MIAMI, Fla. (November 26, 2022) – The Sun Conference announced on Saturday its 2022 Football Postseason Awards.
Keiser’s Marques Burgess was named the Sun Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the second consuctive season. Burgess was named the 2022 SUN Back of the Year. A 2022 First-Team All-Conference Running Back, the Fort Pierce, Fla. native had 845 yards on 148 carries to total nine touchdowns in conference action. The 2021 All-American totals 4,850 all-time rushing yards and is the All-Time Leading Rusher in the State of Florida.
Southeastern’s Marc Viechec was named the Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the secon straight year. Viechec was also named the 2022 SUN Linebacker of the Year. The Naples, Fla.,now a three-time first-team selection, was second in the league in tackles with 88 and tackles per game at 9.8. The junior linebacker from Naples added 3.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and a pair of fumble recoveries including one for a touchdown.
Ave Maria’s Roman Newkirk was named the Sun Conference Special Teams Player of the Year. The Mount Dora, Fla. native totaled 15 punts and 583 yards in conference action. Two punts went for 50+ yards while six were inside the 20 and none were blocked. Newkirk was named to the 2022 First-Team All-Conference as an All-Purpose player. This season, the junior averaged 39 yards per punt with 43-percent of his punts going inside the 20 with zero touchbacks. Newkirk was also a threat on fake punts, going three-for-three on passing on fakes and running 22 yards on another fake. With all-season stats, he led the Sun Conference in punt return yardage and averaged 22.4 yards per kickoff return. He is the all-time leader for AMU in both kick return and punt return yardage.
Ave Maria’s Andrew Lege was named the Sun Conference Freshman of the Year. From Abbeville, La., Lege earned 2022 Second-Team All-Conference honors as a Quarterback. In conference action, the freshman leads in completions with 105, yards with 1,393, and touchdowns with 11. Lege also threw for 279 yards per game with three consecutive 300+ yard games to finish the season.
Ave Maria’s Kristian Marks was named the Sun Conference Champion of Character. Despite losing his starting QB role to a redshirt freshman, the Great Mills, Md. native continued to be a tremendous leader. Earning his Master’s in Theology, Marks is a two-year member of the Leadership Council and one of AMU’s two Captains this year.
Keiser’s Doug Socha was named the Sun Conference Coach of the Year. Coach Socha led his team to an 8-3 record thus far and a perfect 6-0 record in SUN action and are currently competing in the Football Championship Series. The Seahawks totaled 13 All-Conference honorees (seven first team, six second team) and the Offensive Player of the Year, Back of the Year and Receiver of the Year.
2022 Sun Conference Football Postseason Awards
Offensive Player of the Year Marques Burgess – Keiser
Defensive Player of the Year Marc Viechec – Southeastern
Special Teams Player of the Year Roman Newkirk – Ave Maria
Freshman of the Year Andrew Lege – Ave Maria
Champion of Character Kristian Mama – Ave Maria
Coach of the Year Doug Socha - Keiser
2022 Sun Conference Football Positional Awards
Back of the Year Marques Burgess – Keiser
Receiver of the Year Jaylen Arnold – Keiser
Offensive Lineman of the Year Jayce Collins – St. Thomas
Defensive Lineman of the Year Nicholas Engler – St. Thomas
Linebacker of the Year Marc Viechec – Southeastern
Defensive Back of the Year Sidney Porter – St. Thomas
2022 Sun Conference Football All-Conference
First-Team
Offense
QB Kaylan Wiggins – Keiser
RB Marques Burgess – Keiser
RB Rontavious Farmer – St. Thomas
WR Joshua Jenkins – Ave Maria
WR C’quan Jnopierre – St. Thomas
TE Jaylen Arnold – Keiser
OL Jayce Collins – St. Thomas
OL Keyon Phillips – St. Thomas
OL Jose Fernandez – Ave Maria
OL Colton Takis – Keiser
OL Jared Noble – St. Thomas
AP Roman Newkirk – Ave Maria
Defense
DL Nicholas Engler – St. Thomas
DL Donnell Bennett III – St. Thomas
DL Kahlill Bryan – St. Thomas
DL Michael Torrence – St. Thomas
DL Noah Curtis – Keiser
LB Marc Viechec – Southeastern
LB Nate Hyman – Ave Maria
LB Jaelin Willis – Keiser
DB Sidney Porter – St. Thomas
DB Jhaqwori Austin – St. Thomas
DB Wendol Philord – Keiser
DB Devonte Harris – Webber International
Special Teams
K Ashton Garner – Southeastern
P Logan Gregory – Southeastern
RS Wendol Philord – Keiser
Second-Team
Offense
QB Andrew Lege – Ave Maria
RB Quino Mauricett – Ave Maria
RB Bryan Bell – Southeastern
WR Shane McLaughlin – Southeastern
*WR Keon Brown – Florida Memorial
*WR Khakitri Zow – St. Thomas
TE Brock Summers – Ave Maria
OL Roderick Carter – Keiser
OL Tre Dickerson – Southeastern
OL Scarlee Jean – Keiser
OL Sala Lologo – Keiser
OL Justyn Mack – Florida Memorial
AP George Young – Florida Memorial
Defense
DL Jertavis Black – Keiser
DL Camron Allen – Keiser
DL Rodelson Petit – Warner
DL Christian Mable – Florida Memorial
LB Brian Galasso – Ave Maria
LB Ashton Mincey – Warner
*LB Gabriel Herrera – St. Thomas
*LB Kendall Wilson II – St. Thomas
DB Brunel Desinor – Ave Maria
DB Khalid Scott – Southeastern
DB Ryan Cunningham – Southeastern
DB Elonte Marion – Warner
Special Teams
*K Chance Gagnon – Keiser
*K Alejandro Prado – St. Thomas
P Hunter Smith – Warner
RS Roman Newkirk – Ave Maria
*Indicates a tie