SEMO quarterback Dante Vandeven named OVC Freshman of the Year

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Dante Vandeven was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Freshman of the Year on Tuesday morning.

The Redhawks also had two first-team all-conference selections -- Tremane McCullough and Paul McRoberts -- and four second-team selections -- Garret Baker, Roper Garrett, Mike Ford and Alex Knight.

Vandeven, a Jackson graduate, played the last nine games for Southeast and started the final eight of the season. He was also named to the All-Newcomer team.

The true freshman compiled 1,568 yards passing and 11 touchdowns, completing 62 percent of his passes. He threw seven interceptions.

His average of 174.2 passing yards per game ranked fifth in the OVC. He was also fifth in the conference in total offense, averaging 206.7 yards per game.

He rushed for 292 yards and six touchdowns on 87 carries.

Running back Tremane McCullough and wide receiver Paul McRoberts were both named first-team All-OVC.

McCullough, a junior running back who transferred from Arizona Western Community College, was also named to the All-Newcomer team.

McCullough was second in the conference with 1,028 yards rushing on the season. He had five rushing touchdowns. He also had 33 catches and was second in receiving yards for Southeast with 279.

McRoberts was a first-team selection for the second consecutive year. He had 940 yards and nine touchdowns on 76 catches to lead the Redhawks. His 29 career receiving touchdowns is the new school record. He compiled 2,435 receiving yards in his four-year Redhawks career, which ranks third in school history.

Baker, who started all 11 games at left guard, was named second-team offense. The junior helped pave the way for the Redhawks offense that averaged 182.9 yards rushing per game, which ranked second in the conference.

Garrett, a junior linebacker, was named second-team defense. He led Southeast in tackles for the second straight year and was second in the OVC with 106. He's the first Redhawk to record 100 tackles in a season since 2012.

He had 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, which was 10th in the conference.

Ford, a sophomore cornerback, also was named to the second-team defense. He started all 11 games and led the conference with five interceptions to go along with 44 tackles, two for loss, seven pass breakups and a sack.

Knight, the Redhawks' junior punter, was named a second-team specialist. He ranked first in the OVC and fifth nationally with an average of 44.8 yards per punt.

He punted 64 times on the season and had 29 land inside the 20-yard line. His season-long was 65 yards, which was one of three that went 60 yards or more. He had 18 punts of 50 yards or more.

Jacksonville State junior quarterback Eli Jenkins was named the OVC's Offensive Player of the Year and Gamecocks' coach John Grass was named the league's Coach of the Year for the second straight year.

Eastern Illinois senior defensive tackle Dino Fanti and Eastern Kentucky junior defensive end Noah Spence shared OVC Defensive Player of the Year honors.