By Eric Scott
Athletic Communications
Eight Northwestern Oklahoma State University football players were honored Wednesday when the Great American Conference released its All-Conference awards for the 2018 season.
Earning recognition by the conference coaches for their play this season are First Team selections Maurice Wright Jr. (OLB) and Horatio Smith (RS). Smith was also listed as an Honorable Mention selection at wide receiver. Center Brandon Niccum was named to All-GAC Second Team, while Jacob Peyton (RB), Sunday Deng (OL), Jimmie Pace (DE), Dakota Driskill (ILB) and Aahron Barnes (CB) joined Smith as Honorable Mention selections.
“Even though we are a little surprised by some of the results, I’m excited about the recognition our guys received from the league,” said head football coach Matt Walter. “This group of guys battled hard and never quit this season and they deserve to be recognized for their work.”
Wright, a junior from Luther, Oklahoma, finished second on the Northwestern team with a career high 114 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. The standout linebacker also forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles and batted down three passes from opposing quarterbacks.
It was the second time in as many season Wright was listed as a First Team selection.
Smith proved why he is one of the more prolific return men in program history in 2018, and the conference coaches recognized as a return specialist.
In his final game as a Ranger, Smith returned a punt 75 yards for the first Ranger punt return for a touchdown since 2011. He also took a kick return to the house in week five at Southeastern. Smith closed the season with 522 yards kickoff return yards and 151 punt return yards.
A staple on the offensive line this season, Niccum had an outstanding season in his first full season of playing time in the black-and-red. Niccum played a key role in the success of the Northwestern running backs this season, including Peyton’s honorable mention selection and led the way for freshman running backs Tyson Gatewood and Calion Baker, as well as the play of veteran Jalen Williams.
One of the more surprising selections was that of Driskill. Despite finishing the season with 120 tackles, second most in the league and ninth nationally, the junior linebacker was voted by the coaches for just honorable mention.
Driskill was a leader on a Ranger defense that allowed the fewest points by a Northwestern team since joining Division II.
To go along with his tackle total, Driskill picked off a pass in the season finale at Southwestern for a pick-six.
A native of Goddard, Kansas, he was credited with 12.5 tackles for loss, fourth most in the conference, three sacks and two passes broken up.
2018 is the second time in as many season Driskill was an honorable mention selection.
Peyton was also recognized by the conference coaches after shredding defenses at the first of the season prior to an elbow injury.
The junior running back rushed for an average of 82.8 yards per game, including performances of 162 yards and 171 yards against Arkansas-Monticello and Henderson State, respectively.
To go along with his First Team returner status, Smith picked up and honorable mention for his offensive play as well.
The speedy wide out collected 506 yards receiving and had three touchdowns during his senior campaign. During week 10 at Oklahoma Baptist, Cesar De Leon found Smith in the middle of the field for a 77-yard touchdown play, the longest offensive play by the Rangers this season.
Smith was a Second Team wide receiver honoree in the previous two seasons.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Deng was another key offensive lineman for the Rangers.
The young freshman proved why the coaches are high on his abilities and believe he will only continue to earn all-conference awards in his career.
Pace, a senior from Miami, Florida, finished the year with 50 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.
During the Rangers week seven contest against Arkansas Tech, Pace finished with eight tackles, three for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception.
He was selected as the conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.
Rounding out the conference honors for the Rangers is honorable mention, Barnes.
A junior cornerback from Duncanville, Texas, Barnes picked up 34 tackles and picked off two passes this season.
His total 11 passes defended this season was seventh best in the league.
Barnes was a First Team selection in 2017.