- Complete Selections (All-Conference)
- Complete Selections (All-Academic)

RICHARDSON – Tarleton's Rufus Johnson (DE, Sr, Dallas) highlighted the Texans' Lone Star Conference football award selections as he was named the league's Defensive Lineman of the Year, the conference office announced on Friday. 

Tarleton had 19 selections overall with three first team defense selections, seven second team offense selections and a second team defense selection to go along with eight players tabbed honorable mention.

Johnson, who also earned first team defense honors on Friday, led the Texans with 10.0 sacks and 17.5 tackles-for-loss this season. The Dallas native ranked second in the LSC in both categories and was eighth in the nation in TFL (2.06/game). His 1.12 sacks per game average ranked No. 9 in the nation as well.

Joining Johnson on the defense first team was Marquis Wadley (LB, Jr, Mesquite) and Dashaun Phillips (CB, Jr, Duncanville). Brian Ford (DT, Sr, Worthing) was Tarleton's second team defense selection.

Johnson was an honorable mention selection last season and Wadley earned second team defense honors last season. This is Phillips' second first team honor after being selected to the first team last season as well. 

Second team offense selections for Tarleton went to Nick Perez (OG, Fr, Stephenville), Adrian Campbell (OT, Sr, Richardson), Lucus Love (OT, So, Van Alsten), Clifton Rhodes III (WR, So, Fort Worth), Vaughn Smith (RB, Jr, Menlo Park, Calif.), Zach Henshaw (RB, Fr, Fischer) and Blake Barnes (K, Fr, Stephenville).

Campbell and Rhodes III were second team offense selections in 2011, while the remaining players earn all-LSC status for the first time in their careers, respectively. 

Xavier Ruben (OG, So, Bayton), Will McLane (TE, Jr, Smithson Valley), Arthur Buckingham (WR, Sr, Pilot Point), Matt Knicky (OLB, Sr, Cedar Park), Blair Johnson (S, Sr, Mesquite), Charles Moore (S, So, Carrollton), Isaac Arellano (P, So, Euless) and Patrick Bettiol (DE, So, Bryan) were all tabbed honorable mention selections this season.

Moore was also named to the LSC's All-Academic team for his efforts in the classroom.

Overall, 128 student-athletes were recognized by the LSC's postseason awards program, with 31 players named to the first team, 38 on the second team and another 59 gaining honorable mention. The all-conference honors were selected by the head coaches of the nine league teams. 

West Texas A&M had 10 first-team selections and five individual award winners recognized Friday when the annual Lone Star Conference football awards were announced by LSC officials.

The Buffaloes, who were co-LSC Champions, had seven players on the top offense and three more on the first-team defense.  WT earned several individual accolades with Offensive Player of the Year (J.W. Rollins award) Dustin Vaughan, Offensive Back of the Year Khiry Robinson, co- Receiver of the Year Torrence Allen, Defensive Player of the Year (J.V. Sikes award) Ethan Westbrooks, and co-Coach of the Year Don Carthel.

Midwestern State had six first-teamers with four on offense and two on defense including Offensive Lineman of the Year Ken Van Heule and co-Coach of the Year Bill Maskill.  The Mustangs earned their third LSC title in the last four years.

Texas A&M-Kingsville had three first-teamers with co-Receiver of the Year Robert Armstrong and co-Coach of the Year Bo Atterberry.

Abilene Christian was represented by four first-team selections including co-Receiver of the Year Taylor Gabriel and Defensive Back of the Year LB Suggs.

Angelo State had a trio of first-team picks and the Freshman of the Year Clayton Callicutt.

Texas A&M-Commerce's Danny Mason was named Linebacker of the Year as the Lions only first team player.

WTAMU's Vaughan topped the LSC football academic awards, which were announced by league officials on Friday as well. Vaughan, a junior biology/pre-medicine major form Corpus Christi, Texas, was selected as Academic Player of the Year.  

A total of 11 players were named to the LSC All-Academic Team, which recognizes both academic and athletic achievement.

The All-Academic Team is selected by the league's sports information directors, who vote on the basis of both academic and athletic achievement. To be eligible for LSC academic honors, student-athletes must have played in at least 50 percent of team's contests, reached sophomore athletic and academic standing (true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are not eligible), completed at least one full academic year at the nominating institution, and have a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade point average based on the 4.0 system for his/her entire collegiate career.

2012 LSC SOUTH DIVISION FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS (Tarleton Selections)

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Rufus Johnson Tarleton State DE Sr. Dallas, Texas 

Marquis Wadley Tarleton State ILB Jr. Mesquite Texas 

Dashaun Phillips Tarleton State CB Jr. Duncanville Texas 

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Nick Perez Tarleton State OG Fr. Stephenville Texas 

Adrian Campbell Tarleton State OT Sr. Richardson Texas 

Lucus Love Tarleton State OT So. Van Alsten Texas 

Clifton Rhodes III Tarleton State WR So. Fort Worth Texas 

Vaughn Smith Tarleton State RB Jr. San Mateo Calif. 

Zach Henshaw Tarleton State FB Fr. Canyon Lake Texas 

Blake Barnes Tarleton State PK Fr. Stephenville Texas 

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Brian Ford Tarleton State DT Sr. Worthing, Texas 

SPECIAL AWARDS

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Rufus Johnson, Tarleton State

HONORABLE MENTION

Xavier Ruben Tarleton State OG So. Baytown Lee Texas 

Will McLane Tarleton State TE Jr. Smithson Valley 

Arthur Buckingham Tarleton State RS Sr. Pilot Point Texas 

Matt Knicky Tarleton State OLB Sr. Cedar Park, Texas 

Blair Johnson Tarleton State S Sr. Mesquite Texas 

Charles Moore Tarleton State S So. Carrolton, Texas 

Isaac Arellano Tarleton State P So. Euless, Texas

Patrick Bettiol Tarleton State DE So. Bryan, Texas

2012 LSC FOOTBALL ALL-ACADEMIC AWARDS (Tarleton Selections

Charles Moore Tarleton State Sr. DB Kinesiology Carrollton, Texas