BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The University of North Alabama placed seven student-athletes on the 2017 All-Gulf South Conference Football Team, highlighted by the selection of Christon Taylor of Hoover, Ala., as the GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year.
UNA has six players earn first-team All-GSC honors, with five selections on defense. The North Alabama defense allowed just 17.5 points per game in 2017 and ranked among the NCAA Division II national leaders with 18 interceptions.
North Alabama's lone offensive selection was senior wide receiver Dre Hall of Columbia, Tenn., who earned All-GSC honors for the third time in his four years at UNA. Hall caught 32 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns in 2017 while also rushing for 169 yards and four TDs. For his career, Hall caught 201 passes for 3,144 and 25 touchdowns - all UNA records.
Named to the first-team All-GSC defensive unit from UNA were junior defensive lineman Maurice Burton, Jr., of Chicago, Ill., senior defensive lineman Freddie Reed of West Point, Miss., Taylor at linebacker, senior defensive back Maurice Carnell of San Diego, Calif., and junior defensive back Chris Johnson of Birmingham, Ala.
Burton made 28 tackles this season with 10 tackles for loss of 30 yards and four quarterback sacks for 21 yards. He also recovered a fumble. Reed earned All-GSC honors for a third straight year after being a second-team selection in 2015 and 2016. He was fifth on the team with 44 tackles including 10 tackles for loss of 37 yards and 3.5 sacks for 25 yards.
Taylor made 67 tackles as a true freshman with 5.5 tackles for loss of 24 yards and three interceptions that he returned for 129 yards. He also forced a fumble. Taylor becomes the ninth UNA student-athlete to be named GSC Freshman of the Year in football and the eighth on defense. The others were O.J. Patrick (1990), Marcus Hunter (1991), Ronald McKinnon (1992), Gerald Smith (1993), Reginald Ruffin (1994), Floyd Jones (2012) and Philbert Martial (2013). UNA's DeMarcus Blount was GSC Freshman of the Year in 2002 as a running back.
Carnell made 28 tackles in 2017 with one tackle for loss, four interceptions for 62 yards and eight pass break-ups. Johnson finished fourth on the team with 50 tackles, including two tackles for loss and six interceptions for 14 yards. He also earned a GSC Defensive Player of the Week award during the 2017 season.
Junior linebacker Joshua Amanfo of Rex, Ga., was named second-team All-GSC. Amanfo led UNA with 68 tackles this season including 11 tackles for loss of 50 yards and two quarterback sacks.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - OFFENSE
Pos.   Name   School   Year   Hometown
QB   Harry Satterwhite   West Alabama   Jr.   Mobile, Ala.
RB   Antwuan Haynes*   Florida Tech   Jr.   Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
RB   Devontae Jackson*^   West Georgia   Jr.   Marietta, Ga.
WR   Donta Armstrong*   West Alabama   Sr.   Bruce, Miss.
WR   Dre Hall**   North Alabama   Sr.   Columbia, Tenn.
WR   Lewis Hayes   Shorter   Sr.   Voorhees, N.J.
WR   Shaq Roland   West Georgia   Sr.   Lexington, S.C.
TE   Qua Boyd   West Alabama   Jr.   Lafayette, Ala.
OT   Brandon Anderson   West Alabama   So.   Bessemer, Ala.
OT   Desmond Harrison   West Georgia   Sr.   Houston, Texas
OG   Kevin Battle   Valdosta State   Sr.   Orlando, Fla.
OG   Innis Claud V   Delta State   So.   Albany, Ga.
C   Harley Vaughan^*   West Georgia   Sr.   Dawsonville, Ga.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - DEFENSE
Pos.   Name   School   Year   Hometown
DL   Maurice Burton Jr.   North Alabama   Jr.   Chicago, Ill.
DL   Adonis Davis*   Florida Tech   Jr.   Columbus, Ohio
DL   Freddie Reed^^   North Alabama   Sr.   West Point, Miss.
DL   John Williamson   West Florida   Jr.   Stockton, Ala.
LB   Ovenson Cledanord   Delta State   Jr.   Greenacres, Fla.
LB   Terry Samuel   West Alabama   Jr.   Brewton, Ala.
LB   Malik Slater   Valdosta State   Sr.   Tallahassee, Fla.
LB   Christon Taylor   North Alabama   Fr.   Hoover, Ala.
DB   Maurice Carnell   North Alabama   Sr.   San Diego, Calif.
DB   Jamoral Graham   Delta State   Sr.   Decatur, Miss.
DB   Chris Johnson   North Alabama   Jr.   Birmingham, Ala.
DB   Tevin Madison   West Alabama   Sr.   Fayette, Ala.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos.   Name   School   Year   Hometown
PK   Austin Williams   West Florida   So.   Phelan, Calif.
P   Zach Gaines   West Alabama   So.   Calera, Ala.
RS   Darius Young   Mississippi College   Fr.   Shelbyville, Tenn.
BT   Jared Adair   West Alabama   Jr.   Saraland, Ala.
UTL   Darius Young   Mississippi College   Fr.   Shelbyville, Tenn.
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - OFFENSE
Pos.   Name   School   Year   Hometown
QB   Willie Candler   West Georgia   So.   Atlanta, Ga.
RB   Chris Robinson*   Delta State   Sr.   Bude, Miss.
RB   Lakendric Thomas^   West Alabama   Sr.   West Point, Miss.
WR   Dallas Baldner   Valdosta State   Sr.   Homosassa, Fla.
WR   Corey Davis^   West Alabama   Sr.   Meridian, Miss.
WR   Antoine Griffin   West Florida   Jr.   Tampa, Fla.
WR   Romell Guerrier   Florida Tech   Sr.   Miami, Fla.
TE   Kevin Purlett   Florida Tech   So.   Miramar, Fla.
OT   Samuel Antoine   West Florida   So.   Weston, Fla.
OT   Dontavius Blair   West Alabama   Sr.   Anniston, Ala.
OG   George Roberts^   Delta State   Sr.   Lithonia, Ga.
OG   Quentin Stanford*   West Georgia   Jr.   Warner Robins, Ga.
C   Call Dyer^   West Alabama   So.   Gordo, Ala.
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - DEFENSE
Pos.   Name   School   Year   Hometown
DL   Darius Ellis*   West Alabama   Jr.   Northport, Ala.
DL   Brandon Gaddy   Delta State   Sr.   Jackson, Miss.
DL   Joseph Mozone   Valdosta State   So.   North Augusta, S.C.
DL   Chad Price   West Georgia   Jr.   Snellville, Ga.
DL   Michael Williams   West Alabama   Sr.   Clayton, Ala.
LB   Joshua Amanfo   North Alabama   Jr.   Rex, Ga.
LB   J.T. Hassell   Florida Tech   Jr.   Titusville, Fla.
LB   Landry Tullo^   Delta State   Sr.   Hoover, Ala.
LB   Sharmaine Washington^*   Valdosta State   Sr.   Moultrie, Ga.
DB   Trent Archie   West Florida   So.   Mobile, Ala.
DB   Jamal Blackwell   West Alabama   Sr.   Mt. Olive, Miss.
DB   Taderion Myhand   West Alabama   Sr.   Troy, Ala.
DB   Montrell Pardue   West Georgia   Jr.   Clarkesville, Tenn.
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos.   Name   School   Year   Hometown
PK   Vince Sciorrotta   Delta State   Sr.   Gainesville, Ga.
P   Sam Barge   Delta State   Fr.   Carrollton, Ga.
RS   LaDarion Peterson   Delta State   Sr.   Woodville, Miss.
UTL   Tevin Isom   West Georgia   Sr.   Lithonia, Ga.
* Indicates previous First Team All-GSC selection
^ Indicates previous Second Team All-GSC selection
GSC Offensive Player of the Year: Devontae Jackson, West Georgia
GSC Defensive Player of the Year: Terry Samuel, West Alabama
GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year: Mike Beaudry, West Florida
GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year: Christon Taylor, North Alabama
GSC Coach of the Year: Brett Gilliland, West Alabama
