Angelo State’s Nathaniel Omayebu III and West Texas A&M’s JT Cavender were selected as the 2022 Lone Star Conference Football Preseason Players of the Year league officials announced Thursday at media day.
The Rams Omayebu III received Offensive Player of the Year honors, while Cavender claimed Defensive Player of the Year recognition.
The league’s preseason awards were selected by a vote of LSC head coaches, sports information directors, and various media representatives from throughout the region.
Omayebu III, a 5-11 junior running back from Sherman, Texas, led the LSC in rushing yards with 1,085 with 10 touchdowns. He had a season-best 170 yards to earn LSC Offensive Back of the Year and first-team honors.
With 14 votes, Omayebu III was the top choice in front of seven others who received votes.
Cavender, a 6-0 sophomore linebacker from Midlothian, Texas, led the league in tackles with 104 in 11 games. He had a season-high of 20 tackles and was named Linebacker of the Year and Defensive Freshman of the Year, in addition to first-team recognition.
Cavender received seven votes for preseason honors over 10 others that collected votes.
Additionally, 18 players - nine offensive and nine defensive - were selected for the inaugural LSC football preseason players to watch list. The student-athletes were nominated by their member institution for recognition.
| LSC Football Preseason Offensive Players to Watch |
| Name |
School |
Class |
Pos. |
Major |
Hometown/High School |
| Nathaniel Omayebu III |
Angelo State |
JR |
RB |
Biology |
Sherman, Texas/Sherman HS |
| Quincy Glasper |
Central Washington |
SO |
QB |
Sports Management |
Stockton, Calif./Bear Creek HS |
| Howard Russell |
Eastern New Mexico |
SO |
RB |
Criminal Justice |
Phoenix, Ariz./Phoenix Christian Prep |
| Kylan Harrison |
Midwestern State |
SR |
WR |
Sports & Leisure |
Paris, Texas/W.T. White HS |
| Ethan Beselt |
Simon Fraser |
SR |
WR |
Kinesiology |
Kelowna, B.C./Mt. Boucherie Sec. HS |
| Craig Clemons |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
JR |
WR |
Communications |
Corpus Christi, Texas/West Oso HS |
| MJ Link |
UT Permian Basin |
SR |
WR |
Psychology |
Lakeland, Florida/Lake Gibson HS |
| Jarrod Compton |
West Texas A&M |
SR |
RB |
Sports Medicine |
Lubbock, Texas/Coronado HS |
| Devin Larsen |
Western New Mexico |
SO |
QB |
Kinesiology |
Gilbert, Ariz./Queen Creek HS |
| Omari Land |
Western Oregon |
SR |
RB |
Exercise Science |
Oakland, Calif./San Leandro HS |
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| LSC Football Preseason Defensive Players to Watch |
| Name |
School |
Class |
Pos. |
Major |
Hometown/High School |
| Daron Allman |
Angelo State |
JR |
LB |
Criminal Justice |
Killeen, Texas/Shoemaker HS |
| Christian Penny |
Central Washington |
SR |
DL |
Sports Management |
Pasco, Wash./Chiawana HS |
| Aseli Finau |
Eastern New Mexico |
SR |
DE |
Sociology |
Anchorage, Alaska/Soldotna HS |
| Melik Owens |
Midwestern State |
SR |
DE |
Business Management |
Houston, Texas/Cypress Ridge HS |
| Jerrell Cummings |
Simon Fraser |
JR |
CB |
Communications |
Vancouver, B.C./Notre Dame Reg. Sec. |
| Isaiah Jacobs |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
SR |
S |
Kinesiology |
Austin, Texas/Jack C. Hays HS |
| D'Ondre Robinson |
UT Permian Basin |
SR |
DB |
Education |
Orange, NJ/Marist HS |
| JT Cavender |
West Texas A&M |
SO |
LB |
Mechanical Engineering |
Midlothian, Texas/Midlothian HS |
| Tylen Coleman |
Western New Mexico |
JR |
DL |
Kinesiology |
Maricopa, AZ/Maricopa HD HS |
| Jaylin Parnell |
Western Oregon |
SR |
LB |
Exercise Science |
Medford, Ore./South Medford HS |
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