Dygert, Hudson Highlight 'Roo All-SCAC Selections

SUWANEE, Ga. - Austin College linebacker Brady Dygert has been named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year and running back Barrett Hudson has been named the SCAC Newcomer of the Year, and 14 'Roos in total earned All-Conference recognition for their outstanding play in 2024.

Dygert, a senior from Magnolia, earned his Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors, as well as being named first team All-SCAC, following a season in which he led the SCAC and finished third in the nation with 122 tackles, which also ranked as the fifth most in a single-season in conference history. His 66 solo tackles also led the SCAC, and he added 4.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and two pass breakups to his defensive resume. Dygert was the league's Defensive Player-of-the-Week in Austin College's regular season finale when he recorded 18 tackles, forced a fumble, and had a pass breakup in a 31-21 homecoming victory over Lyon College. He is the 'Roos' first Defensive POTY honoree in the program's 12 years playing under the SCAC umbrella.

Hudson, a freshman from Katy, was named the SCAC Newcomer of the Year in addition to being a first team All-Conference pick Austin College and the SCAC in rushing during the regular season, picking up 959 yards on 165 attempts and averaging a league-high 5.8 yards per carry with six touchdowns. If Hudson maintains his rushing lead following the postseason, he will become just the fourth freshman in the 56-year history of SCAC football to lead the conference in rushing and the first 2004. Hudson finished with 1,154 all-purpose yards (second in the conference), adding 68 receiving yards and 127 kick return yards to his rushing totals. He was the league's Offensive Player-of-the-Week in Week 6 when he gained 240 yards on just 11 carries – an average of nearly 22 yards-per-carry – with three touchdowns of at least 71 yards. The 240 rushing yards are believed to be the 13th-most in a single game in SCAC history.

Also earning first team All-Conference accolades were wide receiver Jacob Brewer, offensive lineman Felix Florez III, and placekicker Caleb Balderas on offense, as well as defensive lineman Nick Chevalier, linebacker Colton Gerken, and defensive back Jeremiah Contreras. Honorable Mention All-SCAC picks include offensive linemen Jaivyn McGowan, Mike Hare, and Trevor Timmerman, as well as wide receiver Michael Cress and quarterback Jaylon Talton on offense, and defensive lineman Cam Hammond on defense. 

Florez, a junior from Cypress, Hare, a senior from Waco, McGowan, a sophomore from Dallas, and Timmerman, a sophomore from Coppell, paved the way for Austin College to finish second in the conference in rushing, averaging 162 yards-per-game, with the team's 4.2 yards-per-carry average also good for second in the league. The 'Roos produced both the conference's leading rusher in Hudson, as well as its fifth leading rusher with Zyan Stewart.

Brewer, a freshman from Fort Worth, finished second in the conference with seven touchdown grabs, finishing the year with 28 receptions for 453 yards. Cress, a sophomore from Round Rock, joins Brewer as an All-Conference wideout after catching 25 passes for 455 yards with four touchdowns and an average of 18.2 yards-per-reception.

Balderas, a junior from Azle, earned his first team accolades following a season in which he converted 9-of-11 field goal attempts with a long of 49 yards, as well as 23-of-24 point after attempts. He was also named the SCAC Special Teams Player of the Week and selected to the D3Football.com Team of the Week once this season. Talton, a sophomore from Arlington, finished third in the conference with 1,674 passing yards with 15 touchdowns against seven interceptions.

Gerken, a fifth-year from Grand Prairie, finished second in the league behind Dygert with 94 tackles, with one sack and 7.0 tackles-for-loss, and Contreras, a senior from Crandall, tied for the conference lead with 10 pass breakups while coming up with an interception, 48 tackles, and two blocked kicks. Chevalier, a senior from Colleyville, made 30 tackles and was fourth in the SCAC with 4.0 sacks and had 5.5 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble. Hammond made 36 tackles this season, including a sack and 4.0 tackles-for-loss, and also had an interception.