Carrollton, GA – November 14, 2005 – The West Georgia Braves returned to the ranks of contenders in the 2005 Gulf South Conference football race. As a result, six Braves were Monday named to the 2005 All-GSC Football Team.
Leading the pack was a player voted as the league’s best defender in 2005. Senior Linebacker Kelvin Morris was named GSC Defensive Player of the Year in balloting conducted among the conference’s 12 head football coaches.
The honor for Morris came as no surprise, especially to his head coach, Mike Ledford. “I feel that we didn’t see anyone this season better than Kelvin Morris,” said Ledford. “Kelvin is one of the finest football players I’ve ever been associated with and was instrumental in us turning the corner as a football team this season.”
Morris posted number that more than justified his honor. He led the GSC, and ranked 12th nationally, in tackles for loss with 19.5 (1.8 per game). He was also third in the conference in quarterback sacks with 7.5.
With the player of the honor, Morris becomes the fourth West Georgia ever to capture a league player of the year award. He joins safety Nate Coggins (2001) in winning the GSC’s top defensive honors. Also, quarterbacks Toby Strange (1997) and Jeremy Clements (1998) were winners of GSC Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Beyond Morris, three other West Georgia players captured first team All-GSC honors. Two comes from UWG’s record-breaking defense: linebacker Brandon Jamison and end Odell Willis. Punter Jeff Carpenter was also tabbed for the honor a second consecutive season.
Jamison was fourth in the GSC in sacks and was in the league’s top ten in four defensive categories. Willis finished second in the GSC in sacks, highlighted by his four-sack performance in the season finale vs. Valdosta State. Carpenter, an All-America in 2004, captured his second straight league punting title with an average of 42.4 yards per attempt.
Beyond the four first team choices, two other UWG players garnered berths on the All-GSC Second Team. Junior linebacker John Perkins was a repeat selection to the squad, while junior tailback Abe Felix earned the honor during his first season in a West Georgia uniform.