LITTLE ROCK — Central Arkansas was rewarded for its 2012 Southland Conference regular-season championship Tuesday afternoon when 13 players were selected to the Southland Conference’s allconference teams, including eight first-team picks.
Junior quarterback Wynrick Smothers was named offensive player of the year, while senior center Corey Howard was the offensive lineman of the year and defensive lineman Jonathan Woodard the freshman of the year.
Coach Clint Conque was named coach of the year after leading the Bears (9-2) to a share of the Southland championship and a second consecutive appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
Smothers has completed 261 of 386 passes for 2,852 yard with 31 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in his first season as UCA’s starting quarterback. He is also one of 20 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the top player in the FCS. Smothers is the second UCA quarterback to win the conference’s offensive player of the year award, joining Nathan Brown (2007), who is the team’s quarterbacks coach.
“This validates his season and body of work,” Conque said. “He falls in line with Nathan Brown and Nathan Dick over the last five years. We haven’t hit our ceiling with Wynrick yet. He’s been the catalyst.”
Howard moved from guard to center this season as UCA had to replace three offensive linemen from last season’s 9-4 team that advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs. Woodward recorded 33 tackles, including 10 1/2 for a loss, 7 sacks and recovered 3 fumbles.
Smothers, Howard, Woodard, senior wide receivers Dominique Croom and Jesse Grandy, sophomore place-kicker Eddie Camara, senior linebacker Seth Allison and junior defensive back Jestin Love were named to the first team. Grandy was a first-team selection at wide receiver, kick returner and punt returner.
Senior running back Jackie Hinton, sophomore offensive tackle Cole Caruthers and junior defensive lineman Matt Hornbuckle were named to the second team.
Junior tight end Chase Dixon, sophomore wide receiver Dezmin Lewis, junior linebacker Justin Heard and freshman defensive back Dillion Winfrey were honorable mention selections.
Sam Houston State junior running back Tim Flanders was named the Southland’s player of the year and his teammate, senior defensive back Darnell Taylor, earned the conference’s defensive player of the year award. Lamar sophomore wide receiver Kevin Johnson was the newcomer of the year.
Sports, Pages 23 on 11/21/2012