Nine Yellow Jackets Named All-HCAC

[2017 All-HCAC Teams]

GREENWOOD, IND. - Nine members of the Defiance College football team have earned All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference honors for their efforts this season.

The Yellow Jackets saw four players earn All-HCAC First Team honors in freshman wide receiver Carl Stokes (Merrillville, Ind./East Chicago Central), senior defensive lineman Greg Ward, Jr. (Ypsilanti, Mich.), junior linebacker Jalin Nealy (Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield), and senior linebacker Markell Moncrief (Detroit, Mich./Southfield Lathrup). 

Senior defensive backs Jerome Davis (Jupiter, Fla.) and Kolton Davis (Toledo/Bowsher) as well as senior offensive lineman Donte Owens (Clinton Twp., Mich./Clintondale) garnered Second Team honors, while freshman defensive back Cody Drumm-Turner (Homer, Mich.) was named Honorable Mention. Senior Tyler Gillig (Tiffin/Columbian) grabbed All-Sportsmanship team accolades. 

Stokes earns his first all-conference honor after appearing in all ten games for DC this season. The freshman led the Yellow Jackets with 49 receptions for 843 total yards and six touchdowns. He finished the season ranked third among the league in yards per game at 84.3 and averaged 17.2 yards per carry. Stokes also led the return team with 18 kick returns for 335 yards, including a 40 yard return against Baldwin Wallace and Mount Saint Joseph. 

Ward garners his second HCAC accolade after being named First Team a season ago. The senior appeared in all 10 games recording 51 tackles, including 15.5 tackles for loss. He forced one fumble, tallied a fumble recovery and had one pass breakup. Ward finishes his career with 136 total tackles, 40 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. 

Nealy appeared in 10 games this season with 78 total tackles, including a team-high 57 solo tackles. The week 10 HCAC defensive player of the week tallied five sacks, recorded 13 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles and a fumble recovery.  He also tallied one interception and two breakups as a linebacker for DC.

Moncrief also collects his second HCAC honor after being selected First Team his junior year. He appeared in all 10 games and finished second on the team in tackles with 71 (51 solo, 20 assisted). Moncrief also forced a team-best three fumbles and finished second on the team for interceptions with four. The senior finishes his career with 192 total tackles (140 solo, 52 assisted) , four sacks, eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries. 

Jerome Davis grabs his first All-HCAC honor after appearing in all 10 games. The senior finished the year with 32 tackles (26 solo, 6 assisted) and a team-best five interceptions, including two in a 45-0 win at Anderson. He has also recorded eight punt returns for a combined 34 yards. Davis finishes his career with 77 total tackles (59 solo, 18 assisted), seven interceptions and two fumble recoveries. 

Kolton Davis made 10 appearances this season with 57 tackles (40 solo, 17 assisted), ranking him fourth on the team. He tallied four interceptions, had two tackles for loss and one forced fumble. The senior claims his first All-HCAC selection and concludes his career at DC with 137 total tackles (100 solo, 37 assisted), 8.5 tackles for loss, and six interceptions. 

Owens also claims his first All-HCAC section after seeing action in eight games as an offensive lineman for the Yellow Jackets. The senior finishes his career with one tackle through 16 games of work.

Drumm-Turner saw action in seven games as a freshman tallying 24 tackles (16 solo, 8 assisted). He finished the year with three interceptions and three recovered fumbles, including two against Anderson. 

Gillig earns his first All-HCAC honor being named a member of the All-Sportsmanship Team. The senior appeared in all 10 games with 17 receptions for 148 total yards and three touchdowns. He ends his career with 27 total receptions, 233 yards and five touchdowns.