GEORGETOWN, TEXAS - The Southern Athletic Association announced that 11 Southwestern University Football standouts were named All-SAA recipients. The mark surpasses their 2024 number of nine recipients. The list features two first team Pirates, six second team honors, and two honorable mentions. 

Highlighting the list was first team honors in sophomore transfer running back Tycen Williams and freshman punter sensation Chase Lanham. Williams found his way home after transferring from West Texas A&M. The junior was the Pirates work horse resetting the rushing and touchdown records among all-time Pirate running backs. Williams finished with 772 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns. 

Lanham was named as a first team punter for the Pirates. Not only was the freshman successful in his first year in conference, Lanham led the entirety of DIII punters in average yardage at 47.6. Lanham was the national leader by a wide margin at 2.96 yards further than the second place punter. He totaled 17 punts over 50 yards, six inside the 20-yard line, and a season-long of 74 yards. His average mark reset the school record by over six yards and also recorded the longest punt in school history. 

The Pirates earned six second team honorees who were right on the edge of first team including senior receiver Graydon Thompson, senior defensive tackle Maurion Williams-Jack, senior defensive end Chuks Ikwuemesi, sophomore linebacker Caleb Harmon, junior joker safety Jameer Martin, and senior corner DJ James. 

Thompson stacked up a monstrous season with numerous highlight reel moments. The junior became the new receiving yards and receiving touchdown record holder with 983 yards on ten touchdowns. His previous high was 298 receiving yards and one touchdown as he showcased an ability to take over any game with two three touchdown games. 

Williams-Jack is the Pirates energizer on defense, along with being a pivotal team leader. He earns his second All-SAA honor as defenses have to prepare every week on how to defend him with 23 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and two sacks. The highlighting moment was his fumble recovery for a touchdown in the opening drive of the season against McMurry University. Ikwuemesi capped off his career with his first All-SAA nod. The senior totaled 29 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks at third in the entire SAA. Ikwuemesi also deflected two passes making life uncomfortable for opposing quarterbacks. 

The combination of Harmon and Martin will continue to be haunting for offenses as both return next season. Harmon returns to the All-SAA list with 73 tackles on the year after recording 75 in 2024. The linebacker was a pest with 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and four pass deflections marking an impressive start to his career. Martin earned his second straight All-SAA second team nod after racking up a team-leading 79 total tackles and 50 solo tackles, nearly breaking the program record in both metrics. The joker safety took down 16 Vikings in the final game of the year for a career-high. 

Senior DJ James rounds out the second team honorees with his second career nod. James had 59 total tackles as a corner with 48 solo tackles in only nine games. He posted a career-high three interceptions, 13 pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. 

Junior Jacob Smith and sophomore Braeden Cundiff were named All-SAA Honorable Mention. Smith was a dual threat quarterback who passed for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. The transfer from Texas Lutheran University ran for 556 yards and five touchdowns. Cundiff played his best football at the end of the season with 3.5 sacks in the final four games. Cundiff totaled 28 tackles and 5.5 for a loss in his sophomore campaign. 

Senior Jalyn Lavigne was named to the All-SAA Sportsmanship team as he was a pivotal leader on and off the field for the Pirates.