STEPHENVILLE – After earning their first career All-America honors from the D2CCA, Deon Sheppard and Devin Hafford have been named All-America Second Team honorees from the Associated Press.
The second All-America recognition caps off a career year for Sheppard, who transferred to Tarleton prior to the 2017 season. The San Antonio native has started all 25 games for the Texans over the last two seasons, including all 13 of this season’s historic run to the Super Region 4 finals, the program’s first outright LSC championship, and a school-record 12 wins. Sheppard was named D2CCA All-Region, the LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year, and All-LSC First Team.
With Sheppard at the forefront of the offense, the Texans produced one of the most elite offensive units in the country and Tarleton history. Tarleton boasted the No. 5-ranked scoring offense in the country and the No. 3-ranked rushing offense. This produced the most 40-point performances in school history (9) in a season and the first set of teammates to each rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, en route to setting a new school record for single-season rushing yards (4,031). Tarleton also set new single-season records for rushing attempts (690), total offensive plays (977), total offense (6,709), first downs (301), touchdowns (79), and points scored (585).
Defensively, Tarleton enjoyed one of the greatest statistical turnarounds in program history en route to a school-record 12 wins and the program’s first appearance in the regional finals. The Texans boasted the No. 9-ranked scoring defense and No. 14-ranked rushing defense in the country and allowed just 303.2 total yards per game.
The All-America second team defensive back was an All-LSC and D2CCA All-Region First Team award winner. Hafford was also the LSC Defensive Back of the Year and was ranked No. 26 in the nation in passes defended (18). Hafford had 34 tackles at the cornerback position to go along with four interceptions and 14 breakups.
This marks the first time since J.W. Boren in 2002 that a Texan has been named to multiple All-America teams in the same season. It’s the first time in school history that two players have earned multiple All-America recognition in the same season.
For the complete list of Associated Press All-America Teams, visit APnews.com.
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