ROCK HILL, S.C. – After posting another standout year and an 8-3 record on the way to a third-place finish in the South Atlantic Conference, the Emory & Henry University Football Team saw eight of its players earn a total of nine All-SAC honors. The awards are voted on by the coaches in the league and were released by the conference office on Friday.

This year the league has returned to a format with solely an All-SAC First Team and Second Team after doing away with divisions following the 2024 season. The Wasps' nine all-league players were second only to Wingate University at 12.

RELATED - South Atlantic Conference Release

On the All-SAC First Team Offense, senior running back Jordan Jackson (Richmond, Va.) rushed for his second consecutive 1,000-yard season as he led the conference with 1,102 rushing yards and was second in the SAC with 19 rushing touchdowns. Senior offensive lineman Deshaun Sharp (Spotsylvania, Va.) was a mainstay along the offensive line for the Wasps and helped them to an average of 39.1 points and 364.5 yards of total offense per game. Senior Trace Butcher (Dacula, Ga.) finished the year 12-for-14 on field goals and 52-for-53 on PATs. He tied his own program record with 13 points for a kicker in a 55-7 win over Shaw, and tied another program record with 10 PATs in the 70-13 victory at UVA Wise. Butcher finishes his E&H career as the all-time leader in made field goals with 49.

The All-SAC First Team Defense saw junior defensive lineman Ean Rhea (Glade Spring, Va.) lead the way as he was the SAC leader and ranked tied for fifth in the nation in sacks with 12. He had 50 tackles, 17.5 for loss, and also forced three fumbles. For his efforts, Rhea was also named the South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Senior defensive back Shawn Collins (Salem, Va.) was the other Wasp selected to the First Team Defense. Collins recorded 44 tackles, four for loss, while forcing a fumble and recovering another. He finished the year with three interceptions and five pass breakups. 

Senior Cam Peoples (Reidsville, N.C.) represented the Wasps at two different positions on the All-SAC Second Team Offense. This makes the third consecutive season that Peoples has received honors at two positions. He was again selected as a wide receiver, with 668 yards and five touchdowns on a team-leading 42 receptions. Peoples also repeated as a return specialist, racking up 362 yards and a touchdown on 15 combined kickoff and punt returns. His 293 punt return total yards and 24.4 average per punt return both led the SAC.

On the All-SAC Second Team Defense, sophomore defensive lineman Joshua Gooding (Glen Allen, Va.) had 39 tackles, 5.5 for loss, while adding a pair of sacks. Senior defensive back Chendrick Cann (Pinellas Park, Fla.) recorded 20 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception. 

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