SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Nov. 21, 2023) – The Southern Conference announced its 2023 football postseason honors on Tuesday and 12 Buccaneers received recognition from the league coaches and media. 
 
Sheldon Arnold, II, Nate Brackett and Stephen Scott all landed spots on the league's first team by the coaches, while Luke Smith earned second team honors by the coaches and media and Chris Hope was voted second team by the media. Seven Bucs landed spots on the all-freshman team – Xavier Gaillardetz, Tommy Winton, III, Ray Coney, Dre Delinois, Jaylen George, Jayvon Henderson and Ewan Johnson. 
 
SHELDON ARNOLD, II – JUNIOR – SAFETY 

• First team all-SoCon by coaches and media 
• Started all 11 games, totaling 87 tackles, nine tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and four pass break-ups 
• Led the team in interceptions, fumble recoveries, forced fumbles and tackles for loss 
• Two-time SoCon Defensive Player of the Week 
• Ranked third among FCS players in fumble recoveries, tied for seventh in total interceptions and 14th in interceptions per game (0.4)
• Had a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown in the win over Wofford and a 99-yard return off a blocked field goal in last Saturday's win over The Citadel 

NATE BRACKETT – REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE – PUNTER 

• First team all-SoCon by coaches 
• Played all 11 games
• Registered 67 punts for 2,906 yards (43.37 average) 
• Landed 21 punts inside the 20-yard line and 13 went over 50 yards 
• Career-long of 70 against Carson-Newman – tying for the 15th-longest punt among FCS players this season 
• Ranked 14th nationally in punt average 

STEPHEN SCOTT – SENIOR – LINEBACKER  

• First team all-SoCon by coaches and second team by media 
• Started all 11 games for the Bucs 
• Ranked second on the team with 89 total tackles 
• Generated 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, along with leading the team with nine quarterback hurries 
• Three games with double-digit tackles – 12 hits against Austin Peay, Mercer and  The Citadel
• The 12 tackles tied a career-high 

LUKE SMITH – GRADUATE STUDENT – OFFENSIVE LINE  

• Second team all-SoCon by coaches and media 
• Started all 11 games at center for the Bucs 
• Played over 600 snaps for the Blue & Gold
• Part of an offensive line that rushed helped generated over 200 rushing yards four times 
• Season-high 286 rushing yards at VMI 

CHRIS HOPE – JUNIOR – SAFETY

• Second team all-SoCon by the media 
• Started all 11 games 
• Led the team with 94 tackles, while adding 2.5 tackles for loss, a half sack and five pass break-ups 
• Four games with double-digit tackles
• Career-high 12 tackles against Jacksonville State and Western Carolina 
• Six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack vs. Mercer 
• Eight solo tackles against Samford 
• Ranked 11th nationally in solo tackles per game (5.6) and 39th in total tackles per game (8.5) 

XAVIER GAILLARDETZ – REDSHIRT FRESHMAN – WIDE RECEIVER

• Played in nine games with six starts 
• Led the team with three touchdown receptions 
• Ranked second in receptions (20) and receiving yards (342)
• Career-high five catches for 103 yards and one touchdown vs. The Citadel 
• First collegiate touchdown reception came in the win over Carson-Newman 
• Hauled in a touchdown catch at Samford 
• Ranked 33rd among FCS players in yards per reception (17.1) 
• Led the Bucs with five punt returns for 86 yards 

TOMMY WINTON, III – REDSHIRT FRESHMAN – WIDE RECEIVER

• Played in 10 games with eight starts 
• Led the team in receptions (23) and receiving yards (349)
• Had four kickoff returns for 99 yards – all coming at Samford 
• Recorded 10 carries for 23 yards 
• Posted at least one reception in nine games 
• Season-high 89 receiving yards at Western Carolina and had season-best four catches at Chattanooga 

RAY CONEY – FRESHMAN – LINEBACKER

• Played all 11 games for the Blue & Gold
• Ranked sixth on the team with 47 tackles 
• Scored a touchdown on a blocked punt from Teddy Wilson against Carson-Newman 
• Season-high seven tackles in the win over Carson-Newman 
• Had multiple tackles in all 11 games 
• Four hits with a half sack in collegiate debut at Jacksonville State 

DRE DELINOIS – FRESHMAN – LINEBACKER

• Played in 10 games in his first season with the Bucs 
• Totaled 19 tackles and one tackle for loss
• Season-high seven tackles at Western Carolina 

JAYLEN GEORGE – REDSHIRT FRESHMAN – DEFENSIVE LINE

• Started all 11 games in his first season with the Bucs 
• Finished the season with 21 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery 
• Had two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against The Citadel 
• Posted his first forced fumble and fumble recovery at Chattanooga 
• Recorded at least one tackle in 10 of the 11 games played

JAYVON HENDERSON – REDSHIRT FRESHMAN – CORNERBACK

• Played in all 11 games with seven starts 
• Registered 52 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one interception 
• First collegiate interception came at Chattanooga 
• Season-high nine tackles against VMI 
• Eight tackles at Austin Peay
• Seven tackles and one tackle for loss vs. The Citadel  

EWAN JOHNSON – REDSHIRT FRESHMAN – KICKER

• Played in all 11 games with the Blue & Gold 
• Had 44 kickoffs for 2,703 yards (61.4 average) 
• Sixteen touchbacks 
• Was 8-for-13 on field goals, including a long of 44 yards against Mercer 
• Was 24-of-24 on PATs
• Team-high 48 points 

The coaches named Furman quarterback Tyler Huff the offensive player of the year, while Chattanooga lineman Jay Person was named defensive player of the year. The coaches had co-freshman of the year with Samford's Brendan Jenkins and Furman's Carson Jones receiving the honor. Furman offensive lineman Jacob Johanning received the Jacobs Blocking Award and Furman's Clay Hendrix was named Coach of the Year. 
 
The media voted Western Carolina quarterback Cole Gonzales offensive player of the year. Person was named defensive player of the year and Jenkins was tabbed freshman of the year. Hendrix was named coach of the year. 
 
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