Point Football Highlights All-Conference Honors
WEST POINT, Ga. (Nov. 15, 2023) - The Appalachian Athletic Conference has announced postseason honors for football season where Point University Football had players be announced on First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Champions of Character, and the All-Academic Team.
First Team All-Conference: Emery Bryant (Offense and Return Specialist)
Emery Bryant is a threat that will make magic happen each time he touches the ball. Bryant put together a season where he impacted the team in some way whether if it is going for a 100-yard game in receiving yards or breaking an AAC Record for the longest kick return for 94 yards against NCAA Division II, Valdosta State. Bryant was recognized by the conference after broke the record by becoming the AAC Special Teams Player of the Week along with the NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week. Emery Bryant continued to put together games that gave opponents headaches as he opened AAC Play with a two-touchdown game against Kentucky Christian. Bryant had three 100-yard games which included a game against Faulkner University with 10 receptions, 137 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. It was no secret that Emery Bryant was each team's scouting report and with the year of 1,512 all-purpose yards, he can add another First Team All-Conference honor to his resume.
First Team All-Conference: Nicholas Marien
Nicholas Marien is a player that teams defenders sleep on when it is a money down which naturally makes him unguardable. The 6'3 Tight End has the speed to breeze past his defenders which is why when watching the film on him it may seem like he is always and usually he is. Nicholas Marien is a player that can help you move the ball whether it is him blocking or catching a crucial pass on third and long. Marien is another offensive threat outside of Emery Bryant on Point's offense that is a lethal weapon and will make teams pay each time they do not cover him. As a result of that, Nicholas Marien is now a First Team All-Conference Tight End.
First Team All-Conference: Cortez Thomas
The newcomer from Cordele, Georgia can be in the box to give the opposing a different look or he can be the defensive end that could not be blocked. As Cortez Thomas started to see more reps and get adjusted on the field, he turned it on just in time when Thomas tallied 10 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss which tied an AAC Record for most TFLs in a game against Kentucky Christian. Resulting in that, Cortez Thomas was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week. He was also a threat to get in the backfield and cause havoc by forcing turnovers as Thomas scored a pick-six on the first touchdown against Bluefield. Cortez Thomas only had two games where he did not have tackles for loss but for the following nine games, Thomas was in the backfield making the offense reevaluate their gameplan. It became no surprise that Thomas is a player who was looked at in the conference as someone who can make key plays and with extra film to prove it he can now add this accolade to his case.
First Team All-Conference: Kemorion Larkin
Key Larkin came into this season on a clean slate with a new mindset, new jersey number, and new records to break. Out of 11 games, Key Larkin had five games with double-digit tackles. Larkin's hard-nosed get-to-the-ball style earned him AAC Defensive Player of the Week two times this season where his first honor came after having 13 tackles, one sack, and two pass breakups in the win against Thomas University. Just when teams thought he hit his peak, Larkin added a 15-tackle game against Bluefield University which also included one sack, and three tackles for loss to win his second AAC Defensive Player of the Week award. Larkin came into the season with a Second Team All-Conference selection but he knew all along that he was about to make a bigger jump. Key Larkin doubled his stats going from 57 tackles in 2022 to 105. Larkin's 105 tackles this season breaks a school record for most total tackles in a season with the previous record being 90. Larkin also broke the school record for most solo tackles with 65 and if anyone watched him on film or in person then it is an understanding that Larkin can get to the ball. Key Larkin also tallied seven sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss while averaging 9.5 tackles a game. Kemorion Larkin still has another year left with the Skyhawk defense and it will be no surprise for Larkin to continue his road to redemption to any team that sleeps on ability. From Second Team All-Conference while wearing #26 to Kemorion Larkin adding a record-breaking season as a First Team All-Conference Player at #6.
First Team All-Conference: Caleb Wade
Caleb Wade had a lot at stake as he stepped into the starting safety role after the departure of First Team All-Conference player, Quan Neal. Wade did not shy away from his role and instead blossomed into one of the top safeties in the conference with the cleanest breaks to bait any Quarterback. The term "Ballhawk" is not given to many but Wade proved to be the guy who created turnovers as he led the secondary with four interceptions on the season. The Sophomore from Mount Airy, Georgia proved to be a problem to opposing teams as he can come down and make the big hits or seal game-winning interceptions like he did against Thomas University. Wade added 51 total tackles with five pass breakups, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. In Wade's young career, he still has a lot of bright days ahead and has the full trust of Head Coach Trevor Zieders to be an impactful player for years to come. If Caleb Wade was not already considered as a top Defensive Back in the conference, then, being a First Team All-Conference player will add to his case.
Second Team All-Conference, Champions of Character: Taylor Hogan
Taylor Hogan came into this season as one of the most experienced offensive linemen for the Skyhawks. Hogan is a no-nonsense guy on the field and frustrates a lot of rushers when he gets his hands on players. For the second consecutive year, Hogan has been named a Second Team All-Conference player, and rightfully so as he showed that trying to get past Hogan to get to the quarterback is not an easy task. As a returning starter, Hogan was someone who knew how to lead by example and would work hard through each snap to help his team with a chance to win. As his career comes to a close in the Skyhawk uniform, Hogan will be remembered for many impactful things that he has done on and off the field. Taylor Hogan being a Second Team All-Conference is now an extra accomplishment to add to why he will be remembered.
Second Team All-Conference: Ethan Binns
Ethan Binns is the second sophomore turned starter who earned a nod for all-conference. Under the direction of Coach Trevor Zieders, he has produced players that prove to be valuable asset to the team when they step on the field. Ethan Binns is a prime example of a player who was a freshman and could make a play when his number was called to becoming the starter in the following season and adding a 12 tackle game against Faulkner University while giving it his all. Binns added seven sacks and fumble recoveries on the season and his work ethic has proved that coming into the program of Point can create great success when the work is put in. Binns is one of the four players from Point's defensive core to be named as an All-Conference and the sophomore from Montgomery, Alabama has yet to fully scratch the surface.
All-Academic Team
Gabriel Donnelly
D'Ontae Eatmon