Butler football places 17 on All-Jayhawk Conference team

Butler football had 17 players named to the All-Jayhawk Conference team, which was released on Thursday.

The Grizzlies were highlighted with four first-team selections – including three offensive players (running back Brock Sturges, fullback Lawson Schultz and center AJ Vang). Defensive tackle Derick Newton was Butler's lone first-team member on defense.

Butler placed five players on the second team, while eight Grizzlies received honorable mention honors.

The Grizzlies (9-3 overall) finished behind Hutchinson and Independence for most players named to the team. Hutchinson had 23 players - including 10 first-team selections - while Independence had 19 receive honors.

Nine of Butler's 17 players were in-state Kansas selections, as the Grizzlies were the only Jayhawk Conference program to have a Kansas player receive All-Conference honors.

FIRST TEAM

Brock Sturges, running back, Allen, Texas - The 5-10, 210-pound freshman transfer from Arizona State led the Grizzlies and the Jayhawk Conference in rushing with 1,089 yards on 210 attempts, nine rushing touchdowns and averaged 99 yards per game. Sturges also caught 13 passes for 154 yards and a score. In six conference games, Sturges had a conference-best 801 yards rushing for an average of 133.5 yards per game. Named twice as the KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week, Sturges' best game came in Week 4 against Coffeyville as he finished with a season-high 225 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. Four times this season, Sturges amassed over 100 yards on the ground.

Lawson Schultz, fullback, Buhler, Kan. - A 6-0, 260-pound in-state freshman, Schultz was a key blocker in the Grizzlies' backfield, which gained 2,250 rushing yards on the season – an average of 187.5 yards per game. Schultz caught two passes out of the offensive backfield for 12 yards.

AJ Vang, center, Goddard, Kan. - A 6-2, 306-pound sophomore, Vang was one of the Grizzlies' captains during the 2019 season. The lone returning offensive lineman from last year's 8-4 squad, Vang started and played in all 12 games at center.

Derick Newton, defensive tackle, Douglas, Ga. - A 6-2, 280-pound freshman, Newton finished with a team-high four fumble recoveries. Playing in just 10 games, Newton recorded 62 tackles, which was tied for third on the team, along with five sacks and 16.5 tackles for losses. Newton's best individual game came in the regular-season finale against Garden City, as he finished with eight tackles, three sacks, five tackles for losses and a fumble recovery in a 34-27 win. For his efforts against Garden City, Newton received KJCCC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

SECOND TEAM

George Qualls, wide receiver, Caruthersville, Mo. - At 6-2, 185 pounds, the sophomore receiver led Butler in receptions (41), reception yards (693) and receiving touchdowns (6). Qualls was the only Grizzly to record a reception in each game this season. His best game came on Sept. 28 in a 35-27 loss to Hutchinson, where he hauled in nine receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Qualls made four or more receptions in a game in five different games this season and had two receiving touchdowns in the same game twice.

JJ Crawford, tackle, Goddard, Kan. - A 6-5, 300-pound freshman, Crawford was one of four Grizzly offensive lineman to receive all-conference honors. Butler was one of two conference teams to have both starting offensive tackles earn individual postseason honors.

Quillan Felton, defensive end, Atlanta, Ga. - A 6-4, 210-pound sophomore, Felton finished with 50 tackles, six sacks and a team-high 17 tackles for losses. Felton's top game came in a Oct. 19 10-7 home win over Fort Scott, as he made eight total tackles with four solos, three sacks and 5.5 tackles for losses for minus-18 yards.

Charlie Gray, linebacker, Bonner Springs, Kan. - A 6-3, 210-pound sophomore, Gray led Butler with 75 tackles in 12 games. Gray also finished with five sacks, 12.5 tackles for losses and two fumble recoveries. He finished with a season-best 10 tackles in the 42-10 season-opening win against Iowa Central on Aug. 24 and had seven games with seven tackles or more.

Taiten Winkel, punter, Halstead, Kan. - A 6-1, 180-pound kicking specialist, Winkel was named the KJCCC special teams player of the week twice. Winkel had 44 punts for 1,740 yards (an average of 39.5 per punt) and had 13 kicks land inside the 20-yard line. His longest punt of the season came on Nov. 2 at Iowa Western, as he booted a 76-yard punt – which ranks third all-time on the Grizzly leaderboard. Winkel also kicked a 74-yard punt on Sept. 7 against Highland. Both punts were the top two punts made by KJCCC punters this season. Winkel also made 1-of-3 field goals and 6-of-9 point-after attempts.

HONORABLE MENTION

Chod Morrow, offensive tackle, Goddard, Kan. - At 6-5, 305 pounds, the sophomore tackle was one of four Grizzly offensive lineman to be named to the all-conference team. Butler was one of two conference teams to have both starting offensive tackles earn individual postseason honors.

Dawson Delforge, offensive guard, Wamego, Kan. - A 6-5, 317-pound sophomore, Delforge played in all 12 games. He was one of four Butler offensive lineman to earn all-conference honors.

Adarius Thomas, running back, Covington, Ga. - A 5-7, 170-pound freshman, Thomas finished second on the Grizzlies with 663 yards rushing on 132 carries and had three rushing touchdowns. His best game came on Oct. 5 at Independence, as he carried the ball 19 times for 148 yards. The following week against Air Force Prep, Thomas gained 123 yards on 11 rushing attempts. Thomas also caught five passes for 27 yards on the season.

Justin Amaro, linebacker, Goddard, Kan. - A 6-0, 220-pound sophomore, Amaro finished with 49 tackles, 7.5 tackles for losses and 0.5 sacks while playing in all 12 games. Amaro recorded a season-best eight tackles twice during the season, coming against Hutchinson and Iowa Western.

Alfahiym Walcott, cornerback, Wilmington, N.C. - A 6-1, 190-pound freshman, Walcott had a team-high 13 pass breakups and finished second on the team with 65 tackles. He led Butler with 47 solo tackles and tied teammate Kway'Chon Chisom with three interceptions. Walcott's top game this season came on Aug. 31 against Snow, Utah, where he finished with eight tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. Against Dodge City on Sept. 21, Walcott had nine tackles with six solo stops, an interception and two pass breakups.

Kway'Chon Chisom, defensive back, Hayti, Mo. - A 5-10, 190-pound sophomore, Chisom led Butler with three fumble recoveries and shared the team-lead with teammate Alfahiym Walcott with three interceptions. Chisom was one of the Grizzlies' top tacklers – finishing with 62 tackles, which tied him for third-best. He also had two forced fumbles, three pass breakups and 2.5 tackles for losses. His best game this season came in a Sept. 14 33-13 road win at Coffeyville, where he made two interceptions for 63 return yards and recorded six tackles. Against Snow on Aug. 31, Chisom had a season-high nine tackles and a 26-yard interception return.

JaQuez Durham, return specialist, Milledgville, Ga. - A 5-7, 160-pound sophomore receiver, Durham was the Grizzlies' top returner in both kickoffs and punts. Durham finished with 33 punt returns for 407 yards and two touchdowns – including a 94-yard return in an Oct. 12 27-0 home win over Air Force Prep, which ranks him tied for second all-time for longest punt returns in Butler history. Durham also had a 72-yard touchdown punt return in the Sept. 14 33-13 win at Coffeyville. Durham was named KJCCC Special Teams Player of the Week in both weeks he returned punts for scores. On kickoff returns, Durham had nine returns for 176 yards (19.6 average).

Jacob Abel, kicker, Goddard, Kan. - A 6-1, 198-pound sophomore kicking specialist, Abel made 12-of-14 field goals and connected on 31-of-34 extra-point attempts. Abel's longest field goal of the season – a 45-yard kick – came during the 34-27 regular-season finale win over Garden City on Nov. 9. After starting the season making 2-of-4 field goals, Abel finished the regular season by hitting his final 10 field goal attempts. He was named KJCCC Special Teams player of the week twice. Abel also had 15 punts for 469 yards (31.3 average) and had 10 punts land inside the 20-yard line.