Jordan Gay was named Special Teams Player of the Year, and a total of 14 Centre players were recognized when the Southern Athletic Association announced its 2012 Football All-Conference Award Winners on Monday.
Gay, a senior kicker/punter from Danville, Ky. received the special teams award after being selected for the same award a year ago by the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and being named Special Teams Player of the Week five times in 10 weeks this season. Gay finished the year with a 44.8 yard average and a long of 59 yards on 34 punts, landing seven of those inside the 20. He also made eight field goals with a school-record long of 53 and made all 32 of his extra point attempts.
Centre claimed five spots on the all-conference first team with Gay getting the nod as first team kicker and punter. Centre's other first team selections were senior wide receiver Jason Osterman (Monroe, Ohio), junior defensive back Erich Vogelsang (Northbend, Ohio) and senior defensive lineman Grant Poston (West Chester, Ohio). Osterman led the team with 38 catches for 589 yards and four touchdowns while Vogelsang had a team-high 71 tackles with two interceptions. Poston made 42 tackles with 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss.
The Colonels had two second team selections in Rob Melillo (Louisville, Ky.), who caught 32 balls for 399 yards and two touchdowns, and Robert Morris (Henderson, Ky.), who was a key member of a line that paved the way for an offense that averaged 379 yards and 25.4 points per game.
Centre was also well represented among the honorable mention selections with sophomore quarterback Heath Haden (Kingsport, Tenn.), senior running back Monte Scotton (Cleveland, Tenn.), senior offensive lineman Bobby Bruggeman (Cincinnati, Ohio), senior linebacker Michael Bozarth (Mt. Washington, Ky.), sophomore linebacker Rue Hockensmith (Woodberry Forest, Va.), sophomore defensive lineman Paul Megilligan (Danville, Ky.) and junior defensive back Casey Vatter (Okeana, Ohio) all being recognized.
