Northwest Lands 13 on 2016 All-MACJC Football Team

Photo courtesy of Northwest Sports Information

Highlighted by eight first team members, Northwest Mississippi Community College had a conference-tying high 13 selections on the 2016 All-MACJC Football Team released Monday.

A trio of freshmen in offensive lineman Damien Lewis (Canton HS), punter Drake McCarter (Saltillo HS) and cornerback Kaleb Chalmers (Greenwood HS (SC)) were named to the first team in addition to sophomore running back Tywun Walters (M.S. Palmer HS), tight end Romeel Cochran (Olive Branch HS), linebacker Tomarcio Reese (Colquitt County HS (GA)), cornerback Tito Windham (Harrison Central HS) and defensive end Willie McCaleb (Grenada HS).

Second team selections went to freshman linebacker Adonis Thomas (Central Gwinnett (GA)), along with sophomore defensive end Quondarius Qualls (Union Parish HS (LA)), center J.R. Burns (Corinth HS) and nose tackle Jalen Harvey (Clay-Chalkville HS (AL)).

Lewis has started all 11 games at right guard and has helped pave the way for a pair of 900-yard rushers. He’s graded out at over 90 percent efficiency all season. The Canton High School product was also named the north’s offensive line MVP and to the NJCAA All-Region 23 Team.

McCarter, a four-time MACJC Special Teams Player of the Week, is averaging 38.7 yards a punt with seven of 50-plus yards and a nation-leading 25 inside the 20-yard line. He was also named a Second Team All-MACJC kicker with a team-leading 82 points on 15-of-25 field goals and 37-of-42 point after attempts.

A transfer from Clemson University, Chalmers has started in all 11 games in the secondary and has 26 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack, interception and 12 pass breakups (T-7th NJCAA).

Bouncing back from a knee injury a year ago, Walters has had a breakout season in the backfield. The South Alabama commit has rushed for 908 yards and 10 touchdowns, adding eight receptions for 59 yards.

Cochran has 14 career receptions for 129 yards and three touchdowns and is the first tight end to garner first team recognition since Ole Miss signee Jamal Mosley (2010).

Reese, a transfer from Eastern Arizona College, has 51 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles, eight quarterback hurries and half a sack in 11 starts at nickel linebacker.

Windham, now a two-time all-conference cornerback, has 31 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and 10 breakups (T-9th NJCAA) this season. He also earned NJCAA All-Region 23 honors.

McCaleb has had a breakout sophomore campaign and was rewarded by being named first team all-conference, north defensive line MVP and NJCAA All-Region 23. McCaleb has 41 tackles, 16.5 tackles-for-loss and 10 sacks – both lead the team.

Thomas, an Alabama transfer and one of the nation’s most coveted linebackers, is second on the team with 64 tackles to go along with 11 tackles-for-loss, 6.0 sacks, five hurries, a forced fumble and 56-yard interception for a touchdown against Northeast.

Qualls will go down in Ranger football history as one of the most dominant hybrid linemen ever, with his 30 tackles-for-loss and 18.5 sacks ranking him in the top 10 in school history. Qualls has 46 tackles, 13.5 tackles-for-loss, 8.5 sacks, team-leading 19 quarterback hurries, an interception and three breakups.

A preseason All-American by College Football Yearbook, Burns earned second team all-conference recognition this season. He has started in 20 career games at center, grading out as one of the top linemen on the team.

Snubbed for all-conference honors a year ago, Harvey was rewarded this season. The WVU commit has 26 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, a hurry and blocked kick for one of the top defensive line units in junior college football.

Lewis, Windham and McCaleb will be up for NJCAA All-American honors to be announced in December.

Northwest (9-2) has accepted an invitation to play in the 2016 C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl and will face Trinity Valley (10-1) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Bulldawg Stadium in Copperas Cove, Texas. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN app.

Courtesy of Kevin Maloney and Northwest Sports Information

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