CHICAGO, ILL. - The Mid States Football Association released their conference honors with 31 Saints being selected for their work on the field and in the classroom.
The Saints' defense was highlighted on the first team honors. As a group, the defense finished the year as the 8th best team in the NAIA in yards per game, they were the 5th best team in rushing yards per game, and they were 7th in total sacks, all marks were the top in the MSFA. The Saints also rated 29th in points per game and 31st in in passing yards per game.
Linebacker Kole Murlin highlights the honorees, he was selected as the MSFA Mid-East Defensive Player of the Year for the 3rd year in a row.
Murlin started all 10 games and led the team with 114 tackles on the season, earning double digit tackles in seven of the Saints' ten games on the season. Eleven of Murlin's tackles went for a loss this season, amounting to 48 yards lost. He had 5.5 sacks on the year amounting to 31 yards lost, he broke up one pass, had one forced fumble, and recovered one fumble as well. Murlin's average of 11.4 tackles per game are the 4th highest mark in the NAIA this year.
Murlin becomes the first ever three-time winner of the MSFA Player of the Year Award for either offense or defense. This season, he was named MSFA Mideast Defensive Player of the Week on October 24th for his efforts on October 22nd against Lawrence Tech. He led the Saints with 13 tackles that day, had two sacks, and three tackles for loss. That was his fourth time winning the player of the week award.
Murlin's 114 tackles are the most in a single season in SHU history, eclipsing his previous two marks of 112 tackles in 2021 and 111 tackles in 2019. His 55 solo tackles also set a single season SHU record, eclipsing the previous high of 50, set in 2013. Murlin's 11 tackles for loss are the 6th highest single season mark in SHU history as well. Murlin's 48 TFL yards are the 9th highest mark in single season SHU history now.
Murlin caps off a historic career for the Saints. He holds numerous career records for the Saints, including tackles (415), solo tackles (163), assisted tackles (252) and fumble recoveries (5). He is tied for second with 33.5 tackles for loss, third in tackle for loss yardage (126), tied for third in forced fumbles (4), fifth in sacks (11.5) and tied for 6th in sack yardage (64). During Murlin's stellar career, the Saints' defense was the top defense in yards per game in the MSFA during the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons. As the anchor of the Saints' defense, during his career, the defense held opponents to an average of 252 yards per game.
Head Coach Matt Kohn said, "We've had a lot of great football players come through our football program but none that have made the impact of Kole Murlin. His statistics on the field speak for his production and the impact he was able to make in games. However, who he is as a person, as a leader and the positive impact he was able to make on his teammates is unprecedented."
The Saints defensive line was represented very well. Three defensive lineman earned 1st Team accolades, Antonio Simley, Vincent Walker, and Joseph Wharton. Those three lineman were a force to be reckoned with from start to finish. The trio netted a whopping 120 combined tackles, 38 combined tackles for loss, 212 tackles for loss yardage, 18.5 sacks, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick. The trio was a driving force in breaking the single season sack record in SHU history with 34, surpassing the previous mark of 32 set in 2014.
Vincent Walker, a red-shirt senior from Midland, Michigan started all 10 games, he tallied 42 tackles, with 19 of those tackles being tackles for loss – racking up a whopping 108 TFL yards. Walker had 6.5 sacks on the season, four pass breakups and one fumble recovery. Walker's 108 TFL yards, were the 5th highest total in the NAIA. Walker's 19 tackles for loss tie the SHU single season mark which was previously set in 2014. Walker's 108 TFL yardage shatters the previous SHU single season mark which was 77 set in 2014. His 6.5 sacks place him 4th in SHU single season history while his 53 yards from sacks, place him 3rd. Kohn added, "Vincent had an amazing SR year, he was able to constantly put pressure on the opposing quarterback and generated a lot of negative plays for opposing offensives."
Joseph Wharton, a red-shirt junior from Hommand, Indiana, started all 10 games, he had a stellar campaign with 41 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss, netting 71 TFL yards. Wharton led the team with 8 sacks, good for the 26th highest total in the NAIA. Wharton's TFL yards placed him 30th in the NAIA as well. Wharton's 11.5 tackles for loss is the 5th highest mark in SHU single season history. Wharton's 71 TFL yards are now the 3rd highest single season mark in SHU history. His eight sacks put him in 3rd for single season history at SHU while his 57 yards from sacks place him 2nd. Kohn had this to say about Wharton, "Having Joe on the other side of Vinny, made it impossible to double team either of our defensive ends. Joe has a motor that never stops."
Antonio Simley, a red-shirt sophomore from Sterling Heights, Michigan, also started all 10 games. He had 37 tackles, with 7.5 tackles for loss and 33 TFL yards. Simley added 4 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick as well. Kohn added, "Antonio had a breakout season for us at defensive tackle. He did an excellent job stopping the run for us on a consistent basis."
Representing the Saints' backfield was Armand Childs. A senior from Warner Robins, Georgia, Childs was a force in the Saints' secondary. He made 26 tackles on the season including three tackles for loss. Childs picked off three passes on the season, with 46 interception return yards as well. He added seven pass breakups and blocked one kick on the season. Childs' three interceptions match the 8th highest total in SHU history for a single season, his 46 interception return yards match the 9th highest total in SHU single season history. Kohn stated, "Armand is an incredibly smart football player that plays with amazing instincts."
On the special teams, Anthony Secchi, a red-shirt senior from Sterling Heights, Michigan, was named the kicker for the 1st team. Secchi led the Saints in scoring with 51 points. On the year, he hit a 75% clip on his field goals, going 9-12 with a long kick of 47 yards. He was a perfect 24-24 on extra points for the season. Secchi was named MSFA Mideast Special Teams Player of the Week on October 3rd after going 2-2 on field goals and adding an extra point in an upset win over St. Francis (Ind.) on October 1st. It was the second time in Secchi's career earning the player of the week award. Secchi's 51 points are the 7th highest single season point total in SHU history. His 24 extra points match the 6th highest total in school history which he matched from his season in the 2021 campaign. He is the fourth Saints kicker to be perfect on extra points in a season, kicking 10 more perfect PAT's that the next closest kicker to be perfect on the season. Secchi's nine field goals are the 4th highest single season total in SHU history. Kohn said, "Anthony has been so consistent for us for the past 3 years. It is very gratifying to see him earn this award in his senior year."
The Saints' lone representative on the Mideast League 2nd Team was Eric Williams II, a red-shirt junior from South Bend, Indiana. Williams was the top wide receiver for the Saints. This was Williams' second time as a Mideast 2nd Team performer, he earned that accolade in the 2021 season, in the 2020 season, he was named a Mideast 1st Team performer. Williams led the team in receptions, yards, average per catch, touchdowns, and had the longest pass catch of the season. He hauled in 35 catches for 457 yards, an average of 13.1 yards per catch, scored three touchdowns, and had a season long catch of 73 yards. His 73 yard reception is tied for the 7th longest pass reception in SHU history.
Three Saints also received Honorable Mention accolades. On the defensive front, Santangho Reynolds, a senior from Detroit, Michigan was another strong presence on the front line. Reynolds started 10 games, accumulating 29 total tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also had one pass breakup. Defensive Back Andrew McGaughy, a senior from Okemos, Michigan had a solid season in the middle of the defense. He made 69 total tackles, third most on the team. He was credited with six tackles for loss, one sack, and one pass breakup.
On the offensive side, running back Kaleb Jefferson, a senior from Bluffton, Ohio was the other Honorable Mention performer. Jefferson was the Saints' leading rusher, accumulating 676 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Jefferson led the team in touchdowns this season with six rushing touchdowns. He added 12 receptions for 146 yards as well.
The Saints also saw 23 of their student-athletes recognized on the MSFA Academic All Conference List. In order to be recognized, a student must maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA or higher, and be a sophomore or older in academic standing. The Saints honorees were Walter Baughman, Andrew Bookman, Hunter Dale, Nico Fernandez, Jack Fitzgerald, Cocy Goff, Wyatt Howe, Zach Keyser, Andrew Lyons, Nik Martin, Justin McCown, Andrew McGaughy, Ryan Morgan, Zack Mullins, Kole Murlin, Bobby Opalewski, Weston Palmer, David Robinson, Logan Schmidt, Kabe Sykora, Nick Turchiano, Walter Turner Jr., and Theodore Verner.
Kohn stated, "It makes me a very proud Coach to know that roughly 25% of our roster achieved academic recognition from the MSFA."
The Saints finished their season with an overall record of 5-5, and went 4-3 in the MSFA Mideast League, finishing in a tie for 3rd place in the league.
