BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Five Harding University football players were named to the All-Gulf South Conference teams Thursday. Senior Zac Ross was named First Team all-purpose back and Second Team return specialist. Senior defensive lineman Keenan Kitchen, senior defensive back Josh Jones and junior utility defensive player Jermaine Blanchard were also named First Team. Senior center Brad Parker was named Second Team.
Ross, a native of Kansas City, Mo., did a little of everything for the Bisons this season. He became only the fourth Harding player ever to lead the team in rushing and receiving in the same season. Ross rushed for 284 yards and four touchdowns and caught 38 passes for 402 yards and two touchdowns. He also started two games at quarterback and completed 37-of-66 passes for 456 yards and three touchdowns.
As a returner, Ross ranked third in the GSC with 24.75 yards per kickoff return and fifth in the conference with 9.52 yards per punt return. He also served as the team’s holder on placekicks and was the team’s backup punter.
Kitchen, who hails from Niagara Falls, N.Y., was a dominant force for the Bisons at defensive tackle. He notched 45 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss, including 4.0 sacks. His sack total ranked tied for eighth in the GSC.
Carson, Calif., native Josh Jones gave GSC offensive coordinators nightmares this season, leading the GSC and ranking in the top five in Division II with eight interceptions and 11 pass breakups. Jones led Harding with 94 tackles, good for fifth in the conference. His interception total ranked third in an HU single season and was only two short of the GSC single-season record.
Blanchard, a native of Memphis, Tenn., began the season as a linebacker but moved to defensive end midway through the season. The change resulted in Blanchard leading the Bisons with 9.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. He ranked sixth on the team with 50 total tackles and fourth in the GSC in sacks.
Parker, a Milton, Fla., native made the transition from guard to center this season and performed impeccably. He was Harding’s top offensive lineman in nine of 11 games and had only one inaccurate shotgun snap on 821 plays.
GSC Honors:
Offensive Player of the Year: QB, Nick Graziano, Arkansas Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: LB, Mike Johnson, North Alabama
GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year: WR, Gerald Ford, Valdosta State
GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year: DB, Shontral Ford, West Alabama
Co-GSC Coaches of the Year: Steve Mullins of Arkansas Tech and Terry Bowden of North Alabama
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