COLBY, Kan. – The 2023 All-KJCCC football awards and teams were released on Thursday, and Butler saw 20 student-athletes pick up recognition, with four on the first team, four on the second team and 12 honorable mention honorees.
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FIRST TEAM
Defensive end Marlin Dean picked up first team honors as a defensive end as he posted 25 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles on the season. The Elberton, GA, native had at least half a sack in seven games this year with his best performance coming against #3 Iowa Central, finishing with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
Offensive tackle Issiah Walker was named a first team offensive tackle as he started all 10 games, helping pave the way up front all year for the Grizzlies. The Carol City, FL, native was a key cog on the Grizzly offensive line for a second straight season.
Mason Ross was named a first team fullback by the conference. Ross split his time between fullback and tight end this season and impacted the run game with his blocking up front all year. Ross also had three receptions for 19 yards and six rushes for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Aidan Battle was the All-KJCCC first team kicker. In his freshman campaign, Battle was an impressive 8-11 on field goals with a long of 44 yards as well as 25-27 on extra points for the Grizzlies. He totaled 49 points for Butler. In Butler's 32-7 win over NEO A&M, Battle was 3-3 on field goals with a long of 44 as well as knocking in all three extra points.
SECOND TEAM
Quarterback Tanner Murray was named to the All-KJCCC second team as he started nine games for Butler this season, missing just one due to injury. Murray threw for 1,644 yards, ran for 228 and accounted for 15 total touchdowns on the year. He ended the season ranked first in the KJCCC in pass yards/game (182.7) as well as first in the KJCCC in passing touchdowns with 14. He was named the KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week twice on the year. In one of his more impressive performances he threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 41 yards in a 45-10 win at #3 Iowa Central.
Linebacker Udoka Ezeani was named as a second team selection for Butler. He flew around the field all season, finishing with 52 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and an interception. Ezeani had five games with five or more tackles on the season. He had a season-high 10 tackles in the loss to #1 Hutchinson, also adding 1.5 tackles for loss.
Chevy Edwards was honored as the second team All-KJCCC punter. Edwards had 23 punts downed inside the 20-yard line this season compared to just one touchback. His 23 punts inside the 20 was seven more than any other punter in the conference and good for second throughout all NJCAA D1. Edwards was named the KJCCC Special Teams Player of the Week following Butler's loss at Coffeyville when he punted a season-high nine times for a season-high 342 yards. He had six punts land inside the 20 with a long punt of 50 yards.
Wide receiver and punt returner Russell Wilkey earned second team All-KJCCC honors as a return specialist. Wilkey had 16 punt returns for 80 yards, including a 40-yard return for a touchdown in the Grizzlies week two win over Highland. Wilkey ended the year with 11 receptions for 151 yards offensively. He was named the KJCCC Special Teams Player of the Week following the Highland win.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
The following 12 student-athletes earned honorable mention recognition from the Jayhawk Conference.
KJ Shankle-RB
Semaj James-CB
