State sports briefs

— FOOTBALL

ASU’s Aplin Sun Belt player of the year

Arkansas State senior quarterback Ryan Aplin was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, wide receiver J.D. McKissic was recognized as the Freshman of the Year and 10 Red Wolves were named to the all-conference squad announced Wednesday by the league office.

ASU had at least 10 players earn All-Sun Belt Conference recognition for the third consecutive year and the sixth time overall since 2001. The Red Wolves had five offensive, four defensive and one special teams players earn a spot on the team, and their 10 total players selected were the most in the league.

Aplin became just the second player in Sun Belt history to be named the conference’s Player of the Year two times, joining former North Texas defensive lineman Brandon Kennedy (2002-2003). Along with former running back Danny Smith (2002), Aplin is one of two ASU players to earn the conference’s highest football honor.

Aplin helped lead ASU (9-3, 7-1) to a second consecutive conference title and a spot in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. He finished the regular season ranked first in the conference in total offense (3,572 yards) and passing efficiency (155.8) and second in passing yards (3,129). He broke his own school record for passing touchdowns with 23 and was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week three consecutive times to end the regular season. Aplin is already the Sun Belt Conference’s all-time leader in career total offense and passing yards, and he needs just seven completions in the bowl game to break the league record as well.

McKissic becomes the second ASU player to be named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, joining former running back Reggie Arnold (2006). McKissic currently has 92 receptions, the most by an ASU or Sun Belt freshman, and needs just two more to break the school record for a single season. He is second in the Sun Belt in receptions per game (7.7) and fifth in receiving yards (909). McKissic needs 81 yards to become the third player in school history to record 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

Joining Aplin as ASU first-team selections were junior running back David Oku, senior offensive lineman Zach McKnight, junior defensive lineman Ryan Carrethers and senior linebacker Nathan Herrold.

Joining McKissic as second-team choices for the Red Wolves were senior defensive end Tim Starson and junior kicker Brian Davis.

Senior wide receiver Taylor Stockemer and sophomore linebacker Qushaun Lee were both named honorable mention.

In-state players commit to HSU, OBU

Benton tailback Wallace Foote, who rushed for school-record 453 yards against Russellville in a Class 6A playoff game last month, has orally committed to Henderson State.

Foote, 5-9, 175 pounds, rushed for more than 1,800 yards this fall and for more than 3,500 yards in his career.

Conway offensive guard Brannon Kotch has orally committed to Ouachita Baptist.

Kotch, 6-1, 260, was a three-year starter and scored several touchdowns this fall, taking direct snaps in Conway’s “Rhino” package.

  • Robert Yates

Sports, Pages 19 on 12/06/2012

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