Cloud Named KJCCC Defensive Player of the Year, 19 Grizzlies Earn Conference Recognition

The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Released its postseason awards on Sunday following the conclusion of the 2024 regular season.

Butler redshirt freshman defensive tackle Seven Cloud was named the Jayhawk Defensive Player of the Year. In total, 19 Grizzlies received honors with three first team selections and 16 honorable mention selections. The Grizzlies finished the 2024 season with a 7-4 overall record, 5-1 in KJCCC play. They earned a share of the 2024 KJCCC title.

Click here to view the full 2024 All-KJCCC Football Teams

Seven Cloud – Defensive Player of the Year

Cloud earned Defensive Player of the Year status in the conference – a rare feat for a defensive tackle. The redshirt freshman from Atlanta, Ga., was routinely double teamed all season but no matter as he finished with 48 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three blocked kicks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. Cloud earned KJCCC Player of the Week honors after the Grizzlies defeated top ranked Hutchinson. Cloud finished with 9.0 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and career-high 3.5 sacks. Cloud also added a forced fumble in the game as he was nearly unblockable. He is the first conference defensive player of the year for the Grizzlies since 2013 when Owen Williams took home the award.

Landon Boss – First Team All-KJCCC Linebacker

Boss, a sophomore linebacker from Osage City, Kan., was named an All-KJCCC first team linebacker. Boss led all players in the KJCCC with 90 total tackles, the most tackles a Butler player has tallied since 2017 when linebacker Will Honas had 96 total tackles. Boss also added 13.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks to go with three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a pass breakup. He had five or more tackles in 10 of 11 games including 14 tackles in two different games. In Butler's takedown of No. 1 Hutchinson on the road, Boss had six tackles, a tackle for loss and the game sealing interception in the final minutes. He earned KJCCC Defensive Player of the Week honors in week five in Butler's loss to No. 3 ranked Snow College. He tallied a career-high 14 total tackles as well as a sack, tackle for loss, and a quarterback hurry.

Da'Realyst Clark – First Team All-KJCCC Return Specialist

Clark, a redshirt sophomore wide receiver/return specialist from Lima, Ohio, was named an All-KJCCC first team return specialist in his first and only season in El Dorado. Clark was the only player in the conference to finish with both a punt return for a touchdown and a kickoff return for a touchdown. He had a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the road at No. 1 ranked Iowa Western and an 85-yard punt return touchdown on the road at Ellsworth. Clark finished the season averaging 27.7 yards per kickoff return and 16.6 yards per punt return.

HONORABLE MENTION SELECTIONS

Markellus Bass – RB

Aidan Battle – K

Carlos Bazert – FB

Devin Davis – C

Braelyn Dillard – TE

Chevy Edwards – P

Cooper Hajek – FB

David Houston – S

Jalen Jones – CB

Mason McHugh – QB

Craig Royal – CB

Isaac Saye – K

Kenton Simmons – DE

Gabe Welch – LB

Kainen White –DT

Deshawn Woods – OT