The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced the All-MIAA Football Team for the 2009 season. Fort Hays State had 12 individuals earn all-conference honors. The Tigers had two first-team selections, five second-team selections, and six honorable mention picks. Senior defensive back C.J. Lovett earned all-conference honors in two positions for the second consecutive year.
C.J. Lovett, a senior from Thornton, Colo., earned All-MIAA honors at two positions for the second consecutive year. Last year, Lovett was a first team selection at defensive back and an honorable mention selection as a kick/punt returner. Lovett finished his career as one of the most prolific players in the history of Fort Hays State football. He set a new career and season record at FHSU in punt returns for touchdowns, tied the school record in career kick returns for touchdowns, and finished with 13 interceptions on defense in his career. Lovett had four kick returns for touchdowns this year (3 punt, 1 kickoff). He led the team in interceptions this year with four and ranked sixth on the team in tackles. D2Football.com tabbed Lovett as a preseason All-American prior to the start of this year.
Wesley Yarbough earned his second-consecutive all-conference nod. The Missouri City, Texas senior was an honorable mention selection on the offensive line last year. Yarbough was tabbed a Preseason All-American by Consensus Draft Services earlier this year. He and Lovett were the only Tigers that entered the 2009 season with preseason honors.
Mike Garrison, a junior from Overland Park, Kan., joined Washburn quarterback Dane Simoneau as the two quarterbacks selected to the second team on offense. He had a breakout season, throwing for 2,606 yards and completing 217-of-356 passes with 18 touchdowns. Coupled with his 375 yards of rushing, Garrison had 2,981 yards of total offense. His passing yards and total offense were the third most for a single season in school history.
James Walker, a junior from Pacoima, Calif., earned second team honors in his first year with the Tigers. He Walker rushed for 903 yards on 206 attempts with 10 touchdowns in 2009, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Walker was an all-purpose back as he also led the team in receptions with 42.
O.J. Murdock, like Walker, earned second team honors in his first year at FHSU. The Tampa, Fla., junior led the Tigers in receiving yards with 697 on 35 catches. He also hauled in a team-best eight receiving touchdowns. Murdock averaged 19.9 yards per catch, which led the MIAA. Murdock had the most receiving yards at FHSU since Michael Jackson had 834 in 2001.
Ethan Kosjer earned his first all-conference nod as a second-team punter. The Douglass, Kan., sophomore led the MIAA in yards per punt, averaging 40.3 yards per attempt. His average ranks fifth best for a single season at FHSU.
Cordarol Scales, a junior from Van Nuys, Calif., earned honorable mention honors at wide receiver in his first year at FHSU. He ranked second on the team in receiving yards (507) and receptions (40). He reached the endzone twice and averaged 12.7 yards per catch.
Anthony Smith earned his first all-conference nod with honorable mention honors at wide receiver. A junior from Arlington, Texas, Smith spent the entire season at his position after having to take over at quarterback last year for an injured Mike Garrison. He had 25 catches for 297 yards this year, averaging 11.9 yards per catch.
Beau Gadwood, a junior from Shawnee, Kan., picked up his first all-conference selection as an honorable mention pick at tight end. Gadwood ranked fourth on the team in receptions with 26 and accumulated 325 receiving yards. He averaged 12.5 yards per catch and had three touchdowns.
Colby McKinney, a junior from Arvada, Colo., earned his first all-conference nod as an honorable mention selection on the offensive line. McKinney was the starting right tackle for FHSU throughout the entire 2009 season.
Jacob Crossman picked up his first all-conference selection on the defensive line. The Haysville, Kan., native earned honorable mention honors as Fort Hays State's leader in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (11.0). He ranked eighth on the team in tackles with 40.
Nathan Rausa, a senior from Waterloo, Iowa, earned an honorable mention selection at kicker. He made 10-of-14 field goal attempts and tacked on a single-season school record 45 extra points on touchdowns. With 75 kicking points in 2009, he came just three points short of breaking the single-season school record for kicking points.
