Football

Football by Kevin Maloney

Northwest Lands 13 on 2016 All-MACJC Football Team

JACKSON – Highlighted by eight first team members, Northwest 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, punter Drake McCarter and cornerback Kaleb Chalmers were named to the first team in addition to sophomore running back Tywun Walters, tight end Romeel Cochran, linebacker Tomarcio Reese, cornerback Tito Windham and defensive end Willie McCaleb.

Second team selections went to freshman linebacker Adonis Thomas, along with sophomore defensive end Quondarius Qualls, center J.R. Burns and nose tackle Jalen Harvey. 

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 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. 

Players Mentioned

J.R.  Burns

#55 J.R. Burns

OL
6' 2"
Sophomore
Romeel Cochran

#19 Romeel Cochran

TE
6' 3"
Sophomore
Jalen  Harvey

#94 Jalen Harvey

DL
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Willie McCaleb

#42 Willie McCaleb

DL
6' 2"
Sophomore
Quondarius Qualls

#36 Quondarius Qualls

DL/LB
6' 2"
Sophomore
Tywun Walters

#25 Tywun Walters

RB
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Tito Windham

#1 Tito Windham

DB
5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
Drake McCarter

#38 Drake McCarter

P/K
5' 11"
Freshman
Damien Lewis

#72 Damien Lewis

OL
6' 3"
Freshman
Kaleb Chalmers

#3 Kaleb Chalmers

DB
6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

J.R.  Burns

#55 J.R. Burns

6' 2"
Sophomore
OL
Romeel Cochran

#19 Romeel Cochran

6' 3"
Sophomore
TE
Jalen  Harvey

#94 Jalen Harvey

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
DL
Willie McCaleb

#42 Willie McCaleb

6' 2"
Sophomore
DL
Quondarius Qualls

#36 Quondarius Qualls

6' 2"
Sophomore
DL/LB
Tywun Walters

#25 Tywun Walters

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
RB
Tito Windham

#1 Tito Windham

5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
DB
Drake McCarter

#38 Drake McCarter

5' 11"
Freshman
P/K
Damien Lewis

#72 Damien Lewis

6' 3"
Freshman
OL
Kaleb Chalmers

#3 Kaleb Chalmers

6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
DB