2021 all-socon honorees
Chuck Steenburgh

Football

Twelve Keydets Honored on 2021 All-SoCon Postseason Teams

Southern Conference Press Release
 
LEXINGTON, Va. – Twelve VMI Football cadet-athletes earned spots on the 2021 Southern Conference postseason squads announced Tuesday afternoon by the league office in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Southern Conference awards all-conference football honors on two separate squads with the league coaches and media both participating in the voting process for their respective postseason teams.
 
Landing first team all-conference honors on both the coaches and media teams were junior linebacker Stone Snyder and senior defensive lineman Warren Dabney.
 
Earning spots on both teams with at least a first team representation on either squad were sophomore placekicker Jerry Rice (first team coaches, second team media), senior long snapper Robert Soderholm (first team coaches, second team media), senior offensive lineman Nick Hartnett (first team media, second team coaches) and sophomore punter Jack Culbreath (first team media, second team coaches).

Voted to all-conference second teams were senior wide receivers Michael Jackson and Jakob Herres (coaches and media), senior defensive back Ethan Caselberry (coaches and media), and defensive back Aljareek Malry (coaches).
 
Freshman running back Hunter Rice and linebacker Kandler Martin were also voted to the All-Freshman team that is determined by the league coaches.
 
Below are season capsules on each VMI football honoree.
 
Stone Snyder, LB, Jr., Richmond, Va.
Led the Southern Conference in tackles for the second straight season averaging 10.9 per game…had 49 solos and 71 assists for 120 total tackles…posted double-digit tackles in six games in 2021 giving him 12 for his career…led the team in TFL (11 for 36 yards), sacks (4), quarterback hurries (5) and fumble recoveries with (3)…named SoCon defensive player of the week Sept. 27 after a season-best 19 tackles…named to the 2021 Buck Buchanan Top 25 Watch list for the second straight year.
stone snyder
 
Warren Dabney , DL, Sr. Cumberland, Va.
Led VMI defensive line in tackles with 46 total (17 solos, 29 assists)…had 3.5 TFL for 10 yards including a sack…posted a season-high eight tackles against The Citadel and six tackles against Wofford…four-year starter on the defensive line with 40 career starts.
warren dabney
 
Jerry Rice, PK, So. , Daleville, Va.
Converted 17 of 19 field goals on the season and was 39 of 39 in extra points…led the SoCon in most field goals made and was second in field goal accuracy (89.5%)…finished the year hitting nine straight field goals…had six field goals of 40+ yards including a career-long 49-yarder against Chattanooga October 9…was five for five in FGs against Chattanooga and hit a 37-yarder for the game winner in OT and was named SoCon special teams player of the week.
jerry rice
 
Robert Soderholm, LS, Stafford, Va.
Handled snaps flawlessly again after being named 2021 Stats Perform First team All-America in both the spring season and fall preseason…snapped for both the SoCon leading placekicker in Jerry Rice and punter in Jack Culbreath…also credited with two tackles on special teams.
robert soderholm
 
Nick Hartnett, OL, Sr. Springfield, Va.
Three-year starter on a veteran offense line…started all 11 games at center after moving from left guard in the spring…helped VMI to a 306-yard rushing outburst in 45-7 win at Mercer October 16 – the most yards by a VMI offense since 2009.
nick hartnett
 
Jack Culbreath, P, So., Charlottesville, Va.
Developed into a standout consistent performer in his second year as Keydet punter…led the SoCon in punting with a 43.5 yards per punt average…had nine punts of 50+ yards including a 58-yarder…landed eight punts inside the 20-yard line with only two touchbacks.
jack culbreath
 
Michael Jackson, WR, Sr., Richmond, Va.
Stepped up with highlight worthy catches throughout the year and led an injury riddled receiving corps that was missing top performers late in the season…led the team in receiving yardage (695) and touchdowns (6)…caught a career-high 13 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns at Furman November 13…helped rally VMI from a 21-point deficit in win over Samford with 10 catches for a career-high 211 yards (5th most in VMI history) and a game-winning touchdown with 3:14 left…caught six passes for 140 yards including TD receptions of 19 and 20 yards to help rally VMI to a 37-34 victory over Chattanooga in OT.
michael jackson
 
Jakob Herres, WR, Sr. Easton, Pa.
Returning All-American wide receiver from the spring season who battled through injuries throughout the year but still caught 47 passes for 500 yards and five touchdowns…is VMI's all-time TD reception leader with 26…finished his career catching a pass in 28 consecutive games…completed career just eight receptions shy of school record holder Aaron Sanders (2013-16) and 85 yards behind all-time receiving yardage leader Mark Stock (1984-88)…had nine catches for 115 yards against The Citadel Oct. 2 for his 13th career 100-yard game. 
Jakob Herres and Seth Morgan vs ETSU
 
Ethan Caselberry, DB, Sr., Sparkman, Ala.
Played multiple positions on the defense throughout his career and flourished as a safety in the second half of the season…posted third most tackles on the team with 73 including 39 solo…had eight pass breakups on the season and two fumble recoveries…broke up a fourth down pass and recovered a fumble on Samford's last two fourth quarter possessions to help preserve a come-from-behind win October 30…had double-digit tackle games in each of the last three games of the year including a career-high 15 tackles in his final game as a Keydet against Western Carolina November 20.
ethan caselberry
 
Aljareek Malry, DB, Jr., Lanham, Md.
Had 59 tackles including 46 solo and started all 11 games seeing action at both at both cornerback and spur…posted a season-high 11 tackles with eight solos in win over Samford…broke up nine passes which was the second most on the VMI defense…intercepted two passes and returned for 67 combined yards in the season opener against Davidson September 4…had eight tackles in the win over Chattanooga October 9.
aljareek malry
 
Hunter Rice, RB, Fr., Daleville, Va.
Played in all 11 games seeing action at running back and special teams…finished third on the team in rushing with 289 yards and seven touchdowns – second most on the team…rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns in his first college start at Mercer October 16...credited with 11 tackles – all but one solo- on special teams play during the season.   
hunter rice

Kandler Martin, OLB, Fr. Ashburn, Va.
Started the season in the two-deep and worked his way into the starting lineup for the last five games of the year…led all first-year VMI defenders in tackles with 35 and was tied for second most tackles-for-loss on the team with 5.0 for 23 yards…posted a season-high seven tackles in the season opener against Davidson and September 4 and matched it with seven tackles against Mercer October 16 and Furman November 13.    
kandler martin

 
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2021 Coaches All-Southern Conference Football Team
 
Offensive Player of the Year – Quay Holmes, R-Jr., RB, ETSU
Defensive Player of the Year – Devonnsha Maxwell, Jr., DL, Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year – Andreas Keaton, DB, Western Carolina
Jacobs Blocking Award – Cole Strange, Sr., OL, Chattanooga
Coach of the Year – Randy Sanders, ETSU
 
First team offense
QB       Liam Welch, Gr., Samford
RB       Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU
RB       Ailym Ford, So., Chattanooga
OL        Tre'mond Shorts, R-Jr., ETSU
OL        Anderson Tomlin, R-Jr., Furman
OL        Jason Poe, Gr., Mercer
OL        McClendon Curtis, Jr., Chattanooga
OL        Cole Strange, Sr., Chattanooga
TE        Ryan Miller, Jr., Furman
WR      Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford
WR      Raphael Williams, R-Fr., Western Carolina
 
First team defense
DL        Solomon Zubairu, So., Mercer
DL        Ben Brewton, So., Chattanooga
DL        Devonnsha Maxwell, Jr., Chattanooga
DL        Warren Dabney, Sr., VMI
LB        Jared Folks, Gr., ETSU
LB        Donovan Manuel, R-So., ETSU
LB        Stone Snyder, Jr., VMI
DB       Tyree Robinson, Sr., ETSU
DB       Lance Wise, So., Mercer
DB       Brandon Dowdell, Sr., Chattanooga
DB       Jerrell Lawson, Sr., Chattanooga
 
First team special teams
PK        Jerry Rice, R-So., VMI
P          Matt Campbell, Jr., The Citadel
LS        Robert Soderholm, Sr., VMI
RS       Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford
 
Second team offense
QB       Rogan Wells, Gr., Western Carolina
RB       Jacob Saylors, Jr., ETSU
RB       Irvin Mulligan, Jr., Wofford
OL        Tavon Matthews, So., ETSU
OL        Pearson Toomey, So., Furman
OL        Gavin Orr, Sr., Samford
OL        Nick Hartnett, R-Jr., VMI
OL        Zak Kurz, Sr., Wofford
TE        Nate Adkins, Jr., ETSU
WR      Jakob Herres, Sr., VMI
WR      Michael Jackson, Sr., VMI
 
Second team defense
DL        Adrian Hope, Sr., Furman
DL        Parker Stokes, Sr., Furman
DL        Chris Hill, R-Fr., Mercer
DL        Seth Simmer, Gr., Samford
LB        Willie Eubanks III, Sr., The Citadel
LB        Ty Boeck, Jr., Chattanooga
LB        Jay Person, So., Chattanooga
DB       Destin Mack, Jr., The Citadel
DB       Mike Price, R-So., ETSU
DB       Travis Blackshear, Jr., Furman
DB       Rashun Freeman, Sr., Chattanooga
DB       Ethan Caselberry, Sr., VMI
DB       Aljareek Malry, Jr., VMI
 
Second team special teams
PK        Tyler Keltner, So., ETSU
P          Timmy Bleekrode, R-So., Furman
P          Jack Culbreath, So., VMI
LS        Steele Judy, R-Fr., The Citadel
RS       Jacob Saylors, Jr., ETSU
 
All-Freshman Offense
Tyler Cherry, The Citadel          
Joshua Harris, Furman
Jace Wilson, Furman   
Dylan Davis, Furman
Jabari Brooks, Samford
KeShawn Toney, Chattanooga
Hunter Rice, VMI
 
All-Freshman Defense
Dominick Poole, The Citadel
Zion Alexander, ETSU
Dominic Morris, Furman
Bryce Stanfield, Furman
Savio Frazier, Mercer
Reuben Lowery III, Chattanooga
Kandler Martin, VMI
Andreas Keaton, Western Carolina
Amir Annoor, Wofford
Brandon Maina, Wofford
Chuck Smith, Wofford
 
All-Freshman Special Teams
Trey Turk, Mercer
 
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2021 SCSMA All-Southern Conference Football Team
 
Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Quay Holmes, R-Jr., RB, ETSU
Defensive Player of the Year ­– Devonnsha Maxwell, Jr., DL, Chattanooga
Defensive Player of the Year ­– Stone Snyder, Jr., LB, VMI
Freshman of the Year – Dominick Poole, DB, The Citadel
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Randy Sanders, ETSU
 
First team offense
QB       Liam Welch, Gr., Samford
RB       Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU
RB       Jacob Saylors, Jr., ETSU
RB       Ailym Ford, So., Chattanooga
OL        Tre'mond Shorts, R-Jr., ETSU
OL        Jason Poe, Gr., Mercer
OL        McClendon Curtis, Jr., Chattanooga
OL        Cole Strange, Sr., Chattanooga
OL        Nick Hartnett, R-Jr., VMI
TE        Ryan Miller, Jr., Furman
WR      Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford
WR      Raphael Williams, R-Fr., Western Carolina
 
First team defense
DL        Adrian Hope, Sr., Furman
DL        Solomon Zubairu, So., Mercer
DL        Devonnsha Maxwell, Jr., Chattanooga
DL        Warren Dabney, Sr., VMI
LB        Donovan Manuel, R-So., ETSU
LB        Ty Boeck, Jr., Chattanooga
LB        Stone Snyder, Jr., VMI
DB       Tyree Robinson, Sr., ETSU
DB       Lance Wise, So., Mercer
DB       Brandon Dowdell, Sr., Chattanooga
DB       Jerrell Lawson, Sr., Chattanooga
 
First team special teams
PK        Tyler Keltner, So., ETSU
P          Jack Culbreath, So., VMI
LS        Chandlor Mullins, R-So., ETSU
RS       Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford
 
Second team offense
QB       Rogan Wells, Gr., Western Carolina
RB       Fred Davis, R-Fr., Mercer
RB       Irvin Mulligan, Jr., Wofford
OL        Haden Haas, Gr., The Citadel
OL        Tavon Matthews, So., ETSU
OL        Anderson Tomlin, R-Jr., Furman
OL        Pearson Toomey, So., Furman
OL        Gavin Orr, Sr., Samford
TE        Michael Vice, Jr., Samford
WR      Jakob Herres, Sr., VMI
WR      Michael Jackson, Sr., VMI
 
Second team defense
DL        Parker Stokes, Sr., Furman
DL        Seth Simmer, Gr., Samford
DL        Ben Brewton, So., Chattanooga
DL        Micheal Mason, Jr., Wofford
LB        Willie Eubanks III, Sr., The Citadel
LB        Jared Folks, Gr., ETSU
LB        Kareem Taylor, Gr., Western Carolina
DB       Destin Mack, Jr., The Citadel
DB       Alijah Huzzie, R-Fr., ETSU
DB       Travis Blackshear, Jr., Furman
DB       Ethan Caselberry, Sr., VMI
DB       Ronald Kent Jr., Jr., Western Carolina
 
Second team special teams
PK        Jerry Rice, R-So., VMI
P          Matt Campbell, Jr., The Citadel
LS        Robert Soderholm, Sr., VMI
RS       Jacob Saylors, Jr., ETSU
RS       Calvin Jones, Fr., Western Carolina
 



 
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Players Mentioned

Ethan Caselberry

#35 Ethan Caselberry

OLB
6' 4"
Junior
Warren Dabney

#56 Warren Dabney

DL
6' 1"
Junior
Nick Hartnett

#65 Nick Hartnett

OL
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Jakob Herres

#14 Jakob Herres

WR
6' 4"
Junior
Michael Jackson

#11 Michael Jackson

WR
6' 2"
Junior
Aljareek Malry

#1 Aljareek Malry

DB
6' 0"
Sophomore
Jerry Rice

#93 Jerry Rice

K/P
5' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
Stone Snyder

#5 Stone Snyder

LB
6' 3"
Sophomore
Robert Soderholm

#30 Robert Soderholm

LS
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Jack Culbreath

#41 Jack Culbreath

K/P
6' 4"
Freshman
Kandler Martin

#99 Kandler Martin

DL
6' 2"
Freshman
Hunter Rice

#24 Hunter Rice

RB
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Ethan Caselberry

#35 Ethan Caselberry

6' 4"
Junior
OLB
Warren Dabney

#56 Warren Dabney

6' 1"
Junior
DL
Nick Hartnett

#65 Nick Hartnett

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
OL
Jakob Herres

#14 Jakob Herres

6' 4"
Junior
WR
Michael Jackson

#11 Michael Jackson

6' 2"
Junior
WR
Aljareek Malry

#1 Aljareek Malry

6' 0"
Sophomore
DB
Jerry Rice

#93 Jerry Rice

5' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
K/P
Stone Snyder

#5 Stone Snyder

6' 3"
Sophomore
LB
Robert Soderholm

#30 Robert Soderholm

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
LS
Jack Culbreath

#41 Jack Culbreath

6' 4"
Freshman
K/P
Kandler Martin

#99 Kandler Martin

6' 2"
Freshman
DL
Hunter Rice

#24 Hunter Rice

6' 0"
Freshman
RB