Central Arkansas didn't get a bid to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, but the Bears were well represented in the All-Southland Conference teams released Tuesday.
UCA had four players named first-team all-conference, four others were named to the second team and and six received honorable mention to the teams that were announced by the league office.
Wide receiver Desmond Smith, a Bentonville native, offensive lineman Kyle Stouffer, defensive end Jonathan Woodard and defensive back Tremon Smith were each named to the first team. Woodard, last year's defensive player of the year, finished his career as a four-time all-Southland pick after breaking UCA's career sack and tackles for loss records.
Desmond Smith led the Southland with 67 receptions and 817 receiving yards and also had 2 touchdowns.
Tremon Smith had 5 interceptions and 12 pass breakups and led the Southland with 17 passes defended.
Running back Blake Veasley, kicker Jace Denker, defensive lineman Derek Floyd and linebacker Ricky Wyatt were named to the second team.
Veasley had one of the Southland's best single-game performances when he rushed 49 times for 292 yards in a victory over Lamar. The senior from Cherry Valley had 721 of his 899 yards rushing over the final five weeks of the season.
Denker, from Bryant, made 15 of 17 field goals, Floyd led UCA with six sacks and Wyatt was third in the Southland with 14 1/2 tackles for loss.
Wide receiver Jatavious Wilson, offensive linemen Stockton Mallett and Alec Willis, safeties Bobby Watkins and Devin Spurlock and punt returner Brandon Cox received honorable mention.
Lamar running back Kade Harrington, who rushed for a conference record 2,092 yards, was named conference player of the year. Sam Houston State quarterback Jared Johnson was the offensive player of the year and McNeese State's Wallace Scott was the defensive player of the Year. McNeese State's Matt Viator was named coach of the year.
Other individual awards went to Sam Houston State's Donald Jackson III (offensive lineman of the year), Abilene Christian's Jabari Butler (freshman of the year) and Incarnate Word's Myke Tavarres (newcomer of the year).
Sports on 11/25/2015