TAMPA, Fla. – The Sun Conference has announced its specialty award winners for the 2025 football season as voted on by the league's eight head coaches.

Florida Memorial running back Jerodd Sims has been named the Sun Conference Offensive Player of the Year in addition to Back of the Year. In conference play, Sims averaged 6.8 yards per carry and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. He totaled 716 rushing yards, the most in the Sun Conference this season, and added 257 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns for 973 total yards and 14 touchdowns. Including non-conference action, Sims has accumulated 1,240 yards of offense this season.

Keiser defensive lineman Tai Lologo has been named the Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Lologo, a two-time First-Team All-Sun Conference selection, appeared in all nine games and recorded 16 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, one fumble recovery, and his first career interception. He anchored a Keiser defense that allowed 15.8 points per game (No. 10 NAIA), ranked No. 5 nationally in passing defense (157.3 ypg), and No. 17 in total defense (299.1 ypg). The Seahawks totaled 61 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, five games under 300 yards allowed, and a 45–0 shutout vs. WIU.

St. Thomas’s Jerome Mitchell has been named the Sun Conference Special Teams Player of the Year, also earning Defensive Back of the Year honors. A team captain, Mitchell totaled six kick returns for 167 yards (27.8 per return) and 23 punt returns for 420 yards (18.3 per return). He recorded one kickoff return touchdown and two punt return touchdowns. Against Thomas, Mitchell posted two kick returns for 91 yards and five punt returns for 78 yards (169 yard total), including a kickoff return score.

Florida Memorial's Fernando Jeanty has been named the Sun Conference Freshman of the Year. Jeanty recorded 59 total tackles this season, ranking seventh in the conference and first among all Sun Conference defensive linemen. He added 11.5 tackles for loss (third in the league) and 5.0 sacks (second in the league). Jeanty earned Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors in the conference opener vs. No. 10 Southeastern, finishing with eight tackles, two sacks, and four tackles for loss.

Warner’s Owen Tannenhill was named the Champion of Character. A dual-sport athlete in football and track & field, Tannenhill demonstrated integrity by taking responsibility for mistakes in practice and acknowledging fouls on himself during scrimmages. In the classroom, he upheld academic honesty and set a strong example for teammates.

According to Head Coach Dialleo Burks, Tannenhill consistently showed respect for officials, opponents, teammates, and coaches, and regularly ensured shared spaces were left in good condition. As a team captain, he created a study group to support academic progress and helped address team needs as they arose. Tannenhill also displayed sportsmanship by maintaining composure in competitive situations and assisting opposing players when needed. In the community, he volunteered weekly at a local youth center, mentoring students and coaching a flag football program.

Keiser Assistant Coach Peter Davila was named the Assistant Coach of the Year, becoming the first Seahawk assistant to earn the honor. In his second season as defensive coordinator, he led a unit that allowed 15.8 points per game (No. 10 NAIA) and ranked No. 5 nationally in passing defense (157.3 ypg). The Seahawks surrendered just nine passing touchdowns, held opponents to a 43.5% completion rate, and did not allow a 300-yard passing game. Keiser’s defense ranked No. 17 nationally in total yards allowed (299.1 ypg), totaled 61 tackles for loss and 14 sacks, and recorded the program’s seventh shutout (45–0 vs. WIU). Davila also coached the league’s Linebacker of the Year, Defensive Lineman of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and four all-conference defenders.

Keiser Head Coach Myles Russ was named the Sun Conference Coach of the Year for the second time, giving the program its sixth Coach of the Year honor. Russ led the Seahawks to a second straight unbeaten regular season (10–0) and their seventh consecutive NAIA Football Championship Series berth as the No. 2 overall seed, a ranking Keiser held all year.

The Seahawks won their fourth straight Sun Conference title with a perfect 7–0 record, marking their seventh consecutive league championship and sixth perfect conference season since 2019. Keiser is one of four undefeated teams remaining in the NAIA. This season, Keiser averaged 501.2 total yards per game (No. 6 NAIA), topped 400 yards in every game, and led the SUN in rushing at 219.6 yards per game. The defense allowed 15.8 points (No. 10 NAIA) and 299.1 total yards per game (No. 17 NAIA).

 

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