Earning Southern Conference recognition at the annual SoCon awards for 2024 are Tyriq Poindexter ’25, Shamus Jones ’25, Eric Rankin ’25, Hunter Rice ’25, Ethen Horne ’28, Asa Locks ’28, and Austin Fletcher ’28.—Photo courtesy VMI Athletics.
The Southern Conference announced its annual football awards Nov. 26, 2024, as seven Keydets earned All-League or All-Freshman recognition.
Tyriq Poindexter ’25, offensive line, was the lone representative on the league’s first team, while Shamus Jones ’25, Eric Rankin ’25, and Hunter Rice ’25 claimed second team honors. VMI had some bright performances from Ethen Horne ’28, Asa Locks ’28, and Austin Fletcher ’28, who earned All-Freshman honors. The awards are voted on by the head coaches of the Southern Conference, and coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players.
Seeing significant time since his freshman year in 2021, Jones saved his best for last, setting career-highs in every major category, including tackles (98.0), interceptions (2), forced fumbles (2), passes defended (5), and a blocked field goal. Jones’ 98.0 stops, which included 56.0 solos, ranked fifth in the SoCon, and his 98.0 stops are 44th in all of FCS football. Jones opened up the season with 8.0 stops at No. 15 William & Mary, forcing a fumble in the effort. A native of Chester, Virginia, Jones had at least 5.0 tackles in every game and was a key piece of VMI’s 21-17 win over Furman, collecting a career-high 13.0 tackles, blocking a kick, and recording the game-sealing interception en route to Southern Conference Player of the Week honors.
After establishing a steady presence on the right side of the line in 2023, Poindexter made the move to left tackle this season, providing comfort in the pocket for Keydet quarterbacks. The 6-foot-5-inch, 325-pound Roanoke, Virginia, native played in all 23 games the past two seasons, starting every game this year and leading the team in knockdowns. Each of the past two preseasons, Poindexter was named to the All-SoCon Preseason Teams.
Rankin has continued the line of All-Conference linebackers produced by VMI, leading the league with 120.0 tackles (11th, FCS) in his senior season, averaging 6.0 solo tackles per game, which ranked third in the country. Battling through injuries, Rankin totaled 10.0 or more stops seven times, including a career-high 18.0 against The Citadel. For his performance in that game (2.0 sacks, 2.0 TFLs), Rankin was named the FCS Nation Radio National Player of the Week. A native of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Rankin finished the year with 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 tackles, capping off his Keydet career with back-to-back 17.0, 0.5 TFL performances at Western Carolina and against East Tennessee State University. Perhaps Rankin’s loudest hit of the year came in VMI’s 21-17 win over Furman, in which he took a sack-fumble 36 yards to the inside the five, setting up what would ultimately be the game-winning score for VMI. Rankin, who played every game the last three seasons, ends his career with 257.0 tackles, 12.0 sacks, 25.0 TFLs, three forced fumbles, and two recoveries.
Going down as one of the top running backs in program history, Rice had a strong 1st Class year as he was second in the league in rushing touchdowns (seven) and third in yards (800) to go with zero fumbles all season. Rice opened the season with 81 yards and a score before 166 yards and two touchdowns against Bucknell. The Lord Botetourt, Virginia, product punched in a touchdown against The Citadel and had 65 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in the win over Furman. Rice would cap off his year with two scores at Western Carolina and 87 yards against ETSU. Rice’s 30 career rushing touchdowns are second all-time at VMI, with his 2,191 yards on the ground ranking eighth all-time.
Fletcher was thrust into duty after the first game of the season, taking over for the injured Nathan Payne ’26 and solidifying his role as the long snapper each game throughout the 2024 season. In his collegiate debut against Bucknell, Fletcher collected a tackle. The Stafford, Virginia, native would add another tackle and force a fumble at Western Carolina, capping off his strong rookie year against ETSU.
Horne showed promise early for the Keydets, recording his first career touchdown at Georgia Tech. The Woodbridge, Virginia native had seven games with a reception and six with two or more, highlighted by a career-best performance in a 21-17 win over Furman in which he hauled in four catches for 59 yards and a score. Horne’s two receiving touchdowns on the year led the Keydets in that category and his 15 catches ranked fifth.
Locks began his career with 2.0 tackles at No. 15 William & Mary and never looked back, taking an interception to the house and forcing a fumble against Bucknell. Hailing from Lusby, Maryland, Locks, who had 4.0 or more stops in 11 of 12 games, totaled 67.0 tackles on the year, which tied for 17th in the SoCon. Locks had breakups against Georgia Tech, Wofford, Furman, and ETSU, collecting 10.0 tackles in the win over the Paladins and 7.0 tackles to go with another interception against the Bucs.
To view the SoCon release, click here.
Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Dwayne McGee, Sr., RB, Mercer
Defensive Player of the Year – Brayden Manley, So., DL, Mercer
Freshman of the Year – Andrew Zock, DL, Mercer
Jacobs Blocking Award – Luke Smith, Gr., OL, ETSU
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Mike Jacobs, Mercer
QB Cole Gonzales, Jr., Western Carolina
RB Dwayne McGee, Sr., Mercer
RB Reggie Davis, Jr., Chattanooga
OL Luke Smith, Gr., ETSU
OL Israel Mukwiza, Sr., Mercer
OL Reid Williams, Sr., Chattanooga
OL Tyriq Poindexter, Jr., VMI
OL Blake Whitmore, Sr., Western Carolina
TE Jake Young, So., Western Carolina
WR AJ Johnson, So., ETSU
WR Sam Phillips, Jr., Chattanooga
WR AJ Colombo, Jr., Western Carolina
DL Jaylen George, So., ETSU
DL Luke Clark, Sr., Furman
DL Brayden Manley, So., Mercer
DL Marlon Taylor, Sr., Chattanooga
LB Evan DiMaggio, Sr., Furman
LB Isaac Dowling, Gr., Mercer
LB Noah Martin, Gr., Samford
DB TJ Moore, Sr., Mercer
DB Myles Redding, Sr., Mercer
DB Josh Battle, Jr., Chattanooga
DB Reuben Lowery III, Sr., Chattanooga
PK Ian Williams, Sr., Furman
P James Platte, Gr., The Citadel
LS Nathan Tokar, Gr., The Citadel
RS Colton Hinton, So., Furman
QB Johnathan Bennett, Gr., The Citadel
RB Bryson Irby, Sr., ETSU
RB Hunter Rice, Sr., VMI
OL Derrell Bailey Jr., Sr., ETSU
OL Luke Petit, Jr., Furman
OL Riley Adcock, Sr., Mercer
OL EJ Johnson, Jr., Mercer
OL Derek Simmons, Sr., Western Carolina
OL Anthony Garcia, Sr., Wofford
TE Jordan Davis, Sr., Wofford
WR Javin Whatley, Jr., Chattanooga
WR Kyle Watkins, Sr., Wofford
DL Arias Nash, Jr., Mercer
DL Andrew Zock, Fr., Mercer
DL Quay Wiggles, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Anthonie Lattany, Sr., Wofford
LB Zach West, Sr., ETSU
LB Ken Standley, Gr., Mercer
LB Eric Rankin, Sr., VMI
DB CJ Douglas, So., Samford
DB Jordan Walker, Jr., Chattanooga
DB Shamus Jones, Sr., VMI
DB Mateo Sudipo, Sr., Western Carolina
DB Amir Annoor, Sr., Wofford
PK Jude Kelley, Jr., Chattanooga
P John McConnell, Jr., Mercer
LS Alex Applefield, Gr., Samford
RS Brayden Smith, So., Mercer
Gavin Hall, Furman
Trey Hedden, Furman
Jackson Pryor, Furman
Kendall Harris, Mercer
Tyler Murray, Mercer
Whitt Newbauer, Mercer
Ethen Horne, VMI
Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
Zach Watson, Western Carolina
Luke Moise, Wofford
Amari Odom, Wofford
Caldwell Bussey, Furman
Ryan Earl, Furman
Billy Lewis, Furman
Jaylan Moson, Furman
Andrew Zock, Mercer
Leroy Harris III, Chattanooga
Beni Mwamba, Chattanooga
Asa Locks, VMI
Bo Simpson-Nealy, Western Carolina
C.J. Coombes, Wofford
Marion Smokes, Wofford
Braylon Knauth, The Citadel
Riley Smith, Furman
Austin Fletcher, VMI
Editor’s Note: This article was first published at vmikeydets.com.
