LIST OF ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES
GREENWOOD, Ind. - Earlham head football coach Nick Johnson and senior wide receiver Jalen Kenner were named Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Coach of the Year and Special Teams Most Valuable Player respectively in a release by the conference on Wednesday.
Johnson is in his first year as head coach of the Quakers. This honor was out of respect for Johnson and his dedication to his profession, his program, and his personal life. Coach Johnson instills life lessons to his student athletes on the field while embodying real life challenges. Off of the field, Johnson continues to head the football program while his wife, Melissa, battles illness. Melissa has been in the hospital for over 500 days in the last two years. Johnson has attended every practice and missed only one game this season.
"I believe it says volumes about the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference and its coaches who voted for this award," Johnson said. "Each week, I have felt such tremendous support from our competitors. I want to thank every coach in the HCAC for being a tough opponent, a great coach, and an even better man. All of the coaches in our league are great examples to their respective programs and a credit to their institutions."
"I do not accept this award for me, but on behalf of our staff," Johnson continued. "I don't know where Earlham Football would be without Robert Lee, Chuck Ehret, Dyrell Roberts, Elijah Ferguson, Kevin Carr, Patrick Piper, Jeff Adams, Kyle Fischer, and Rick Davis. These men are the glue that held Earlham Football together, and I am honored to be associated with them. If anyone 'won' this award it was our coaching staff as a whole. I was fortunate to see their dedication, work ethic, care, and concern for our young men and the game of football. It is sincere my privilege to work with each of them and to learn from them every day."
Kenner appears on the all-conference teams twice, once as a returner (first team) and the other as a wide receiver (second team). A four-year starter for Earlham, Kenner holds numerous career school records including: receptions (246), reception yards (2,987), consecutive games with a reception (39), and all-purpose yards (4,756). The Reserve, La., native also carries several single-season records: receptions (73), receiving yards (979), receiving yards per game (97.9) – all broken during his junior season.
This year, Jalen has broken still other single-season records: kickoff returns (51), kickoff return yardage (917), and all-purpose yards (1,854). Kenner has caught 59 passes for 799 yards and eight touchdowns this season.
Junior Lajay Kelly joined Kenner on the All-HCAC Second Team. Kelly led the squad in tackles with 97 while also forcing two fumbles. Kelly also leads all of NCAA Division III in blocked kicks with seven.
Senior Stephen Morris along with sophomores Wesley Hundley, Marcaus Cooper, and Ishmael MacNeil were named All-HCAC Honorable Mention. Morris started all 10 contests on the offensive line. Hundley also played in all 10 contest and led the Quakers in passing yards (1,478) and rushing yards (605). Cooper hauled in 50 receptions for 546 yards and seven touchdowns. MacNeil finished second on the squad in tackles with 96.
