Little Rock Touchdown Club Announces Honorees for 2012 Football Season
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: January 17, 2013
Each year, the Little Rock Touchdown Club honors a most valuable player from each of the 11 college football programs in the state along with a most valuable player and coach from each of the six high school football classifications.
The club also presents the annual Paul Eells Award, which is given to the University of Arkansas player who exhibits perseverance, determination and courage in the face of adversity. The award is named for the late Paul Eells, who for many years was the Voice of the Razorbacks and the sports director of KATV-TV, Channel 7, in Little Rock.
Based on a vote of the membership, the club also honors the top players and coach in the Southeastern Conference along with a national player of the year.
Notable 2012 honorees include:
*QB Tyler Wilson from the University of Arkansas, a two time honoree who
holds school records in multiple offensive categories
*Arkansas running back Dennis Johnson, the recipient of the Paul Eells Award
*Arkansas State University quarterback Ryan Aplin, a three-time honoree
*Fayetteville High School Coach Daryl Patton, a three-time honoree
*Co-MVPs from Great American Conference Champion Henderson State University
-Kevin Rodgers & Maxie Graham
Those desiring additional information should contact Kelly Lasseigne, the club's executive
director, at info@lrtouchdown.com or 590-3529. General admission tickets are $25 with VIP seating available for $50.
A buffet lunch will be served from 11 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. The program will run from 11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The banquet is sponsored by Metropolitan National Bank, The Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Crain Automotive, Arkansas Sports Performance Center and Wright, Lindsey & Jennings
2012 High School Players & Coaches of the Year
(7A)
Austin Allen, Fayetteville, QB
Coach Daryl Patton - Fayetteville
(6A)
Drew Morgan, Greenwood, WR
Coach Rick Jones - Greenwood
(5A)
L.J. Wallace, Pulaski Academy, WR
Coach Dave King - Batesville
(4A)
Dontrell Brown, Stuttgart, QB
Coach Jeremie Burns - Ozark
(3A)
Will Francis, Harding Academy, QB
Coach Roddy Mote, Harding Academy
(2A)
Shaquille Hunter, Junction City, QB/CB
Coach David Carpenter - Junction City
2012 College Players of the Year
Arkansas Baptist- Jimmy Jean, CB
UAM- Jamal Nixon, WR
Arkansas Tech- Tanner Marsh, Ath
UCA- Wynrick Smothers, QB
Harding- Kelvin Martin, QB
Henderson St- Maxie Gramm, LB & Kevin Rodgers, QB
OBU- Brett Reece, WR
SAU- Don Unamba, CB
UAPB- Ben Anderson, QB
ASU- Ryan Aplin, QB (3 Time Honoree)
Arkansas- Tyler Wilson, QB
PAUL EELLS AWARD- Dennis Johnson
PAST AWARD WINNERS
Little Rock Touchdown Club Awards
2004 - 2012
HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
(7A)
2012 Austin Allen, Fayetteville, QB
2011 Brooks Ellis, Fayetteville, LB
2010 Brandon Allen, Fayetteville, QB
2009 Zach Hocker, Russellville, PK/P
2008 Chase Baggett, Bentonville
2007 Anthony Blackmon, Bentonville, RB
2006 Lee Ziemba, Rogers, OL
2005 No 7A Class
2004 No 7A Class
(6A)
2012 Drew Morgan, Greenwood, WR
2011 Marque Burris, El Dorado
2010 Taylor Reed, El Dorado, QB
2009 Claude Johnson, Pine Bluff, QB
2008 Phillip Butterfield, Lake Hamilton, QB
2007 Dennis Johnson, Texarkana, RB
2006 Dennis Johnson, Texarkana, RB
2005 No 6A Class
2004 No 6A Class
(5A)
2012 L.J. Wallace, Pulaski Academy, WR
2011 Drew Morgan, Greenwood
2010 Chris Hampton, Mills, RB
2009 Michael Dyer, Little Rock, Christian, RB
2008 Spencer Keith, Pulaski Academy, QB
2007 DeAnthony Curtis, Camden Fairview, RB
2006 Derek Lawson, Nettleton, RB
2005 Mitch Mustain, Springdale, QB Tie
2005 Damian Williams, Springdale, QB Tie
2004 Kevin Thornton, Central, DB-WR
(4A)
2012 Dontrell Brown, Stuttgart, QB
2011 Fredi Knighton, Pulaski Academy, QB
2010 Kiehl Frazier, Shiloh Christian, QB
2009 Kiehl Frazier, Shiloh Christian, QB
2008 Jesse Grandy, Pine Bluff Dollarway, QB
2007 Joseph Adams, Central Arkansas Christian, WR
2006 A.J. Whitmore, Nashville, QB
2005 Daniel Stegall, Greenwood, QB
2004 Darren McFadden, Oak Grove, RB-S
(3A)
2012 Will Francis, Harding Academy, QB
2011 Quanterio Heath, Rison
2010 Steve Kehner, Glen Rose, RB
2009 Mark Makin, Fountain Lake, RB
2008 DeShaun Bagby, Mayflower
2007 Terence Bobo, Atkins
2006 Austin Tucker, Shiloh Christian, QB
2005 Trent Morgan, Central Arkansas Christian, RB
2004 Jesse Gates, Central Arkansas Christian, QB
(2A)
2012 Shaquille Hunter, Junction City, QB/CB
2011 Kenneth Dixon, Strong
2010 Ryan Chambers, Magazine, RB
2009 Byran Jones, Junction City, DT
2008 Byran Jones, Junction City, DT
2007 Dewayne Watts, Bearden
2006 Lonnel Fort, Jessieville, RB
2005 Zach Tribble, Harding Academy, QB
2004 Bubba Noakes, Ola, QB-S
HIGH SCHOOL COACHES OF THE YEAR
(7A)
2012 Daryl Patton - Fayetteville
2011 Daryl Patton - Fayetteville
2010 Barry Lunney Sr - Bentonville
2009 Perry Escalante - Rogers Heritage
2008 Barry Lunney Sr - Bentonville
2007 Daryl Patton - Fayetteville
2006 Ronnie Peacock - Rogers
2005 No 7A Class
2004 No 7A Class
(6A)
2012 Rick Jones - Greenwood
2011 Scott Reed - El Dorado
2010 Mike Lee - Van Buren
2009 Scott Reed - El Dorado
2008 Randy Coleman - Jonesboro
2007 Jim Withrow - Sylvan Hills
2006 Shane Patrick - Mountain Home
2005 No 6A Class
2004 No 6A Class
(5A)
2012 Dave King - Batesville
2011 Rick Jones - Greenwood
2010 Buck James - Camden Fairview
2009 Randy Trible - Greenbrier
2008 Russell Smith - Helena-West Helena
2007 Johnny Watson - LR Christian
2006 Kevin Kelly - Pulaski Academy
2005 Gus Malzahn - Springdale
2004 Bernie Cox - Central
(4A)
2012 Jeremie Burns - Ozark
2011 Kevin Kelley - Pulaski Academy
2010 Chris Dufrene - Clinton
2009 Paul Johnson - Bald Knob
2008 Josh Floyd - Shiloh Christian
2007 Mark Courtney, Dumas
2006 Steve Janski - Heber Springs
2005 Rick Jones - Greenwood
2004 Billy Dawson - Siloam Springs
(3A)
2012 Roddy Mote, Harding Academy
2011 Van Paschal - Barton
2010 Kelly Chandler - Rivercrest
2009 Tommy Gilleran - Greenbriar
2008 Doug Loughridge - Charleston
2007 Kenny Phillips - Marshall
2006 Josh Floyd - Shiloh Christian
2005 Tim Perry - Central Arkansas Christian
2004 George Shelton - Dollarway
(2A)
2012 David Carpenter - Junction City
2011 Shane Davis - Strong
2010 Josh Jones - Magazine
2009 Josh Jones - Magazine
2008 Jeff Starks - Bigelow
2007 Scott Waymire - Carlisle
2006 Don Phillips - Jessieville
2005 Steve Wood - Charleston
2004 David Bennett - Dierks
DISTINGUISHED CAREER AWARD
2005 Frank McClellan - Barton
ARKANSAS COLLEGES PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Arkansas Baptist
2012 Jimmy Jean, WR
2011 Keathric Brown
2010 Duane Watts
2009 Dominique Chinn, S
2008 Nate Sims
2007 Larry Jenkins
UAM
2012 Jamal Nixon, WR
2011 D.J. Stpehens
2010 Scott Buisson, QB
2009 Jywin Ceaser, WR
2008 Scott Buisson, QB
2007 Scott Buisson, QB
2006 Anthony Rodriguez, P
2005 John L. Williams, RB
2004 Cory Allred, QB
Arkansas Tech
2012 Tanner Marsch, Ath
2011 A.J. Whitmore
2010 Danny Martin
2009 Nick Graziano, QB
2008 Cole Barthel, QB
2007 Chris Gunter
2006 Mark Caldwell, WR
2005 Mike Houston, LB
2004 Cedric Cursh, DE
UCA
2012 Wynrick Smothers, QB
2011 Nathan Dick, QB
2010 Markell Carter
2009 Brent Grimes, RB
2008 Nathan Brown, QB
2007 Nathan Brown, QB
2006 Jacob Ford, DE
2005 Kentrel Rogers, RB
2004 Zak Clark, QB
Harding
2012 Kelvin Martin, QB
2011 Kale Gelles
2010 Jermaine Blanchard
2009 Josh Jones, S
2008 Sevohn Greer, DL
2007 David Knighton
2006 Robert Towns, DB
2005 Torrance Daniels, DB
2004 Torrance Daniels DB
Henderson St
2012 Maxie Gramm, LB & Kevin Rodgers, QB
2011 Keaton Stigger
2010 Nick Hardesty, QB
2009 Marc Keppner, OL
2008 Garret Manning, WR
2007 Kurt Kutscher
2006 Garrett Manning, QB
2005 Dane King, QB
2004 Blake Christenson QB
OBU
2012 Brett Reece
2011 Casey Cooper
2010 Eli Cranor
2009 Kedrick Johnson, RB
2008 Julius Pruitt, WR
2007 Willie Hopson
2006 Bruce Steele, WR
2005 Slade Camp, WR
2004 Justin Laird P/PK
SAU
2012 Don Unamba, CB
2011 Mark Johnson
2010 Rafael Thomas
2009 Cedric Thorton, DT
2008 Steven Dauenhauer
2007 C.J. Ellis
2006 Demarea Caldwell, DB
2005 D.D. Holyfield, RB
2004 Keenan Washington LB
UAPB
2012
2011 Bill Ross
2010 Raymond Webber, WR
2009 Kevin Thorton, S
2008 John Keith
2007 Tim Turner,
2006 Chris Wallace, QB
2005 Mickey Dean, RB
2004 James Johnson RB
ASU
2012 Ryan Aplin, QB
2011 Ryan Aplin, QB
2010 Ryan Aplin, QB
2009 Alex Carrington, DE
2008 Alex Carrington, DE
2007 Tyrell Johnson S
2006 Reggie Arnold, RB
2005 Eric Neihouse, K
2004 Antonio Warren
Arkansas
2012 Tyler Wilson, QB
2011 Jarius Wright, WR
2010 Ryan Mallet, QB
2009 Ryan Mallet, QB
2008 DJ Williams, TE
2007 Darren McFadden, RB
2006 Darren McFadden, RB
2005 Darren McFadden, RB
2004 Matt Jones, QB
SEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2012 Johnny Manziel, QB
2011 Tyler Wilson, QB
2010 Cam Newton, QB
2009 Ryan Mallet, Arkansas, QB
2008 Tim Tebow, Florida, QB
2007 Darren McFadden, Arkansas, RB
2006 Darren McFadden, Arkansas, RB
2005 Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt, QB
2004 Jason Campbell, Auburn, QB
SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2012 Jadeveon Clowney, DE
2011 Tyrann Mathiew, LSU, DB
2010 Nick Fairley, Auburn, DL
2009 Rolando McClain, Alabama, LB
2008 Rashad Johnson, Alabama, DB
2007 Glenn Dorsey, LSU, DL
2006 Patrick Willis, Ole Miss, LB
2005 DeMeco Ryan, Alabama, LB
2004 David Pollack, Georgia, DE
SEC COACH OF THE YEAR
2012 Kevin Sumlin - Texas A&M
2011 Mark Richt - Georgia
2010 Bobby Petrino- Arkansas
2009 Bobby Petrino - Arkansas
2008 Nick Saban - Alabama
2007 Sylvester Croom - Miss St
2006 Houston Nutt - Arkansas
2005 Steve Spurrier - South Carolina
2004 Tommy Tuberville - Auburn
NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2012 Johnny Manziel, QB
2011 Robert Griffin III, Baylor, QB
2010 Cam Newton, Auburn, QB
2009 Colt McCoy, Texas, QB
2008 Colt McCoy, Texas, QB
2007 Darren McFadden, Arkansas, RB
2006 Darren McFadden, Arkansas, RB
2005 Reggie Bush, Southern Cal RB
2004 Matt Leinart, Southern Cal QB
PAUL EELLS AWARD
2012 Dennis Johnson
2011 Garrett Uekman, TE
2010 DJ Williams, TE
2009 Joe Adams, WR
2008 Casey Dick, QB
2007 Peyton Hillis, RB
2006 Robert Johnson, Arkansas, WR/QB







