Eleven football players earn All-HCAC recognition with Coltrain, Pope named first team

CARMEL, Ind. – The Defiance College football program has 11 players who earned All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference recognition this season. The HCAC office announced its spring 2021 football all-conference teams and major award winners on Friday morning after a vote of the conference's head coaches.

Defiance had two players receive First Team All-HCAC honors in sophomore inside linebacker Thomas Coltrain (Leslie, Mich./Leslie) and freshman defensive lineman Richard Pope IV (Holly Hill, Fla./Atlantic). Coltrain and Pope were each chosen as the HCAC Defensive Player of the Week once during the spring campaign.

Despite playing in just five of his squad's seven contests this past season, Coltrain led the Yellow Jackets in total tackles (49), solo tackles (28), assisted tackles (21) and total tackles per game (9.8) while having nine total tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. In the conference, he ranked tied for second in total tackles for loss per game (1.8), third in total tackles per game, tied for fourth in solo tackles for loss (seven), tied for fifth in solo tackles, tied for fifth in total tackles for loss, tied for fifth in assisted tackles for loss (four), sixth in total tackles and tied for seventh in assisted tackles.

Pope came on strong toward the end of the year to lead DC in total tackles for loss with 14 and sacks with seven. He also was second on the team in total tackles (41), solo tackles (27) and total tackles per game (5.9), and third in assisted tackles (14). Pope topped the HCAC in total tackles for loss, solo tackles for loss (13) and total tackles for loss per game (2.0) while placing second in total sacks, second in solo sacks (six), tied for second in sacks per game (1.0) and tied for second in assisted sacks (two).

Representing Defiance as Second Team All-HCAC selections are freshman superback Tyshaun Freeman (Macon, Ga./Westside), senior wide receiver Terry Geiger (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus Crusaders), senior strong safety Steven Lucas (Warren, Mich./Center Line), freshman offensive guard Eric Moultrie Jr. (Snellville, Ga./South Gwinnett), junior defensive tackle Rigo Villa (Fort Myers, Fla./Lehigh) and freshman superback Nazavious Williams (Hudson, Fla./Fivay).

In rushing, Freeman paced the Yellow Jackets in attempts (110), yards (466) and touchdowns (five) while leading the team with 32 points. He also had two receptions for 41 yards, totaling 507 all-purpose yards, which ranked second for DC. Among the HCAC leaders, he was third in rushing attempts, fourth in rushing yards, tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns and eighth in rushing yards per game (66.6).

Geiger, an honorable mention all-conference pick a season ago, was Defiance's top receiver with 18 catches for 260 yards and scored one touchdown. He also led the squad in all-purpose yards (565), return yards (279) and two-point conversions (two). Geiger was fourth in the HCAC in both punt return yards (144) and punt return average (14.4 yards).

Lucas, who also garnered Second Team All-HCAC accolades as a junior, posted 31 total tackles, including 18 solos this spring. He added four pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble.

In his first year with the Yellow Jackets, Moultrie started all seven contests on the offensive line. Along the defensive line, Villa made 26 total tackles, including 13 solos and five for loss to go along with an interception, forced fumble and blocked kick. He was on the HCAC honorable mention list in 2019.

Williams participated in five contests and was DC's leader in rushing yards (79.4) and all-purpose yards (81.0) per game. He tallied four rushing touchdowns and was once chosen as the HCAC Offensive Player of the Week. In the conference statistics, he finished sixth with 397 rushing yards and eighth in rushing yards per game.

HCAC honorable mention honorees from Defiance include sophomore center Te'Von Carson-Payton (Loganville, Ga./Riverside Military Academy), sophomore offensive guard Izaiah Robinson (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee) and junior cornerback Derrell Walker (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr.). Walker contributed 20 total tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups, 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery this past campaign.

In all, there were 95 players honored, including 34 First Team All-HCAC selections and another 38 on the second team. Special awards announced were for Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Special Teams Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Coach of the Year.

During the spring, the Jackets went a promising 2-5 overall for sixth place in the conference after being picked to finish eighth. DC was coming off back-to-back 1-9 overall records in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, Defiance had only four all-conference players.