SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its 2025 All-Southern Conference Football Teams on Wednesday, with VMI collecting four All-SoCon honors and three All-Freshman honors.

Nathan Payne (LS) and Ben Shrewsbury (P) led the first team recognition, while Stephen Dean III (LB) and Owen Sweeney (WR) were named All-SoCon Second Team. Sweeney, who also earned All-Freshman honors, was joined by fellow rookies Donovan Burnett (DL) and Derek Hite (LB) on the All-Rookie squad.

Stephen Dean III – All-SoCon Second Team Defense - Linebacker
Dean continued the rich tradition of standout linebacking play for VMI this season, totaling a SoCon-best 117.0 tackles in 2025, making it the fifth straight season the Keydets have had a tackler eclipse the 100 mark (Stone Snyder, 86.0 in Covid-shortened 2020 season). The redshirt junior opened up the season with 6.0 stops at Navy, had seven or more tackles 10 times and 10-plus tackles five times, including a career-best 17.0 against Chattanooga. Dean's 117.0 tackles and 62.0 solo stops paced the league, ranking 13^th nationally in total tackles, and 14^th in solos. The Louisa County product collected 9.0 tackles for loss which is ninth among SoCon defenders, recording a career-best 3.0 at nationally-ranked Mercer in October.   

Nathan Payne – All-SoCon First Team Special Teams – Long Snapper
After getting injured in the opening game of 2024, Payne returned and won the starting job over All-SoCon Freshman honoree Austin Fletcher in 2025. The redshirt junior out of Burke, Virginia was a steadying force in the VMI special teams, helping teammate Ben Shrewsbury earn All-SoCon honors with flawless snaps all season, dissecting and picking up coverages in the process. Payne even collected tackles against Ferrum and Wofford, starting all 12 games in 2025.

Ben Shrewsbury – All-SoCon First Team Special Teams - Punter
Shrewsbury had a dominant junior season, consistently ranking in the top five nationally in punt average, ending the season with a punt average of 47.9 yards per kick which is good for third at the FCS level and first in the league. Shrewsbury totaled 42 kicks of 50-plus yards, while nobody else in the SoCon had more than 20. The junior's total yardage of 4,075 set a new SoCon record with the next closest kicker having 3,633 yards, despite kicking three more times than Shrewsbury this season. On the year, the Jonesborough, Tennessee native had six touchbacks (T-1^st SoCon), 20 kicks fair caught and 22 kicks pinned inside the 20-yard line. Shrewsbury, who earned SoCon Player of the Week honors against Chattanooga, had four punts of 60 or more yards, including a season-best 63-yard kick against ETSU in which he set a new program and SoCon record for most punts in a game with 14. Shrewsbury's single-season average of 47.9 is a new program and league record, breaking VMI's own Brent Barth's (2002) mark of 47.4, and his 85 punts are third most in a single year. Shrewsbury now owns the two highest punt totals in a single game for the SoCon and VMI, with 657 against ETSU and 645 at Mercer.

Owen Sweeney – All-SoCon Second Team Offense & All-Freshman – Wide Receiver
After getting injured early in 2024, Sweeney announced his presence from the start this year, hauling in five catches for 126 yards and a touchdown at Navy in the 2025 opener. The redshirt freshman didn't look back, scoring five touchdowns in his next three games before getting injured in the first quarter against Chattanooga. After missing one week of play, Sweeney picked up where he left off by totaling a career-best 13 receptions, 208 yards and a touchdown against Samford. The 13 receptions were fourth most ever for a Keydet as Sweeney became just the sixth player in program history to have 200 or more yards in a single game. The Cave Spring native found the end zone one more time against Wofford, giving him eight scores on the year (T-3^rd SoCon, 20^th FCS) which is tied for second most all-time in a single year at VMI. Sweeney had three games this season with 100 or more yards receiving, with his 723 yards ranking 12^th-most in a season at VMI. Due to his play, Sweeney was named to the 2025 Jerry Rice Watch List, which recognizes the top freshman at the FCS level.

Donovan Burnett – All-Freshman Defense – Defensive Line
Burnett instantly worked his way into the strong rotation of the VMI defensive line, picking up 2.0 tackles in his debut at Navy and 7.0 in the home opener against Ferrum. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Burnett recorded a tackle in all but two games this year, recording 2.0 or more seven times and had 6.0 TFLs. After 2.0 TFLs against Ferrum, Burnett recorded 1.0 at Bucknell and Richmond, adding another at Samford and The Citadel. Burnett, who would finish with a pair of tackles against Western Carolina, had two quarterback hurries on the year.

Derek Hite – All-Freshman Defense – Linebacker
Hite had a stellar rookie season, ranking fourth on the VMI defense in total tackles , with 61.0 on the year. The Loretto, Pennsylvania native had 3.0 stops in his debut at Navy, picking up a career-best 8.0 in the win over Ferrum. Hite recorded at least 3.0 tackles in every game this season, and had 5.0 or more seven times. Hite would collect 3.0 TFLs on the year, with 0.5 sacks at ETSU. After 6.0 stops at Furman, Hite ended his 2025 with 4.0 tackles against Western Carolina.

To view the full SoCon release, click here.