17 Hornets earn All-MIAA honors in football

Football | 11/14/2023 5:29:00 PM

November 14, 2023-Emporia State had 17 student-athletes earn All-MIAA recognition in football while punter Ross Brungardt was named the Special Teams Player of the Year by a vote of the league coaches this year.

The Hornets had six players earn First-Team All-MIAA honors, second only to league champion Pittsburg State.  Brungardt and quarterback Braden Gleason were unanimous selections to the First-Team.  Receivers Tyler Kahmann and Jaylen Varner along with offensive lineman Sherman Deaton joined Gleason on the offensive side of the ball while Defensive lineman Jordan Williams was a First-Team selection on the defensive side.
 
Billy Ross Jr. was named to the Second-Team on offense as an all-purpose back with defensive backs Jaaron Joseph and Montrell Wilson making the Second-Team on defense.
 
The Third-Team honorees for Emporia State were offensive lineman Carlos Guzman, defensive lineman Rylan Miller and linebacker Chance Rodriguez.
 
The Hornets had five players receive at least two votes from the conference coaches to earn Honorable Mention All-MIAA. S-Back Tommy Zimmerman, along with offensive linemen Dante Smith-Posey and Trevion Mitchell picked up honors on offense along with defensive linemen Rafe Goucher and Maquay Shaw on the defensive side.
 
The Hornets have accepted a bid to the FunTown RV Heritage Bowl in Corsicana, Texas. Emporia State will take on Southern Nazarene on Saturday, December 2. It is the third straight year the Hornets have earned an extra game and the eighth time in the last 11 seasons Emporia State has played into the post season.
 
 2023 MIAA POSTSEASON AWARDS 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Zach Zebrowski, Central Missouri, QB, Sr.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Dakari Streeter, Missouri Western, DL, Sr.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Ross Brungardt, Emporia State, P, Sr.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:  Seth Cromwell, Missouri Western, RB
COACH OF THE YEAR:  Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri

 2023 ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM 
OFFENSE
Quarterback – Braden Gleason – Emporia State*
Quarterback – Zach Zebrowski – Central Missouri*
Running Back – Jay Harris – Northwest Missouri
Wide Receiver – Tyler Kahmann – Emporia State
Wide Receiver – Arkell Smith – Central Missouri*
Wide Receiver – Jaylen Varner – Emporia State
Tight End/Fullback – Devon Garrison – Pittsburg State
All-Purpose Back – Marcellous Hawkins – Central Missouri
Offensive Line – Gabe Clark – Central Missouri*
Offensive Line – Sherman Deaton – Emporia State
Offensive Line – Layne Grantham – Central Oklahoma
Offensive Line – Trase Jeffries – Pittsburg State*
Offensive Line – Keith Russell – Missouri Western*
Kicker – Cody Watson – Missouri Western
DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Jake Fisher – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Line – Dubem Okonkwo – Pittsburg State
Defensive Line – David Olajiga – Central Missouri
Defensive Line – Dakari Streeter – Missouri Western*
Defensive Line – Jordan Williams – Emporia State
Linebacker – Jack Barkley – Pittsburg State
Linebacker – Alex Gaskill – Pittsburg State
Linebacker – John Johnson – Fort Hays State
Defensive Back – Michael Lacey – Pittsburg State*
Defensive Back – Wyryor Noil – Central Missouri
Defensive Back – Rico Payton – Pittsburg State
Defensive Back – Cahleel Smith – Northwest Missouri
Punter – Ross Brungardt – Emporia State*
*Indicates unanimous selection

 2023 ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM 
OFFENSE
Quarterback – Chad Dodson, Jr. – Pittsburg State
Running Back – Marcellous Hawkins – Central Missouri
Wide Receiver – Demarcus Gregory – Central Missouri
Wide Receiver – Kashan Griffin – Northwest Missouri
Wide Receiver – Jack Pospisil – Central Missouri
Wide Receiver – Trevor Watts – Fort Hays State
Tight End/Fullback – Deontay Campbell – Missouri Southern
All-Purpose Back – Billy Ross, Jr. – Emporia State
Offensive Line – Evan Clark – Missouri Western
Offensive Line – Andrew Funk - Washburn
Offensive Line – Zane Madison – Pittsburg State
Offensive Line – Derec Weyer – Northwest Missouri
Offensive Line – Liam Wortmann – Central Missouri
Kicker – Austin Schmidt – Pittsburg State
Kick/Punter Returner – DJ Bell – Washburn
 
DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Kobe Clayborne – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Line – Weston King – Central Missouri
Defensive Line – Myles Menges – Fort Hays State
Defensive Line – CJ Ravenell – Missouri Western
Defensive Line – Tell Spies – Nebraska Kearney
Linebacker – Cale Miller – Central Missouri
Linebacker – Anthony Villanueva – Missouri Western
Linebacker – Isaac Vollstedt – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Back – Curtis Appleton – Central Missouri
Defensive Back – Jaylen Fuksa – Pittsburg State
Defensive Back – Trae Holmes – Missouri Western
Defensive Back – Jaaron Joseph – Emporia State
Defensive Back – Mason Perez – Fort Hays State
Defensive Back – Kobe Rome – Fort Hays State
Defensive Back – Montrell Wilson – Emporia State
Punter – Grayson Miller – Central Oklahoma
- Reflects ties in voting
 
 2023 ALL-MIAA THIRD TEAM 
OFFENSE
Quarterback – Jack Dawson – Fort Hays State
Quarterback – Mike Hohensee – Northwest Missouri
Running Back – Seth Cromwell – Missouri Western
Wide Receiver – Jonas Bennett – Missouri Western
Wide Receiver – Kolbe Katsis – Pittsburg State
Wide Receiver – Jaedon Stoshak – Missouri Southern
Tight End/Fullback – Oscar Hammond – Central Oklahoma
All-Purpose Back – Brandon Hall – Missouri Western
Offensive Line – Kenny Fehrman – Missouri Southern
Offensive Line – Carlos Guzman – Emporia State
Offensive Line – Hunter Hays – Nebraska Kearney
Offensive Line – Brenden McClure – Missouri Western
Offensive Line – Josh Shaw – Fort Hays State
Kicker – Drake Reese – Missouri Southern
Kick/Punter Returner – Kolbe Katsis – Pittsburg State
 
DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Ryland Miller – Emporia State
Defensive Line – Cole Sample – Pittsburg State
Defensive Line – Parrish Terry – Fort Hays State
Defensive Line – Jason Wallace – Fort Hays State
Defensive Line – Noah West – Central Oklahoma
Linebacker – Chance Rodriguez – Emporia State
Linebacker – Makel Williams – Fort Hays State
Linebacker – Colton Winder – Missouri Southern
Defensive Back – Charles Gadie – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Back – Jordan Rogers – Pittsburg State
Defensive Back – Armani Webster – Nebraska Kearney
Defensive Back – Tay Williams – Missouri Western
Punter – Evan Williams – Missouri Western
 
 2023 ALL-MIAA HONORABLE MENTION  
EMPORIA STATE:  Tommy Zimmerman, TE/FB; Dante Smith-Posey, OL; Trevion Mitchell, OL; Maquay Shaw, DL; Rafe Goucher, DL