Media outlets honor 11 Texan Football players, led by Kayvon Britten as All-American

• FCS FOOTBALL CENTRAL ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
• PHIL STEELE FCS ALL-AMERICAN, ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
• DAVE CAMBELL’S TEXAS FOOTBALL ALL-TEXAS NON-FBS TEAMS

STEPHENVILLE — Several media outlets have announced their national awards since the college football regular season concluded, and 11 Tarleton State student-athletes were recognized.

Kayvon Britten led the group by earning two All-American honors, placed on the 2023 FCS Football Central All-American Third Team and the Phil Steele FCS 2023 All-American Fourth Team.

Three found their way on Dave Campbell’s Texas Football All-Texan Non-FBS teams; Britten at running back, Josh Griffis at defensive line and Deangelo Rosemond at kick returner.

Finally, 11 Texan Football players were UAC 2023 All-Conference in the Phil Steele FCS Awards; Britten First Team RB, Jalen Carr First Team DB, Qua’Shawn Washington Second Team LB, Tuli Teuhema Second Team OL, Hunter Smith Second Team OL, Rosemond Second Team KR, Darius Cooper Third Team WR, Griffis Third Team DL, Layton Ernst Third Team OL, Dawson Hearne Fourth Team TE, and Benjamin Omayebu Fourth Team WR.

The two All-American honors and other awards add to the First Team All-Conference recognition Britten was awarded last Friday by the UAC. In 2023, he was one of the best running backs in the nation, finishing with 1,150 yards on 183 carries (6.3 yards per rush) and 16 rushing touchdowns. He scored in 10 of Tarleton’s 11 games, averaging 104.6 rushing yards per contest. He added 106 receiving yards and a touchdown on 11 catches, finishing with 17 total touchdowns on the season. Conference-wise, Britten was first in rushing touchdowns (16, third in the FCS) and total touchdowns (17, tied-fifth in FCS). The next closest in rushing touchdowns was at 10, and total at 14. He was second in total rushing yards (1,150, ninth in FCS), rushing yards per game (104.6, tied-11th FCS) and yards per rush (6.3, 21st in FCS). In conference play, Britten led with 10 rushing touchdowns (next closest was at six) and was second at 744 rushing yards. In program history, Britten had the sixth most rushing yards in a single-season and the eighth most rushing yards per game in a single-season. Since 1977, Britten finished with the tied-third most rushing touchdowns in a single-season in program history, tied with Gaylon Bowser’s 16 rushing scores in 1987, only behind Xavier Turner’s 22 touchdowns in 2018 and Derrick Ross’ 22 touchdowns in 2004. Britten scored three touchdowns in a game twice, once in the season opener and another in the season finale. He capped off the year and Tarleton’s comeback victory with three rushing touchdowns and 176 yards on 22 carries. He had four 100-plus rushing yards on the season, all over the last five games, rushing for a season-high 187 yards at Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 14, doing so on 18 carries (10.4 YPC).

Carr was awarded First Team All-Conference honors by Phil Steele after a strong senior campaign. Carr led Tarleton’s secondary in pass breakups with nine on the year, adding two forced fumbles, 31 total tackles (25 solo), a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. His nine pass breakups were the tied-fourth most in the United Athletic Conference. He posted a season-high eight tackles at Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 30, adding a tackle for loss and pass breakup.

Washington adds Second Team Phil Steele honors after First Team recognition by the conference last week. Washington finished the year with 68 total tackles (42 solo), three fumble recoveries, 3.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries and two pass breakups in 10 games. His three fumble recoveries were the tied-most in the conference (tied-third most in the FCS), while his 6.8 tackles per game were tied-16th most in the UAC. He was the UAC Defensive Player of the Week after Tarleton’s Nov. 4 win over Stephen F. Austin, where he recorded two fumble recoveries, 10 total tackles and two pass breakups. He logged a season-high 12 tackles, with one fumble recovery, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry in Tarleton’s conference-opening win over North Alabama on Sept. 9.

Teuhema took First Team All-Conference at center last week, while Smith and Ernst were Second Team All-Conference at offensive line last Friday. Teuhema and Smith added Second Team Phil Steele All-Conference honors now, with Ernst placed on Third Team. Teuhema started all 11 games at center for the Texans in his first year on the team, Smith got the starting nod this year and had a breakout campaign as he started all 11 games, and Ernst started nine games for the Texans on the offensive line and shined. They were all part of an offensive line that provided the best rushing attack in the United Athletic Conference, with the Texans posting 201.7 rushing yards per game, most in the UAC and 12th most in the FCS. They averaged 5.2 yards per rush (second in the UAC, 17th FCS) and went for 25 rushing touchdowns (most in the UAC, 16th FCS). Overall, the Texans averaged 33.3 points per game (second in UAC, 13th FCS), 430.5 yards per game (second UAC, 14th FCS) and 6.4 yards per play (first UAC, 11th FCS). The Texan offensive line allowed just 14 sacks all season, the tied-third fewest in the UAC and the tied-18th fewest in the FCS. They allowed just 3.91 tackles for loss per game as well, the second fewest in the UAC, 10th fewest in the FCS.

Rosemond was UAC All-Conference Second Team last week, and now adds both Dave Campbell’s and Phil Steele Second Team All-Conference honors. He was Tarleton’s primary kick returner all season, averaging 25.7 yards across 18 returns (462 total yards). He had three returns go for 50-plus yards, two for 60-plus yards, with a season-long kick return of 65 yards against North Alabama on Sept. 9. He had the most total kickoff return yardage in the UAC and averaged the second most. Only one other player in the UAC had a kickoff return go for 60-plus yards, and he posted two of them.

Despite missing four games due to injury, Cooper finds himself on Phil Steele’s Third Team after Second Team All-Conference honors by the UAC last week. He finished with the tied-most receiving touchdowns on the team (five), the second most receiving yards (622) and the second most receptions (28). His 88.9 receiving yards per game was best on the Texans, the best in the United Athletic Conference, and the 11th most in the FCS. He had the tied-10th most receiving touchdowns in the conference. Cooper had two multi-touchdown games, which coincided with his two 100-plus receiving yard games. He had a season-high 168 yards on five receptions and two scores against Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 4. At Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 14, he finished with 149 yards on six catches and two touchdowns, coming down with a 30-yard TD in overtime on 4th and 15 to keep the game alive. In conference-play, Cooper led the UAC with 91.4 receiving yards per game. He had the tied-third most receiving touchdowns (four) and the third most receiving yards (457).

Griffis adds Dave Campbell’s award and Phil Steele Third Team honors to his Second Team placement by the UAC last week. He exploded at the end of the season, especially in conference play, finishing with five sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, eight quarterback hurries, 12 total tackles and a pass breakup. Over his past four games, he had a sack in each contest, including a forced fumble in each of the last three games. His best game of the season came in Tarleton’s season finale win against Abilene Christian, where he a strip sack fumble, two tackles for loss and three solo tackles. Griffis led the Texans in sacks, tackles for loss, forced fumbles and quarterback hurries. In the UAC, Griffis was second in forced fumbles (three), third in sacks (five) and tied-10th in tackles for loss (8.5). In conference play, Griffis had the most forced fumbles (three), the tied-third most sacks (three) and the tied-11th most tackles for loss (4.5).

Hearne takes his first postseason recognition after a strong year at tight end in his first year in Stephenville. As Tarleton uses their tight ends more as blockers than receivers, Hearne helped the Texans to the best rushing attack in the UAC, with the Texans posting 201.7 rushing yards per game, most in the UAC and 12th most in the FCS. Receiving wise, Hearne finished with six catches for 73 yards and a touchdown, scoring on a 9-yard play against Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 4.

Omayebu went off for Tarleton State and is rightfully recognized on the Phil Steele list. He was Tarleton’s leading receiver in 2023, finishing with 671 yards on 64 receptions and a touchdown. He had eight games with five-plus receptions, including two 10-plus reception outings, topping out at 12 catches at Texas Tech. His best game of the year came in the season finale at Abilene Christian, where he posted a career-high 163 yards on 10 grabs. His 64 receptions on the year are the tied-sixth most in a single-season in program history. His 64 grabs were second most in the UAC and 20th most in the FCS.