Central Washington teammates Tyler Flanagan and Tanner Volk were selected as the 2024 Lone Star Conference Football Preseason Players of the Year, it was announced on Thursday (July 25) at LSC Football Media Day at McKinney ISD Stadium’s Community Event Center in McKinney, Texas.
Flanagan received Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors, while Volk claimed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year recognition.
The league’s preseason awards were selected by a vote of LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
Flanagan, a 6-foot, 205-pound junior running back from Woodland, Wash., was the LSC Offensive Back of the Year in 2023. He was the conference’s only 1,000-yard rusher (1,014) and had a league-high 84.5 rushing yards per game. Flanagan found the end zone 15 times (12 rushing, three receiving). His game-highs included four rushing TDs and 186 yards on the ground.
Volk, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior safety from Portland, Ore., won the LSC’s J.V. Sikes Award as the top defensive player last season. The All-American also garnered several national honors, including the Cliff Harris Award for Division II – the only junior to ever win – and the D2 Conference Commissioners Association’s Ron Lenz Defensive Player of the Year Award. In addition, he was also the only defensive player to be a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist. Volk led all NCAA divisions with 13 interceptions. He had a two-pick game four different times and returned one for a TD. Volk also led the LSC with 124 tackles – 64 solo – and 17 passes defended.
Flanagan and Volk, who were both First Team All-LSC selections, helped the Wildcats to nine wins last season and their first national quarterfinals appearance since 2009.
Flanagan (Sport Management) and Volk (Business Administration) were also both LSC All-Academic Team selections. Flanagan was an Academic All-American.
Additionally, 20 players – 10 offensive and 10 defensive, including Flanagan and Volk – were selected for the 2024 LSC Football Preseason Players to Watch list. The student-athletes were nominated by their member institution.
LSC football, which began in 1931, begins the new season on Aug. 29. To follow along all season, click
here.
2024 LSC FOOTBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Tyler Flanagan, RB, Jr., Central Washington
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Tanner Volk, S, Sr., Central Washington
Preseason Offensive Players to Watch
| Name |
School |
Cl. |
Pos. |
Major |
Hometown (Previous School) |
| Zorhan Rideaux |
Angelo State |
Sr. |
WR |
Kinesiology |
Houston, Texas (North Shore HS) |
| Tyler Flanagan |
Central Washington |
Jr. |
RB |
Sport Management |
Woodland, Wash. (WHS) |
| Mario Sanchez |
Eastern New Mexico |
Jr. |
QB |
Business Admin. |
Denver City, Texas (DCHS) |
| Devin Cross |
Midwestern State |
Jr. |
RB |
Physical Education |
Pflugerville, Texas (Weiss HS) |
| Vicente Luevano |
Sul Ross State |
Sr. |
WR |
Criminal Justice |
San Diego, Texas (SDHS) |
| Kevaughnte McGowan |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Sr. |
OT |
Biology |
Arlington, TX (NW Oklahoma State) |
| Jeremiah Cooley |
UT Permian Basin |
Gr. |
WR |
Management |
Big Spring, Texas (Gardner Webb) |
| Tre’jon Henderson |
West Texas A&M |
Sr. |
RB |
Business |
Fort Worth, Texas (Byron Nelson HS) |
| Kiu Teu |
Western New Mexico |
Sr. |
OL |
Interd. Studies |
Hayward, CA (Luther College) |
| Damon Hickock |
Western Oregon |
Sr. |
WR |
Community Health |
Portland, Ore. (Grant HS) |
Preseason Defensive Players to Watch
| Name |
School |
Cl. |
Pos. |
Major |
Hometown (Previous School) |
| Eric Rascoe |
Angelo State |
Sr. |
LB |
Business Admin. |
San Antonio, Texas (Warren HS) |
| Tanner Volk |
Central Washington |
Sr. |
S |
Business Admin. |
Portland, Ore. (Aloha HS) |
| Micah Lewis |
Eastern New Mexico |
So. |
DB |
Communication |
Amarillo, Texas (Tascosa HS) |
| Kaleb Manning |
Midwestern State |
Jr. |
DE |
General Business |
Clute, Texas (Brazoswood HS) |
| Quincy Blair |
Sul Ross State |
Sr. |
DB |
History |
Missouri City, Texas (FB Marshall HS) |
| Xavier Henderson |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Sr. |
DT |
Adult Education |
Houston, TX (Aldine Davis HS) |
| Jalon Rocquemore |
UT Permian Basin |
Sr. |
LB |
Marketing |
McKinney, Texas (MHS) |
| JT Cavender |
West Texas A&M |
Sr. |
LB |
Mech. Engineering |
Midlothian, Texas (MHS) |
| Cole Lalama |
Western New Mexico |
So. |
LB |
Forestry |
Queen Creek, AZ (QCHS) |
| Malcolm Liufau |
Western Oregon |
So. |
LB |
Exercise Science |
Honolulu, HI (Punahou HS) |
