Kentucky Wesleyan linebacker
David James earned the Great Lakes Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award and 24 other Panthers received All-GLFC honors as voted on by league coaches.
James, a junior from Forestville, Md. (Oxon Hills HS), led the Panthers in tackles (88), tackles-for-loss (15), sacks (2.5) and blocked kicks (3).
Also chosen for the first team were
DaMarcus Ganaway,
Chuck Palonis,
Ben Wilson and
Khalid Harris.
Ganaway, a junior wide receiver from Indianapolis, Ind. (Ben Davis HS), led KWC in receptions (50) and receiving yards (416). Palonis, a junior offensive tackles from Chicago, Ill. (Mount Carmel HS) started all 11 games. Wilson, a senior defensive end from Columbus, Ind. (Columbus East HS), finished second in tackles (54). Harris, a sophomore defensive back from Stockbridge, Ga. (Stockbridge HS), had 44 tackles.
Selected for the second team were
Vincent Lalonde,
Thomas Gordon,
Jay Fallin,
Richard Fangman,
Jason Fairley,
Jabbar Harris,
Ken Stoklosa,
Sam Bland and
Sean Maguire.
Lalonde, a junior quarterback from Royal Palm Beach, Fla. (Royal Palm Beach HS), completed 129 of 198 passes for 861 yards and eight touchdowns. Gordon, a sophomore running back from Jacksonville, Fla. (Arlington Country Day), led the Panthers in rushing with 555 yards on 147 carries and five touchdowns. Fallin, a senior offensive guard from Lewisport, Ky. (Hancock County HS), started nine games.
Fangman, a senior kicker from Louisville, Ky. (Male HS), made 16 PATs and four field goals for 28 points. Fairley, a junior defensive tackle from Collins, Miss. (Collins HS) collected 26 tackles. Harris, a senior defensive tackle from Hammond, Ind. (Highland HS), had 18 tackles. Stoklosa, a sophomore linebacker from Palos Hills, Ill. (St. Rita HS), finished third in tackles with 48. Bland, a junior defensive back from Louisville, Ky. (Seneca HS), recorded 27 tackles. Maguire, a junior punter from Louisville, Ky. (DeSales HS), averaged 36.1 yards per punt.
Receiving honorable mention recognition were
Derek Brown,
Levi Ray,
Jon Hale,
Robbie Piper,
Kevin Baldwin,
Greg Embers,
Heath Smith, Ganaway and
Eric Mayfield.
Brown, a sophomore wide receiver from Cincinnati, Ohio (Winton Woods HS) caught 27 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Ray, a sophomore offensive tackle from Brandenburg, Ky. (Meade County HS) started all 11 contests. Hale, a senior kicker from Nicholasville, Ky. (East Jessamine HS), average 57.2 yards per kickoff.
Piper, a freshman defensive tackle from Tobinsport, Ind. (Perry Central HS), had 17 tackles. Baldwin, a senior linebacker from Columbus, Miss. (Columbus HS), collected 32 tackles. Embers, a senior defensive back from Louisville, Ky. (Seneca HS) grabbed 44 tackles. Smith, a senior defensive back from Opelika, Ala. (Beulah HS), had 43 tackles.
Ganaway also earned recognition as a return specialist with 16 kick returns for 334 yards and five punt returns from 45 yards. Mayfield, a junior return specialist from Gardenia, Calif. (Serra HS), returned 14 kickoffs for 275 yards and three punt returns for 14 yards.
Five Panthers were also named to the GLFC All-Academic team. They are
Dean Dimitropoulos, Fallin,
Chris Owen, Wilson,
Anthony Woodruff. Dimitropoulos, a junior defensive back from Queens, NY (Baystate HS); Jay Fallin; Owen, a junior quarterback from Evansville, Ind. (Central HS); Ben Wilson; and Anthony Woodruff, a senior from Lexington (Bryan Station HS).
To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2.