Fayetteville, N.C. - The USA South has released its postseason awards in the sport of football with 60 student-athletes garnering accolades. Led by First Team selection Malik Adams at wide receiver, the Battling Bishops had eight players earn recognition.
Adams follows up last season's Offensive Player of the Year award with his third straight First Team honor. The Selma, N.C. native caught a league-leading 11 touchdowns this season and ranked first in receiving yards per game (97.9). He will graduate as N.C. Wesleyan's career-leader in every receiving category, while his 47 career TD catches are also a USA South best.
Six other Bishops were honored on the Second Team. Senior Rakeem Cooper picked up the second All-Conference nod of his career on the defensive line after ranking in the top-5 in sacks with 5.0, upping his career total to 17.5 (2nd all-time at NCWC). Also on defense, senior linebacker Michael Clemmons was honored after tallying a team-high 64 tackles.
Offensively, senior center Bryan McCullough picked up the first league recognition of his career, as did sophomore tight end Ben Dorfman. Both helped anchor the offensive line, while Dorfman also caught a pair of touchdowns.
On special teams, senior placekicker Christopher Richardson was a first-time honoree after connecting on 35-of-36 point-after attempts and booting home 10-of-13 field goal tries this fall. Punter Codan Breckenridge joined him on the Second Team after a solid junior campaign highlighted by the second longest punt in program history at 65 yards. Breckenridge downed 14 punts inside the 20-yardline and force 10 fair catches.
Travis Thompson rounded out Wesleyan's honorees as a member of the USA South All-Sportsmanship team.
Elsewhere around the league, the Huntingdon trio of Luke Bailey, DeAnte' Griffith and Mike Turk were named Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively. Wrapping-up the individual awards were Ferrum College teammates Brian Mann and Montel Lee who were named Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.
To view the entire 2016 USA South All-Conference team in football, please visit www.usasouth.net.