GSU's Covington Captures Top Honor

Led by senior Chris Covington (Lawrenceville/Brookwood) named ‘Defensive Player of the Year’, Georgia Southern landed four players on the All-Southern Conference teams as voted on by the Southern Conference Sports Media Association. The conference office made the announcement for the SCSMA on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 26).

Covington and fellow senior Dakota Walker (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest) earned First Team honors on defense. Senior Raja Andrews (Swainsboro/Swainsboro) and redshirt-freshman place kicker Adrian Mora (Dalton/Dalton) earned Second Team accolades.

Covington becomes the third Georgia Southern player to ever receive the ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ honor, joining: Alex Mash (1993 by coaches and media) and Freddie Pesqueira (2001 by coaches).

For the second straight year Covington earned all-conference honors on defense, his first two years playing on that side of the ball. He had to make an adjustment midway through the year, moving to linebacker for the first time in his collegiate career during week five and responded with a career-high 19 tackles against Wofford. Covington averaged 11.7 tackles per game in his linebacker role, 8.6 overall (95 in 11 games) to tie him for 50th nationally.

He finished the year ranked fourth among the SoCon leaders in tackles, third in sacks (6.5) and second in tackles for a loss (14.0). Five times this season Covington recorded 11 or more tackles in a game. He registered a career-high 3.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for a loss against Appalachian State. Covington led all active players with 171 tackles in just two years.

Walker dominated the opposing offensive lines from his defensive end position. He finished the 2008 campaign as the league-leader in sacks (8.5 for 66 yards) and tackles for a loss (17.5 for 81 yards). Among the national leaders, Walker is tied for 14th in sacks and stands 13th in TFL. He was fourth on the team making 55 tackles, forced three fumbles and recovered a fumble for a 78-yard touchdown against Wofford. Walker also blocked a kick at The Citadel.

He recorded three sacks and forced a fumble in the record-setting come-from-behind win at Western Carolina. Two of his three sacks came during Western’s drive in overtime to help seal the win. He followed that with 5.0 tackles for a loss (2.0 sacks) and two forced fumbles during the triple-overtime win at The Citadel.

Andrews turned in a record-breaking senior year, setting new Georgia Southern season standards with 64 receptions totaling 873 yards. He also caught five touchdowns. Among the national leaders, Andrews ranks 15th in receptions per game, 20th in receiving yards, 12th in punt returns (14.0) and 42nd in all-purpose yards (125.5 ypg).

Along the way, Andrews set a GS career record with 127 receptions. His 1,538 receiving yards rank second-most in program history while his nine touchdown receptions place him sixth all-time. He recorded five 100-yard receiving games this year, not only setting a Georgia Southern season record but career mark as well. He caught 10 passes in consecutive games this year (The Citadel, Samford) which also broke the team’s single-game record. Andrews closed out his Eagle career tying the record for most punt return touchdowns in a season (1) and career (2).

Mora took over the place kicking duties in week four and never looked back. He joined an elite group of Georgia Southern players, becoming just the sixth freshman to ever earn All-Southern Conference accolades (Dan Jordan, 2004; Jermaine Austin, 2002; James Young, 2001; Freddie Pesqueira, 1999; Adrian Peterson, 1998; Arkee Thompson, 1998). Mora, who was also named to the SoCon All-Freshman team earlier in the day, was just one of two freshman league-wide to earn All-Conference honors.

On his first collegiate field goal attempt Mora connected from 41 yards out, and would eventually hit 10-of-12 on the season. Mora made all 31 extra point attempts as well. The redshirt-freshman ranked fifth in scoring among all players in league-only games (7.6 points per game/second among the kickers), first in field goal percentage (.833) and tied for first in PAT kicking percentage (1.000). At Chattanooga, Mora nailed all seven extra point attempts. He finished the year having made a field goal in every game played, including a season-long 42-yarder in the season-finale win at Furman.

2008 SCSMA All-Southern Conference Football Team

Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State* Defensive Player of the Year – Chris Covington, Georgia Southern Freshman of the Year – Dustin Taliaferro, Samford Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Jerry Moore, Appalachian State

* - Unanimous selection.

First Team Offense

QB Armanti Edwards, Jr., Appalachian State

RB Chris Evans, So., Samford

RB Dane Romero, Sr., Wofford

OL Ben Quick, Sr., Wofford

OL Joel Bell, Sr., Furman

OL Derek Wooten, Sr., Wofford

OL Jon Bieschke, Sr., Appalachian State

OL Mario Aciteli, Jr., Appalachian State

TE Ben Jorden, Fr., Appalachian State

WR Andre Roberts, Jr., The Citadel

WR Terrell Hudgins, Jr., Elon

First Team Defense

DL Dakota Walker, Sr., Georgia Southern

DL Jabari Fletcher, So., Appalachian State

DL Mitch Clark, Jr., Wofford

DL Patrick Hatcher, So., Samford

LB Jacque Roman, Jr., Appalachian State

LB Chris Covington, Sr., Georgia Southern

LB Brandon Williams, Sr., Furman

DB Mark LeGree, So., Appalachian State

DB William Middleton, Sr., Furman

DB Cortez Gilbert, Jr., Appalachian State

DB Max Lerner, So., Furman

First Team Specialists

PK Andrew Wilcox, Sr., Elon

P Neil Young, Sr., Appalachian State

RS Andre Roberts, Jr., The Citadel

Second Team Offense

QB Scott Riddle, So., Elon

RB Brandon Newsome, So., Elon

RB Mike Brown, So., Furman

OL Ben Miller, Sr., Wofford

OL Brad Coley, Sr., Appalachian State

OL Chris Werden, Jr., Elon

OL Thomas Slaughter, Sr., Furman

OL Mitchell Waters, Sr., Samford

TE Chris Truss, Jr., Furman

WR Raja Andrews, Sr., Georgia Southern

WR Adam Mims, So., Furman

Second Team Defense

DL Terrence Reese, Jr., The Citadel

DL Anthony Williams, Jr., Appalachian State

DL Dewitt Jones, Jr., The Citadel

DL Jeff Bradley, Sr., Western Carolina

LB Seth Goldwire, Sr., Wofford

LB D.J. Smith, So., Appalachian State

LB Bryce Smith, So., Samford

DB Mitchell Bell, So., Western Carolina

DB Jason Leventis, Sr., Wofford

DB Andy Davis, So., Samford

DB Walker White, Jr., Elon

Second Team Specialists

PK Adrian Mora, Fr., Georgia Southern

P Brandon Lane, Sr., Elon

RS Adam Mims, So., Furman