[Football] Hamilton Named KCAC Defensive Player of the Year; 18 Falcons Named to All-KCAC Team

WICHITA, Kan. – Friends University senior defensive end Tim Hamilton (SR/Wichita, Kan.) has been selected as the KCAC Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced today (Nov. 13).

In addition, 17 Falcons, including Hamilton, were selected to the All-KCAC squad today. 

"Although our record did not end up where we had hoped, we had a number of players that did great things this season," Friends first-year head coach Dion Meneley said. 

"Every person mentioned is very deserving of the honor of being named an all-conference performer, and there are many that were vital parts of our team that did not receive recognition.  I am very proud of the work our guys did this year and appreciate the coaches in the conference honoring our players for their efforts."

The Falcons that earned all-conference honors are listed below:

First Team:

OL Mitch Butterfield (SR/Wichita, Kan.)

Butterfield is a unanimous first-team selection after once again helping clear the way for one of the top rushers in the league, as Noah Diaz (FR/Sun Prairie, Wis.) ranked fourth in the KCAC in rushing yards (853) despite missing three games. A two-time AFCA-NAIA All-America performer, Butterfield was also a unanimous all-conference pick last season after paving the way for the NAIA's top rusher in Jesse Rogers.  

DE Tim Hamilton

Hamilton, the KCAC Defensive Player of the Year, was a wrecking machine this season for the Falcons in earning unanimous first-team all-conference honors. Hamilton finished tied for first in the KCAC in sacks (10) and second in tackles for loss (18).  An all-conference honorable-mention pick last season, Hamilton's sack total is sixth in the NAIA and he is also seventh in the country in tackles for loss.

LB Josh Lewis (SR/Wichita, Kan.)

Lewis is a first-team All-KCAC selection for the second straight season.  A nose for the ball, Lewis finished tied for first in the KCAC and eighth in the NAIA in forced fumbles per game (0.3). He also led the Falcons with 82 tackles on the season and recorded three sacks, including bursting through the line on fourth and eight for a sack that put a huge punctuation mark on a 20-13 victory over Southwestern (Oct. 7) that allowed the Falcons to run out the clock.

DB Mackenzie Evans (JR/Wichita, Kan.)

Evans is tops in the KCAC and NAIA in interceptions per game (0.7), while being tied for second in the league and fourth in the nation with six picks on the season. Last week's KCAC and NAIA Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 6), Evans earned the honors after picking off four passes to tie a KCAC single-game record in the Falcons' 49-20 victory at Bethany College (Nov. 4). He returned one of those interceptions 35 yards to the end zone that put the Falcons on top 21-0 in the second quarter. 

Evans' performance helped the Falcons record seven interceptions overall, which are the most in the league since 2012. He also made 23 tackles on the season, including 2.5 tackles for loss.

Second Team:

FB Triton Douglas (SR/Bakersfield, Calif.)

Douglas saw action in every game for the Falcons this season, including three starting assignments that saw him average 67 yards per game.  In the Falcons' 49-18 win at Bethany (Nov. 4), Douglas rushed for a career-best 109 yards and three touchdowns.

WR Sam Camp (SR/Winfield, Kan.)

An All-KCAC second team utility pick and all-conference honorable-mention performer as a wide receiver last season, Camp is a second-team choice this season after leading the Falcons in receptions (46) and receiving yards (599) while catching two touchdown passes. Camp's 46 receptions and 599 receiving yards both rank sixth in the KCAC.  He is also an honorable-mention selection as a punt returner after gaining 119 yards on 19 punt returns this season. 

DL Kelechi Chukwuka (SR/Aurora, Colo.)

Chukwuka ranked second on the Falcons' defense, third in the KCAC and 10th in the NAIA in tackles for loss (17) that totaled a team-high 59 yards behind the line of scrimmage. He is also second on the team and sixth in the league with 6.5 sacks while recovering two fumbles.

Honorable-Mention

RB Noah Diaz

In his first season with the program, Diaz was the fourth leading rushing in the KCAC, gaining 853 yards on the ground while also scoring six touchdowns. He rushed for at least 106 yards five times, including his first four career games.  Diaz recorded a career-high 184 yards rushing against Ottawa (Sept. 16), the third highest rushing total in the KCAC this season.

TE Clayton Stuart (SR/Wichita, Kan.)

Stuart totaled 32 catches that ranked second on the team and tied for 12th in the KCAC along with 307 receiving yards and one touchdown this season for the Falcons. Stuart's touchdown grab was the game-winning score in the Falcons' 14-7 victory over McPherson College (Oct. 22).

OL Aharon Geddis (SR/Wichita, Kan.)

Geddis, a second-team All-KCAC selection last season, was once again an important part of the Falcons' offensive line in 2017.  Like Butterfield, Geddis was a key cog in opening lanes for the Falcons' rushing attack this season after helping clear holes for the leading rusher in the country last year (Jesse Rogers).

WR Blake Crandall (SR/Winfield, Kan.)

Crandall made 18 catches this season for 256 receiving yards, including a career-best four receptions and 78 receiving yards against Tabor (Oct. 28).

WR Jacob Cron (SR/Johnson, Kan.)

Cron tied for second on the team with 32 receptions and was tied for 12th in the KCAC in receptions per game (3.6). He was also second on the Falcons in receiving yards (440) and 12th in the league in receiving yards per game (48.9).

LB Francis Tusa (SR/Rancho Cucomonga, Calif.)

Tusa finished third on the team in tackles (60) this season and picked off two passes. He also posted 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.  Tusa twice posted double-digit tackles, making 10 stops against Midland (Sept. 3) and then 11 tackles vs. Ottawa (Sept. 16).

LB Flozell Nipper (JR/Garland, Texas)

Nipper ranked second on the Falcons in tackles (67) and made 2.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage this season.  Nipper tallied a career-best 13 stops against Ottawa (Sept. 16).

DB Sherman Arthur (JR/Los Angeles, Calif.)

Arthur picked off six passes this season for Friends, which was tied for second in the KCAC and tied for fourth in the NAIA. He was also tops in the league with two interceptions returned for touchdowns. Arthur also posted 24 tackles for the Falcons.

DB John Buchanan (SR/Wichita, Kan.)

Buchanan recorded two interceptions for Friends this season, with both picks coming in handy to fuel Falcon victories over Saint Mary (Sept. 23) and Southwestern (Oct. 7).  He also had 19 tackles on the season.

DB Desean McKinnon (JR/Mansfield, Texas)

McKinnon led the Falcons' defensive backs with 56 tackles, including one tackle for loss. McKinnon made a career-high 12 tackles against Ottawa (Sept. 16).  

K Leo Sosa (SR/Sao Paulo, Brazil) (SR/Soa Paulo, Brazil)

In his first season playing football, Sosa led the Falcons in scoring (58) and finished tied for second in the KCAC and 11th in the NAIA with 10 field goals on the season.  He was also successful in all 28 of his extra-point attempts, which ranked first in the country.