The Greensboro College football team placed ten players on the USA South All-Conference Team, released on Wednesday. In addition to the All-Conference recognition, Pride head coach Bill Young was recognized for his first year sucess as the USA South Coach of the Year.
Greensboro was led by First Team honorees Antwan Thorpe and Nathan Perdue. Thorpe etched his name all over the receiving record book, breaking five school records and three conference records during his senior season. Thorpe finished the season with USA South leading totals in receptions with 81 and yards with 1,270 and touchdowns with 11. He went out with a bang on Saturday, recording single game school and conference records for receptions with 22 and receiving yards with 391.
Perdue helped anchor a Greensboro offensive line that led the USA South in total offense per game with 395.9 and passing yards per game with 283.3. The senior started all ten games and took on a leadership role as a team captain.
Second Team All-Conference honors went to wide receiver Dexter Russell Jr. and defensive tackle Damion Reed. Russell contributed to the high octane passing attack by finishing third in the conference in receptions with 64 and receiving yards with 822.
Reed conlcuded the season with 25 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. He led a unit that set the tone for top four defensive finishes in yards per game allowed, rushing yards per game allowed and passing yards per game allowed. Reed was also selected to the USA South All-Sportsmanship Team.
The Honorable Mention Team featured six members of The Pride. Earning recognition were quarterback Ryan Throndset, tight end Tripp Honeycutt, offensive lineman Devin Bland, defensive end William Thomas, linebacker Travis Welch and defensive backDesmond Gillis.
Throndset was behind the wheel for the top ranked total offense and passing offense in the conference. The sophomore set six conference records this season, including single game bests for most pass attempts, completions, passing yards, total offense and touchdowns to go along with a season best for completions. Throndset led the conference in passing yards per game with 282.5 and finished second in passing touchdowns with 19. Overall, he threw for 2,825 yards.
Honeycutt provided Greensboro a versatile threat at tight end, wrapping up the year with 27 receptions for 210 yards and a touchdown.
Bland joined Perdue as the second Pride offensive lineman on the All-Conference Team. Bland started all ten games and also played a key role in the paving the way for a strong offensive showing.
Thomas added to Greensboro’s success in the trenches, giving The Pride their second All-Conference honoree on the defensive line. Thomas wreaked havoc off the end with 35 tackles, including 9.5 behind the line of scrimmage and four sacks.
Welch became the fourth senior to earn recognition after finishing second on the team in tackles with 79. Welch also added nine tackles for loss to go along with one fumble recovery.
Gillis was the lone freshman and member of the defensive secondary for Greensboro to be named All-Conference. Gillis made 36 stops on the year and nabbed a team high four interceptions.
“It is exciting for this entire football program to have fellow teammates recognized throughout the conference for outstanding play and sportsmanship this season,” said head coach Bill Young. “Each honoree truly understands that this is a team sport. Without the help and support from everyone on this campus they would not have been able to achieve success on and off the field this fall.”
The eleven All-Conference award winners marks the second best in program history, trailing only the 2002 total. The Pride posted an overall record of 5-5 on the season, marking only the .500 record in the program’s 13-year history.