KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Central Missouri Mules football had 13 student-athletes earn All-MIAA recognition for their performances on the football field during the 2022 season, the conference office announced Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Defensive lineman David Olajiga garnered First Team All-MIAA honors while receiver Arkell Smith, offensive lineman Dan Sunderman and defensive back Diondre Glover were voted Second Team All-MIAA. All-purpose back Xavier Jackson and linebacker Travis DeGrate received Third Team recognition, and quarterback Cedric Case, tight end Malik Clayborn, offensive lineman Gabe Clark, defensive backs Curtis Appleton II and Noah Blair, punter Ethan Brown and kick/punt returner Jack Pospisil were All-MIAA Honorable Mention selections.

A redshirt junior from London, England, Olajiga led the Mules with 8.5 tackles for loss for 43 yards in 11 games this season. He added 22 tackles, 2.5 sacks for 22 yards, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

Smith, a redshirt junior from Carthage, Mo., paced all Central Missouri receivers with 56 catches for 718 yards with eight touchdowns. He averaged 65.3 receiving yards per game. A redshirt junior from Omaha, Neb., Sunderman started in all 11 games for the Mules and helped UCM rank third in the MIAA in passing yards with 2,712 yards. A redshirt sophomore from Covington, Ga., Glover led the Mules and the MIAA with 15 pass breakups in 11 games. He added a pair of interceptions and 22 tackles.

A redshirt senior from Oklahoma City, DeGrate tied for third on the team with 52 tackles. He tallied 2.5 tackles-for-loss for seven yards and a pass breakup. Jackson, a redshirt senior from St. Louis, Mo., compiled a team-best 361 net rushing yards on 107 carries with four TDs and averaged 32.8 yards on the ground per game. He was also a threat through the air, tallying 547 receiving yards on 53 catches with one receiving touchdown. Jackson averaged 49.7 receiving yards per game.

2022 ALL-MIAA POSTSEASON AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year – TJ Davis, Quarterback – Nebraska Kearney
Defensive Player of the Year – Elijah Green, Defensive Tackle – Northwest Missouri
Special Teams Player of the Year – James Letcher, Jr., Kick/Punt Returner – Washburn
Freshman of the Year – Kolbe Katsis, Wide Receiver and Kick/Punt Returner – Pittsburg State
Coach of the Year – Brian Wright – Pittsburg State

FIRST TEAM
Quarterback – TJ Davis – Nebraska Kearney
Running Back – Caleb Lewis – Pittsburg State
Wide Receiver – James Letcher, Jr. – Washburn*
Wide Receiver – Bryce Murphy – Pittsburg State
Wide Receiver – Manny Ramsey – Fort Hays State
Wide Receiver – Corey Thomas – Emporia State
Tight End/Fullback – Devon Garrison – Pittsburg State
All-Purpose Back – Jamar Moya – Northwest Missouri
Offensive Line – Andrew Funk – Washburn
Offensive Line – Hunter Hays – Nebraska Kearney
Offensive Line – Trase Jeffries – Pittsburg State
Offensive Line – Conner Lierz – Emporia State
Offensive Line – Kory Woodruff – Pittsburg State
Kicker – Nick Williams – Missouri Southern
Kick/Punter Returner – James Letcher, Jr. - Washburn

Defensive Line – Elijah Green – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Line – Zach Howard – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Line – Dubem Okonkwo – Pittsburg State
Defensive Line – David Olajiga – Central Missouri
Defensive Line – Jordan Williams – Emporia State
Linebacker – Grant Bruner – Washburn
Linebacker – Dawson Hammes – Emporia State
Linebacker – P.J. Sarwinski – Pittsburg State
Defensive Back – Brandon Mlekus – Pittsburg State
Defensive Back – Jaedon Pool – Emporia State
Defensive Back – Cahleel Smith – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Back – DJ Stirgus – Missouri Western
Defensive Back – Darius Swanson – Nebraska Kearney
Punter – Ross Brungardt – Emporia State
*Indicates unanimous selection
- Reflects ties in voting

SECOND TEAM
Quarterback – Braden Gleason – Emporia State
Running Back – Nathan Glades – Missouri Southern
Wide Receiver – Peter Afful - Washburn
Wide Receiver – Christian Carter – Pittsburg State
Wide Receiver – Traveon James – Missouri Western
Wide Receiver – Arkell Smith – Central Missouri
Tight End/Fullback – Cam Grandy – Missouri Western
All-Purpose Back – Montrez Jackson – Nebraska Kearney
Offensive Line – Xavier Cason – Emporia State
Offensive Line – Evan Clark – Missouri Western
Offensive Line – Mitch Goff – Northwest Missouri
Offensive Line – Pat Kelly – Fort Hays State
Offensive Line – Dan Sunderman – Central Missouri
Kicker – Nicky Quevedo – Central Oklahoma
Kick/Punter Returner – Kashan Griffin – Northwest Missouri

Defensive Line – CJ Ravenell – Missouri Western
Defensive Line – Michael Slater – Central Oklahoma
Defensive Line – Tell Spies – Nebraska Kearney
Defensive Line – Landen Urban – Washburn  
Defensive Line – Zeke Wall – Pittsburg State
Linebacker – Richard Jordan, Jr. – Missouri Southern
Linebacker – Sam Phillips – Northwest Missouri
Linebacker – Isaac Vollstedt – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Back – Gabriel Amegatcher – Nebraska Kearney
Defensive Back – Kobe Cummings – Missouri Western
Defensive Back – Diondre Glover – Central Missouri
Defensive Back – Jordan Lamotte – Northeastern State
Defensive Back – Derrick Maxwell – Emporia State
Defensive Back – Rico Payton – Pittsburg State
Punter – Nick Williams – Missouri Southern
- Reflects ties in voting

THIRD TEAM
Quarterback – Chad Dodson, Jr. – Pittsburg State
Running Back – Billy Ross – Emporia State
Wide Receiver – Aderias Ealy – Lincoln
Wide Receiver – Jaedon Stoshak – Missouri Southern
Wide Receiver – Jaylen Varner – Emporia State
Tight End/Fullback – Oscar Hammond – Central Oklahoma
Tight End/Fullback – Connor Searcy – Washburn
All-Purpose Back – Xavier Jackson – Central Missouri
Offensive Line – Jacob Glendinning – Washburn
Offensive Line – Layne Grantham – Central Oklahoma
Offensive Line – Keith Russell – Missouri Western
Offensive Line – Cooper Schettler – Pittsburg State
Offensive Line – Lepopeasenuu Tito-Fualaau – Missouri Southern
Kicker – Cole Lammel – Northwest Missouri
Kick/Punter Returner – Kolbe Katsis – Pittsburg State
Kick/Punter Returner – Jaedon Stoshak – Missouri Southern

Defensive Line – Solomona Fetuao – Missouri Southern
Defensive Line – Jake Fisher – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Line – Robert Fuentes – Central Oklahoma
Defensive Line – Myles Menges – Fort Hays State
Defensive Line – Jamie Tago – Missouri Southern
Linebacker – Travis DeGrate – Central Missouri
Linebacker – Atoa Fox – Nebraska Kearney
Linebacker – Alex Gaskill – Pittsburg State
Linebacker – Jacey Nutter – Nebraska Kearney
Linebacker – Isaac Wallace – Missouri Western
Linebacker – Makel Williams – Fort Hays State
Defensive Back – Christian Clark – Washburn
Defensive Back – Michael Lacey – Pittsburg State
Defensive Back – Peyton Lane – Washburn
Defensive Back – Mason Perez – Fort Hays State
Defensive Back – Kobey Stephens – Central Oklahoma
Punter – Hunter Kraus – Nebraska Kearney
- Reflects ties in voting

HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Cedric Case – QB; Malik Clayborn – TE/FB; Gabe Clark – OL; Curtis Appleton II – DB; Noah Blair – DB; Ethan Brown – P; Jack Pospisil – K/P Returner
Central Oklahoma: Andrew Carney – APB; Cooper McCoy – OL; Noah Dobson – OL; Noah West – DL; Connor Johnson – LB; Dylan Buchheit - DB
Emporia State: Canaan Brooks – RB; Cole Schumacher, WR; Tyler Kahmann, WR; Tommy Zimmerman – TE/FB; Hayden Reed – OL; Dante Smith-Posey – OL; Rafe Goucher – DL; Rylan Miller – DL; Montrell Wilson – DB; Caden Dodson – K
Lincoln: Samuel Ingoli – TE/FB; Alejandro Flores – OL; Tommy Medellin – OL; Jahkari Larmond – DL; Samuel Amituanai – DL; Cody Bagby – DL; Jaylon Mosely – LB
Missouri Southern: Dwayne Lawson – APB; Kenneth Fehrman – OL; Solomon Garcia – DL; Coleman Booker – LB; Colton Winder – LB; Jalen Dennis – DB
Missouri Western: Jared Scott – RB; Jonas Bennett – APB; Brenden McClure – OL; Noah Price – OL; Brandon Johnson – DL; AJ Crayton – DL; Tylen Wallace – DL; Anthony Villanueva - LB
Nebraska Kearney: Damien Cearns – RB; Cody Nelson, WR; Jon Merten – OL; Baylor Hellmuth – DL; Jimmy Harrison – LB; Tre O'Guinn – DB
Northeastern State: Dashawn Williams – WR; Chris Lee – DL; Johnny Jean – DB; Dawondrick Crockett – DB; Tyler Crawford – P
Northwest Missouri: Mike Hohensee – QB; Shane Fredrickson – DB
Pittsburg State: Cole Sample – DL; Luke Jennings - LB
Washburn: Kellen Simoncic – QB; Taylon Peters – RB; Mason Honne – OL; Braden Rose – DL; Daniel Piburn – DL; Derrick McClendon – LB; Jamison Phelps - DB