Posted: Apr 06, 2021

Four-time All-ASC selection James Bell one of 17 Bulldogs to claim conference honors

SEGUIN, Texas -- Texas Lutheran senior safety James Bell earned his fourth All-ASC First Team honor and was one of 17 Bulldogs to receive honors as the American Southwest Conference released its 2020-21 football awards.

Bell was one of five Bulldogs to claim All-ASC First Team spots. He was joined on the First Team by teammates Nike Gooden (offensive tackle), Chris Monroe (running back), Juan Ocampo (place-kicker), and Jackson Worley (defensive line).

Bell played and started in 33 career games as Bulldog. He collected 199 total tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and 11 interceptions. In the 2020-21 season, Bell secured 43 total tackles (8.6 per game) and had four tackles for loss.

Ocampo claimed his second All-ASC First Team selection and his third overall selection to the All-ASC squad. The junior kicker missed one kick all season. He was 7-for-8 in field goal attempts, with a long make of 44, and he was 17-for-17 on point-after attempts.

Gooden, Monroe and Worley were named to the All-ASC First Team for the first time in their careers. Gooden starred at right tackle for the Bulldogs. He led an offensive line that was the driving force behind a rushing attack that led the ASC in rushing yards per game, at 244.8. The Bulldogs were third in total offense with 18 touchdowns scored and an average of 5.3 yards per play.

Monroe was third in the league in rushing, with 387 yards. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored three rushing TDs. He concluded his four-year Bulldog career with 1,928 yards and a career yards per carry average of 6.1. In TLU's DIII era, Monroe is third in career rushing yards. His 6.1 yards per carry are the most yards per carry for a back in TLU's DIII era (with at least 100 carries).

Worley earned All-ASC honors for the second time. (He was an Honorable Mention selection in 2019). In 2020-21, Worley took on constant double teams and still managed 16 tackles in five games. He had one sack and one tackle for loss. Worley recorded 6.5 career sacks and 63 total career tackles. His lone interception, which he returned for a touchdown, clinched the 2019 upset road win over then No. 6-ranked Hardin-Simmons.

Senior linebacker Dakwa Davis, who was lost for the year due to an injury early in the spring season, was named TLU's representative on the ASC's Outstanding Sportsman Team of the Year. Davis played in two games before an injury in the second game of the year. He was leading the team in tackles, with 20, when his season ended. He had a half-sack and 4.5 tackles for loss in the two games. He was named the ASC West Defensive Player of the Week after the home win over Sul Ross State.

Bulldogs named to the All-ASC Second Team included: senior wide receiver Mason Perkins, junior center Trevor Hopkins, senior linebacker Keyshawn Holman, and junior punter Justice Porter.

All-ASC Third Team selections included: junior offensive guard NaKoven Lewis, freshman running back DaKory Willis, Perkins again (this time as a return specialist), and junior cornerback Robert Ramirez III.

All-ASC Honorable Mention honors went to: sophomore tight end Aaron Sotelo, senior guard Levi Torres, and sophomore quarterback Seth Cosme.

Perkins averaged 86.6 yards of receiving per game over the five-game season. He caught four touchdown passes and was named the ASC West Offensive Player of the Week after leading TLU to a comeback road win over Howard Payne. Perkins also averaged 16.5 yards per punt return and had a long return of 66.

Hopkins started all five games at center for TLU and, like Gooden, was a huge part of the Bulldogs' offense that led the conference in rushing and was third in total offense.

Holman led a depleted TLU linebacking corps and moved from outside to inside linebacker during the year. He was third on the team in total tackles, with 29. He had nine solo tackles and 20 tackles assists.

Porter punted 13 times and averaged 41.0 per punt. He had a long of 70 and put four punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

Lewis was another offensive lineman that started all five games (at right guard) and propelled TLU to the team rushing title. Willis was one of the backs that benefited from the work of Lewis and the offensive line. The true freshman rushed for 343 yards and ranked fourth in the conference in rushing yards. He averaged 6.1 yards per rush and scored three rushing touchdowns.

Ramirez III started all five games at cornerback and collected an interception, a fumble recovery, and 17 total tackles.

Sotelo, the team's starting H-back, was a huge part of the Bulldogs' rushing attack. He also had six receptions for 100 yards, with a long of 33.

Torres was the fourth starting offensive lineman to collect All-ASC honors this year. Torres started in all five games at left guard.

Cosme started all five games at quarterback for TLU. Cosme began the year when returning All-ASC quarterback Wade Freeman III was unable to play. Cosme led TLU to the comeback win at Howard Payne and then split time with Freeman in wins over Sul Ross State and McMurry. Cosme threw for 600 yards and five touchdowns (with one interception). He also rushed 62 times for 233 yards and three touchdowns.

TLU went 3-2 overall and 3-1 in the American Southwest Conference West Division in the abbreviated 2020-21 spring football season. TLU was the ASC West runner-up and played in the No. 2 seed ASC playoff game against East Texas Baptist.

2020-21 All-ASC Football Teams and Awards

Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Kyle Jones, Hardin-Simmons
Defensive Player of the Year: Jefferson Fritz, Mary Hardin-Baylor ^D
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Steven Sellers, Mary Hardin-Baylor ^O
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Micah Latin, Louisiana College
Special Teams Player of the Year: K.J. Miller, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Freshman of the Year: Landon McKinney, Howard Payne
Coach of the Year: Blaine McCorkle, Belhaven
^D Two-Time Defensive Player of the Year

^O Two-Time Offensive Lineman of the Year

First Team Offense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University	Hometown
WR	Jake Parker	Sr.	Howard Payne	Whitehouse, Texas
WR	Micah Dunn ²	Jr.	Louisiana College	Shreveport, La.
SB	K.J. Miller ³	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Orange, Texas
TE	Brooks Brymer	So.	Belhaven	Hoover, Ala.
G	Boomer Warren	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	Haslet, Texas
G	Jeffery Sims, Jr.	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Mesquite, Texas
T	Nike Gooden	Sr.	Texas Lutheran	Bryan, Texas
T	Carson Ikels ²	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	Dripping Springs, Texas
C	Steven Sellers ³	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Murphy, Texas
QB	Kyle Jones ²	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	Giddings, Texas
RB	Brad Foley ²	Jr.	Belhaven	Memphis, Tenn.
RB	Devin Briscoe	Jr.	Louisiana College	Cecilia, La.
RB	Chris Monroe ²	Sr.	Texas Lutheran	College Station, Texas
K	Juan Ocampo ³	Jr.	Texas Lutheran	Lockhart, Texas
RS	K.J. Miller ³	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Orange, Texas

First Team Defense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University	Hometown
DL	Khevon Shepard ²	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Brenham, Texas
DL	Demetrius Brokenberry	Sr.	Belhaven	Shreveport, La.
DL	Micah Latin	Jr.	Louisiana College	Gloster, La.
DL	Jackson Worley ²	Sr.	Texas Lutheran	Keller, Texas
LB	Akeem Jackson ²	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Fairfield, Texas
LB	Jacob Mueller ²	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Fort Worth, Texas
LB	Mikkah Hackett	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Alto, Texas
LB	Ben Brockman ³	Sr.	Southwestern	Midland, Texas
LB	Julius Johnson ³	Sr.	Louisiana College	Abbeville, La.
DB	James Bell ⁴	Sr.	Texas Lutheran	Houston, Texas
DB	Jefferson Fritz ³	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Kaufman, Texas
DB	Dedrick Strambler ³	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	Midland, Texas
DB	Kyle Bell	Jr.	Howard Payne	Cypress, Texas
DB	KJ Kelley ²	Jr.	East Texas Baptist	Abilene, Texas
P	Jefferson Fritz ³	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Kaufman, Texas

Second Team Offense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University	Hometown
WR	Mason Perkins	Sr.	Texas Lutheran	Burleson, Texas
WR	Kadarius Daniels	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Pflugerville, Texas
SB	Austin Castilleja	Jr.	Southwestern	San Antonio, Texas
TE	Gary Ruckman ²	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	San Antonio, Texas
G	Cam Frederick ²	Sr.	Louisiana College	Breaux Bridge, La.
G	Hunter Moore	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	Wimberley, Texas
T	Kendrioun Boatman	So.	Belhaven	McAdams, Miss.
T	Donte Lewis	Jr.	Louisiana College	New Orleans, La.
C	Elias Berkel ²	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	Houston, Texas
C	Trevor Hopkins	Jr.	Texas Lutheran	New Braunfels, Texas
QB	Kyle King ²	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Milano, Texas
RB	Marc Reed	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	Round Rock, Texas
RB	Ozias Wright	So.	Sul Ross State	Killeen, Texas
RB	Montana Miller	Fr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Garland, Texas
K	Alberto Garcia	So.	East Texas Baptist	Huntsville, Texas
RS	Jermond Lovely	So.	McMurry	Dayton, Texas

Second Team Defense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University	Hometown
DL	Colton Strain ²	Sr.	Belhaven	Clinton, La.
DL	James Wright IV	So.	East Texas Baptist	Fayetteville, N.C.
DL	Carlton Brown	So.	Belhaven	Memphis, Tenn.
DL	E'Monte Smith ²	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Austin, Texas
LB	Matt Mitchell ²	So.	Hardin-Simmons	Wimberley, Texas
LB	Isaiah Blackmon	Sr.	Belhaven	Tuscaloosa, Ala.
LB	Justice Henson	Sr.	East Texas Baptist	Shreveport, La.
LB	Keyshawn Holman ²	Sr.	Texas Lutheran	Orange, Texas
DB	Drake Johnson	So.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Missouri City, Texas
DB	Jeffrey McCutcheon ²	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	Lubbock, Texas
DB	Cory McMahan	Jr.	Sul Ross State	Austin, Texas
DB	Zach Pike	So.	East Texas Baptist	Dayton, Texas
DB	Coryell Fillmore	Fr.	McMurry	Temple, Texas
P	Cody Harral	So.	Hardin-Simmons	Ballinger, Texas
P	Justice Porter ³	Jr.	Texas Lutheran	Cypress, Texas

Third Team Offense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University	Hometown
WR	Jermond Lovely	So.	McMurry	Dayton, Texas
WR	Rae Millsap ²	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	Abilene, Texas
SB	Kristopher Martin	Fr.	McMurry	El Paso, Texas
SB	Canaan Leon	Sr.	Louisiana College	Breaux Bridge, La.
TE	Jonathan Castaneda ⁴	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	Abilene, Texas
G	James Hill	Sr.	Southwestern	Aledo, Texas
G	Vern Angton III	Fr.	McMurry	Arlington, Texas
G	Ajani Batts	Fr.	Sul Ross State	Houston, Texas
G	NaKoven Lewis	Jr.	Texas Lutheran	Port Arthur, Texas
T	James White	Jr.	Sul Ross State	San Antonio, Texas
T	Daniel Hernandez	So.	McMurry	Pflugerville, Texas
C	Cory Stang ²	Jr.	East Texas Baptist	Magnolia, Texas
QB	Mario Asagunla ²	Sr.	Belhaven	Jackson, Miss.
RB	Kenneth Cormier, Jr.	Fr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Watauga, Texas
RB	Cornelius Merchant	So.	East Texas Baptist	Madisonville, Texas
RB	DaKory Willis	Fr.	Texas Lutheran	Flatonia, Texas
K	Jamie Pogue ³	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	Abilene, Texas
RS	Mason Perkins	Sr.	Texas Lutheran	Burleson, Texas

Third Team Defense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University	Hometown
DL	Khristion Little	So.	Hardin-Simmons	Tyler, Texas
DL	Sante Parker, Jr.	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Katy, Texas
DL	Wilbert Robertson	So.	Louisiana College	LaPlace, La.
DL	James Jakubowski	Jr.	Howard Payne	Tatum, Texas
DL	Caleb Bell	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	New Waverly, Texas
LB	Cameron Hanna	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	Abilene, Texas
LB	Josh Smith ⁴	Sr.	McMurry	Bossier City, La.
LB	Hunter Bunch	So.	Sul Ross State	Sonora, Texas
LB	Peyton Lowe	Fr.	Howard Payne	Gunter, Texas
LB	Connor Fordham	Jr.	Belhaven	Wedowee, Ala.
DB	Titus Dunk	So.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Austin, Texas
DB	Corey Toliver	Jr.	Belhaven	Zachary, La.
DB	Robert Ramirez III	Jr.	Texas Lutheran	Brownsville, Texas
DB	Malik Mason	Gr.	East Texas Baptist	Anna, Texas
DB	D'Mario Weathersby	So.	Louisiana College	Clinton, La.
P	Wil Herbst	Jr.	Southwestern	Boerne, Texas

Honorable Mention Offense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University	Hometown
WR	Qua Heath	Fr.	East Texas Baptist	Gilmer, Texas
WR	Jalen Crawford	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	Dallas, Texas
WR	Brenton Martin	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Marietta, Ga.
WR	Dre'Chan Moody	So.	Sul Ross State	San Antonio, Texas
SB	DeCarlos Frazier	Fr.	East Texas Baptist	New Orleans, La.
TE	Dylan Adams	Fr.	East Texas Baptist	Lewisville, Texas
TE	Aaron Sotelo	So.	Texas Lutheran	Castroville, Texas
G	Cameron Gutierrez	Sr.	Howard Payne	Waco, Texas
G	Tyler Howard	Sr.	Howard Payne	San Marcos, Texas
G	Ryan Miller	Jr.	McMurry	Mesquite, Texas
G	Levi Torres	Sr.	Texas Lutheran	Baytown, Texas
T	Erick Arellano	So.	East Texas Baptist	Round Rock, Texas
T	Ethan Ruckman	Fr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	San Antonio, Texas
C	Daniel Zarzoza III	Sr.	McMurry	Diboll, Texas
QB	Troy Yowman	Fr.	East Texas Baptist	Beaumont, Texas
QB	Seth Cosme	So.	Texas Lutheran	Angleton, Texas
RB	Dee Robinson ²	So.	McMurry	Rice, Texas
K	Anthony Avila ²	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Troy, Texas
K	Jaden Brown	Jr.	Sul Ross State	Andrews, Texas
RS	Cale Nanny	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	Argyle, Texas

Honorable Mention Defense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University	Hometown
DL	Eduardo Garcia	So.	Sul Ross State	Garland, Texas
DL	Aaron Aldrete	Jr.	Howard Payne	San Antonio, Texas
DL	Tristan Green	Fr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Gladewater, Texas
DL	De'Quallon Jenkins	Sr.	East Texas Baptist	Crowley, Texas
LB	Xavier Gayle	So.	McMurry	Rowlett, Texas
LB	Terrell Franklin ²	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	Abilene, Texas
LB	Chase Thompson	So.	East Texas Baptist	Buffalo, Texas

Outstanding Sportsman Team of the Year

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University	Hometown
QB	Tommy Bowden	So.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Brownwood, Texas
T	Kaylon Bruno	Sr.	East Texas Baptist	Patterson, La.
WR	Clayton Caniford	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	Clifton, Texas
WR	Lucas Cormier	Sr.	Louisiana College	Vinton, La.
LB	Dakwa Davis	Sr.	Texas Lutheran	Houston, Texas
RB	Brandon Jennings	Sr.	Southwestern	San Antonio, Texas
WR	Matthew Martin	Sr.	Howard Payne	Leander, Texas
QB	Clayton Maxwell	Sr.	Sul Ross State	San Antonio, Texas
QB	Ben Owens	Jr.	Belhaven	Starkville, Miss.
TE	Reagan Sullivan	Jr.	McMurry	Fort Worth, Texas

⁴ Four-time All-Conference

³ Three-time All-Conference
² Two-time All-Conference