By: Seth Stogsdill, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications
ATLANTA – The Southern Athletic Association released its postseason awards for the 2023 football season and Centre was well represented, with ten players receiving All-SAA honors.
Fifth-year defensive end
Dallas Douglas was Centre's lone selection on the All-SAA first team after a career year. Douglas led the Colonels with 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. He also recovered a pair of fumbles and scored his first career touchdown on an interception return against Sewanee.
Junior offensive guard
Aiden Jackson earned his second straight All-SAA honor, selected to the all-conference Second Team. Jackson has graded out as Centre's top offensive lineman since he entered the starting lineup as a freshman and has yet to allow a sack in his collegiate career.
The remaining All-SAA selections for the Colonels were all Honorable Mentions. Beginning with the offense, wide receivers
Scotty Brown and
Blake Busson earned their first career all-conference nods. Busson caught 42 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns, while Brown caught 39 balls for 395 yards and five scores, also excelling in the return game.
Senior lineman
Zach Reiners earned his third straight All-SAA nod after switching from left tackle to center for his final season with the Colonels and having a fine senior campaign at a new position.
Defensively, senior
Colton Wessel was Centre's second defensive line representative on the all-conference squads, earning the honor for the first time in his career. Wessel started all ten games opposite Douglas at defensive end and contributed 24 tackles, one sack and six tackles for loss. He also displayed a knack for getting his hands on the football as he had three pass breakups and two blocked kicks.
Inside linebackers
Duerell Bard and
Evan Elder also joined the All-SAA ranks for the first time in their careers. Bard finished with 53 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a pass breakup, while Elder led the Colonels with 54 tackles while contributing 8.5 tackles of his own and tying for the conference lead with three fumble recoveries as both players consistently made plays for the Centre defense all season long.
Freshman cornerback
Brooks Sapone was Centre's final All-SAA selection on defense. After entering the starting lineup halfway through the season, Sapone gave Centre a strong finish to the season as he forced four turnovers over the last two games of the season, picking off three passes and forcing a fumble. Sapone's interception late against Birmingham-Southern helped seal a Centre win in the season finale.
Finally, junior kicker
Cam Tegge was named to the All-SAA squad after leading the conference with 13 made field goals. A two-time SAA Special Teams Player of the Week, Tegge hit on 76 percent of his field goals and hit three from over 40 yards out.
