6-4, 229, Jr. | Pittsburg State |
LB | Cory Johnson | 5-10, 240, Sr. | Catawba |
DB | Pierre Desir | 6-2, 206, Jr. | Lindenwood |
DB | Brandon Dixon | 6-0, 195, Jr. | Northwest Missouri |
DB | Jeff Heath | 6-1, 215, Sr. | Saginaw Valley |
DB | Jack Moro | 5-11, 190, Jr. | St. Cloud |
| | | |
K | Sam Brockshus | 5-10, 190, Jr. | Minnesota State |
P | Randy Weich | 6-2, 250, Sr. | Wayne State (Neb.) |
AP | John Brown | 5-11, 171, Jr. | Pittsburg State |
| | | |
Honorable Mention |
| | | |
QB | Taylor Housewright | 6-2, 208, Sr. | Ashland |
QB | Kevin Rodgers | 6-3, 215, So. | Henderson State |
QB | Kameron Smith | 6-0, 180, Sr. | Winston-Salem |
RB | Joe Glendening | 5-10, 191, Sr. | Hillsdale |
RB | Jordan Roberts | 5-11, 225, Sr. | Charleston |
RB | Rayon Simmons | 5-10, 201, Sr. | Winona State |
RB | Harvie Tuck | 5-9, 215, Sr. | IUP |
WR | Lemar Durant | 6-2, 226, So. | Simon Fraser |
WR | Mar'Quone Edmonds | 6-2, 211, Sr. | Indianapolis |
WR | Gerald Ford | 6-3, 220, Jr. | Valdosta State |
WR | Christopher Slaughter | 6-3, 180, Sr. | Fort Valley |
WR | Jason Thompson | 6-3, 185, Sr. | New Haven |
WR | Mike Williams | 5-11, 185, Jr. | California |
TE | Reggie Jordan | 6-3, 235, Jr. | Missouri Western |
OL | Macon Allen | 6-4, 310, Sr. | Missouri Western |
OL | Michael Bowie | 6-5, 320, Sr. | Northeastern State |
OL | Kevin Day | 6-0, 270, Sr. | Carson-Newman |
OL | Markus Lawrence | 6-4, 290, Sr. | Winston-Salem |
OL | Dan Matha | 6-7, 310, Sr. | IUP |
OL | Kaleb Myrick | 6-3, 325, Sr. | Lenoir-Rhyne |
OL | Ken VanHeule | 6-4, 315, Sr. | Midwestern State |
OL | Rod Williams | 6-5, 300, Sr. | Northwest Missouri |
DL | Armonty Bryant | 6-4, 270, Sr. | East Central |
DL | Richard Daniel | 6-2, 255, sr. | Wayne State (Neb.) |
DL | Brad Davis | 6-1, 245, Sr. | Elizabeth City |
DL | Rufus Johnson | 6-5, 257, Sr. | Tarleton State |
DL | Jamie Meder | 6-2, 304, Jr | Ashland |
DL | Jake Metz | 6-6, 247, Jr. | Shippensburg |
DL | B.J. Stevens | 6-2, 245, Jr. | California |
DL | Larry Webster | 6-7, 240, Sr. | Bloomsburg |
LB | Jordan Campbell | 6-0, 230, Sr. | New Mexico Highlands |
LB | Jason Catchings | 6-2, 233, Sr. | East Central |
LB | Collin DeBuysere | 6-4, 230, Sr. | Northwest Missouri |
LB | Marcus Hall-Oliver | 6-1, 220, Sr. | Minnesota State |
LB | Corey Jones | 6-2, 240, Sr. | Lane |
LB | Chris Pope | 6-1, 216, Jr. | Valdosta State |
LB | Ronell Williams | 6-1, 230, So. | West Chester |
LB | Darius Wilson | 6-1, 235, Sr. | Central State |
LB | Tyler Zimmer | 6-2, 235, So. | Seton Hill |
DB | Malcolm Butler | 5-11, 180, Jr. | West Alabama |
DB | Nate DeJong | 6-2, 210, Sr. | Northwest Missouri |
DB | Johnny Franco | 5-10, 205, Sr. | IUP |
DB | Brian Gamble | 6-0, 195, Jr. | Ashland |
DB | Abdul Kanneh | 6-1, 170, Sr. | New Mexico Highlands |
DB | Matt Pierce | 5-10, 196, Sr. | Valdosta State |
DB | Jumal Rolle | 6-0, 185, Sr. | Catawba |
DB | Trelan Taylor | 5-10, 195, Jr. | Chadron State |
DB | Dajuan Williams | 6-0, 182, Sr. | Fort Valley |
K | Sergio Castillo | 5-11, 175, Jr. | West Texas A&M |
AP | Rondell White | 5-10, 165, Jr. | West Chester |