#UACFOOTBALL -- Following an outstanding debut season of competition, the United Athletic Conference (UAC) announced its inaugural set of postseason award winners as chosen by the league's head football coaches. The honor lists were headlined by a group of superlative selections including Mike DiLiello (Offensive Player of the Year), David Walker (Defensive Player of the Year), Kyle Ramsey (Specialist of the Year), Beau Sparks (Freshman of the Year) and Todd Whitten (Coach of the Year).

DiLiello led one of the top offenses in the FCS while quarterbacking Austin Peay to nine-straight wins to close the regular season, an undefeated 6-0 mark in UAC play and an outright conference Championship. The Govs offense ranked 10th in the FCS and led the UAC in scoring offense (34.1 ppg) while ranking 13th in the FCS in passing offense (274.1) and 16th in total offense (426.8). DiLiello ranked second in the FCS in passing yards (3,164), third in passing touchdowns (28), fourth in points responsible for (198), sixth in points responsible for per game (16.5), eighth in passing efficiency (160.3) and 10th in yards per pass attempt (8.74). His stellar season included matching the APSU single-game record and marking the best single-game total in the FCS this season with six passing touchdowns against North Alabama. DiLiello also rushed for five touchdowns this season.

A two-time finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award and a six-time All-American selection for Central Arkansas, Walker led the UAC in sacks (8.5, -53 yards) and tackles for loss (18, -69 yards). He finished the season with 57 total tackles and added one pass breakup and a forced fumble on his resume. His statistical totals ranked eighth in the nation in TFL and 21st for sacks. Against Tarleton, Walker shattered a 20-year-old Bears record with 6.5 tackles for loss and also collected a career-high13 stops.

Ramsey, the standout sophomore placekicker for Abilene Christian, ranked No. 1 in the nation with a 93.3 percent field goal accuracy rate highlighted by his 4-of-5 performance from beyond 50 yards. Three of the nation's top four longest field goals in 2023 came off the foot of Ramsey, who was also 33-of-34 on his PAT attempts for the Wildcats. Ramsey ranked 13th nationally for field goals made per game (1.37) and was 35th in scoring (6.8 ppg). A two-time UAC Specialist of the Week, Ramsey saw 41 of his 57 kickoffs result in touchbacks.

A true freshman wideout for Utah Tech, Sparks was a finalist for the FCS Jerry Rice Freshman of the Year Award and garnered FCS Football Central Freshman All-American accolades. He concluded his debut collegiate season as the UAC leader in receptions (74; 6.73 rpg) while ranking fifth in total receiving yards (723; 65.7 ypg) and t-fourth in TDs (7). Sparks wound up second in total receptions for conference games (44; 7.3 rpg) and 10th in yards (374; 62.3 ypg). A two-time UAC Freshman of the Week selection, Sparks set a Trailblazers' freshman record with 144 yards on seven catches against No. 2 Montana State. He caught at least five passes in nine of 11 games and hauled in a career-high 12 passes versus Abilene Christian.

Whitten, the 14th year head coach for Tarleton State, guided the Texans to a fourth straight winning season at the NCAA Division I level to close out their reclassification period. His team capped off the transition with their best year yet, going 8-3 overall including a 4-2 conference mark and wrapped up the season on a four-game win streak. Whitten's 2023 TSU squad finished in the top-20 in scoring offense and total offense, despite not having a single senior starter on that side of the ball. Defensively, his group was dynamic, finishing in the top-25 in yards per play, sacks and defensive touchdowns. Whitten, who collected his 100th victory with the Texans this season, was also named a finalist for the 2023 Eddie Robinson Award.

The depth of the UAC was reflected in the postseason awards as all nine members boasted at least one First Team All-Conference honoree and five different programs collected superlative honors. UAC Champion Austin Peay led the way with 17 selections on the All-Conference lists bolstered by 10 first team accolades. Tarleton State was second with nine selections followed by seven for Central Arkansas. Abilene Christian, EKU and Southern Utah each produced five honorees while Utah Tech (4), North Alabama (3) and Stephen F. Austin (2) rounded out the selections.
 

First Team	Second Team
QB - Parker McKinney (EKU)*	QB - Justin Miller (Southern Utah)
QB - Mike DiLiello (Austin Peay)	RB - ShunDerrick Powell (Central Arkansas)*
RB - Jevon Jackson (Austin Peay)*	RB - Jerrell Wimbley (Stephen F. Austin)
RB - Kayvon Britten (Tarleton State)*	WR - Tre Shackelford (Austin Peay)
WR - Trey Goodman (Austin Peay)	WR - Darius Cooper (Tarleton State)
WR - Isaiah Wooden (Southern Utah)	WR - Beau Sparks (Utah Tech)
TE - Hunter Brown (EKU)*	TE - Jed Castles (Abilene Christian)
OL - Chander Kirton (Austin Peay)	TE - Jordan Goco (Austin Peay)
OL - Isaiah Wright (Austin Peay)	OL - Alan Hatten (Abilene Christian)
OL - Payton Collins (EKU)	OL - Will Diggins (Central Arkansas)
OL - Josiah Ezirim (EKU)	OL - Layton Ernst (Tarleton State)
C - Jalen Armstrong (Austin Peay)	OL - Hunter Smith (Tarleton State)
C - Tuli Teuhema (Tarleton State)	C - Edward Riley (Southern Utah)

 

First Team	Second Team
DL - Syrus Webster (Utah Tech)*	DL - Hosea Knifeley Jr. (Austin Peay)
DL - Logan Jessup (Central Arkansas)	DL - Philip Ossai (North Alabama)
DL - David Walker (Central Arkansas)	DL - Rylen Sua-Filo (Southern Utah)
DL - Edward Bobino III (Stephen F. Austin)	DL - Josh Griffis (Tarleton State)
LB - Sam Howard (Austin Peay)	LB - Jake Golday (Central Arkansas)
LB - Tyler Long (Austin Peay)	LB - Aubrey Nellems (Southern Utah)
LB - Logan Blake (EKU)	LB - Will Leota (Utah Tech)
LB - Qua'Shawn Washington (Tarleton State)	DB - Patrick Jolly (Abilene Christian)
DB - Jevon McIver Jr. (Austin Peay)	DB - Kory Chapman (Austin Peay)
DB - TaMuarion Wilson (Central Arkansas)	DB - Cedarius Doss (Austin Peay)
DB - Edwin White Schultz (North Alabama)	DB - Cameron Godfrey (Central Arkansas)
DB - Patrick Jones (Tarleton State)

First Team	Second Team
K - Kyle Ramsey (Abilene Christian)*	K - Maddux Trujillo (Austin Peay)
P - Grant Nickel (Abilene Christian)	P - Adam Watford (North Alabama)
RS - Kam Thomas (Austin Peay)*	RS - Deangelo Rosemond (Tarleton State)
LS - Ryan Kean (Utah Tech)	LS - Ethan Myers (Austin Peay)