University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defensive end Keionta Davis was named the Southern Conference coaches’ defensive player of the year Tuesday, as the all-conference teams selected by coaches and the media were announced.
UTC had a conference-best 11 selections by the coaches and nine by the media, the second most.
Davis, offensive lineman Corey Levin and linebacker Nakevion Leslie were unanimous first-team selections. Davis, who came to UTC from Red Bank High School, led the league with 8.5 sacks and had 9.5 tackles for loss for the 8-3 Mocs, who host Weber State in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs Saturday.
Leslie had 92 tackles, two sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. Levin was a first-team pick on the line for the third consecutive season.
Offensive lineman Jacob Revis from Rhea County was a first-team pick by the coaches and second team by the media, as was running back Derrick Craine. Craine, who missed two games with an ankle injury and didn’t play the fourth quarters of five others, ran for 808 yards and nine touchdowns in the regular season.
Defensive end Vantrel McMillan was a first-team selection by the coaches and second team by the media after a senior season with a 6.5 sacks (fourth) and 13 tackles for loss (seventh). Safety Lucas Webb also was a first-team coaches’ pick, with 48 tackles and five passes broken up.
Quarterback Alejandro Bennifield and defensive back Montrell Pardue were consensus second-team selections. In his first season starting, Bennifield completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,173 yards and 23 touchdowns, which was second in the league. He led the league in passing efficiency. Pardue had 64 tackles, an interception he returned for a touchdown and a fumble recovery.
Dale Warren was a second-team linebacker selection by the media. He led the league with 17 tackles for loss and was seventh with six sacks. He added an interception and had a forced fumble that he recovered against Alabama.
Josh Cardiello was a second-team all-conference pick by the coaches, and offensive lineman Malcolm White and punter Colin Brewer made the all-freshman team.
Brewer was fifth in the SoCon in punting, averaging 41.5 yards on 33 punts with 11 placed inside the 20.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.