Football | 11/17/2021 2:14:00 PM

ROME, Ga.  Announced by the league office Wednesday afternoon, 10 Methodist football players were selected to the USA South Athletic All-Conference teams, including Kobe Praylow earning the inaugural Special Teams Player of the Year award. Making first team honors are running back Keyshaun Pete, wide receiver Xzavier McNeil, offensive lineman Nick Wiggins, safety Nate Jones, return specialist Praylow, and punter Bobby Haggerty. Second team honorees are quarterback Brandon Bullins, wide receiver Praylow, offensive lineman Jac Coleman, defensive lineman Khalil Patterson, and cornerback DeIrvin Grate. Senior offensive lineman Matthew Heflin earning a spot on the conference's All-Sportsmanship Team.

Not only was Kobe Praylow tabbed as a first-team All-Conference return specialist, he was selected as the first recipient of the leagues Special Teams Player of the Year award. On kickoffs, he has brought back 23 kicks for 538 yards, with one touchdown return for 90-yards, and has been the recipient of 15 punts for 203 yards, both of which led the USA South. Not only does Praylow return ball, but he catches them as well as a wide receiver on his way to a second-team pick. He finished second on the team with 662 receiving yards and five touchdown catches, with a team leading 67 grabs. Altogether, if you add his return, receiving and rushing (105), he has 1,508 all-purpose yards. Nationally, Praylow is eighth in all-purpose yards per game with 167.6.

Keyshaun Pete finished third in carries (123), rushing yards (689), and rushing touchdowns (8) among all USA South running backs, all of which set new single-season career-highs. Unlike his first couple of seasons, Pete was utilized in the passing game as well with 29 catches for 379 yards and three additional touchdowns, on his way to his first conference postseason award. His best game of the year was against N.C. Wesleyan when he rushed for 159 yards on 13 runs and made six catches for 112 yards for three total touchdowns, two by ground & one by air.

To cap off his career, Xzavier McNeil was again named to the All-Conference team this time as a first-teamer. The senior wide out hauled in 56 passes for 867 yards and seven touchdowns, respectively fourth, second and third in the USA South. His 96.3 yards per game led the conference among all receivers. The 867 yards set a new career-high for receiving yards in a single-season, along with matching his touchdown grabs in a single-season. McNeil will leave the school as the program leader in career receptions with 212. He also sits second & third in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with 2,678 and 18 respectively.
 
Making second-team quarterback is Brandon Bullins after a career season. The sophomore led the conference in completions (225), passing attempts (370), completion percentage (60.8), passing yards (2,732), and passing yards per game (303.6). All of which set new single-season career-highs, including his 21 passing touchdowns this season, except for completion percentage. This is Bullins second conference recognition this week, as he was garnered player of the week honors earlier.
 
Though there are no stats, games are determined by the offensive lineman who battle in the trenches to clear paths for the run or keep the pocket clean in the passing games. For the second year in a row, Nick Wiggins and Jac Coleman were honored with postseason accolades, Wiggins first-team and Coleman second-team. Both lineman started and played all nine game this season for a team that averaged 133.8 rushing & 305.9 passing yards for 32.6 points per game.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Khalil Patterson concludes his senior season with second straight All-Conference nod, as second-team on the defensive line. He started and played all nine game this year making 14 tackles (12 solo, two assisted), six tackles for loss, four sacks, three pass break-ups, and a QB hurry. In his first season with the Monarchs, DeIrvin Grate made second-team cornerback with 34 tackles (22 solo, 12 assistsed), one tackle for loss, three interceptions, and 11 pass break-ups. His interceptions and pass break-ups were second and third in the conference.
 
This is the fourth consecutive season that Nate Jones has been selected to the All-Conference team, this time as a first-team safety. The senior was second on the team in tackles (56) and interceptions (2), while leading the team in force fumbles and fumble recoveries with two apiece. In the final game of the season, Jones recorded his 12th career interception, which ties the school record for most interceptions in a career.
 
Bobby Haggerty will end his Methodist career with a first-team punter selection, after being named to the second-team back in 2019. He had 44 punts for 1,595 yards, an average of 36.3 yards per punt (first in the conference). 15 of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, including seven inside the five-yard line.