STEPHENVILLE – Deon Sheppard, Jai Edwards, and Devin Hafford have been selected among the best in the nation by the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association with All-America honors Wednesday morning.
 
Sheppard was named a first-team offensive lineman while Edwards and Hafford were named to the second-team defense.
 
The All-America recognition caps off a career year for Sheppard, who transferred to Tarleton prior to the 2017 season. The San Antonio native has started all 25 games for the Texans over the last two seasons, including all 13 of this season's historic run to the Super Region 4 finals, the program's first outright LSC championship, and a school-record 12 wins. Sheppard was named D2CCA All-Region, the LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year, and All-LSC First Team.
 
With Sheppard at the forefront of the offense, the Texans produced one of the most elite offensive units in the country and Tarleton history. Tarleton boasted the No. 5-ranked scoring offense in the country and the No. 3-ranked rushing offense. This produced the most 40-point performances in school history (9) in a season and the first set of teammates to each rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, en route to setting a new school record for single-season rushing yards (4,031). Tarleton also set new single-season records for rushing attempts (690), total offensive plays (977), total offense (6,709), first downs (301), touchdowns (79), and points scored (585).
 
Defensively, Tarleton enjoyed one of the greatest statistical turnarounds in program history en route to a school-record 12 wins and the program's first appearance in the regional finals. The Texans boasted the No. 9-ranked scoring defense and No. 14-ranked rushing defense in the country and allowed just 303.2 total yards per game.
 
The All-America second team tandem of defensive backs – Edwards and Hafford – are both All-LSC and D2CCA All-Region First Team award winners. Hafford was also the LSC Defensive Back of the Year and was ranked No. 26 in the nation in passes defended (18). Hafford had 34 tackles at the cornerback position to go along with four interceptions and 14 breakups. Edwards is second on the team – first among defensive backs – with 88 tackles this season, including 62 solo. The junior had four interceptions and six passes broken up on the season.
 
The three All-Americans are the most by a Tarleton team since 2003 when Kert Turner, Derek Thomas, and Kyle Masters all earned national honors in the same season.
 
ABOUT THE D2CCA
The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.