Murray State University Athletics
Brockman Named Preseason OVC Player of the Year; Three Others Honored
7/25/2011 10:25:00 AM | Football
2011 Preseason All-OVC Team
Murray State junior quarterback Casey Brockman was selected as the 2011 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year at the league's annual Media Day held Monday at the Holiday Inn Nashville. The preseason all-conference team was voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Brockman was joined on the preseason team by running back Mike Harris, defensive back and return specialist Dontrell Johnson and kicker Kienan Cullen.
Brockman (Murray, Ky.) continues to receive preseason recognition as he was also selected as one of the Top 10 quarterbacks in the FCS by The Sports Network, as well as one of 20 candidates for Walter Payton Award. He was also named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Consensus Draft Services.
Despite starting just six games, Brockman went 213-for-320 for 2,442 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for 292 yards and seven touchdowns on 79 attempts. In his first start of the season against Missouri State, Brockman broke three school records by going 32-for-41 for 570 yards and 70 touchdowns. He also rushed for 16 yards and another score.
Brockman followed that performance by setting a single-game record for attempts and completions by going 41-for-58 for 318 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over Eastern Illinois. He nearly had his second 500-yard passing day against Austin Peay as he went for 497 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over the Governors. Brockman closed out the season by passing for 300 yards and rushing for 112 against Tennessee State, becoming just the second quarterback in school history to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game.
Harris (Tulsa, Okla.) returns for his senior season after being selected to the All-OVC first team in 2010. Despite missing all or most of four games, Harris rushed for 904 yards and 10 touchdowns on 139 attempts. His 100.4 rushing yards per game ranked 21st nationally. Earlier this summer, Harris was honored as one of the Top 10 running backs in the FCS by The Sports Network, as well as an Honorable Mention All-American by the Consensus Draft Services.
In just his second game for the Racers, Harris rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown, while also catching five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown, as MSU defeated UT Martin. It would be the first of his four 100-yard rushing performances on the season, tying him for ninth place on the Racers single-season list.
Harris had a breakout game against Missouri State as he carried the ball 30 times for 212 yards and two touchdowns. He would follow it up with a 68-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter on his way to 159 yards and career-best three touchdowns in a victory over EIU. Harris rushed for 198 of his career-best 242 yards in the first half of a victory over Tennessee Tech. He did most of his damage in the final minute of the half as he broke free on a career-long 94-yard run.
Johnson (Moultrie, Ga.) is one of the most dangerous punt returners in the FCS and was honored by being named a Preseason First-Team All-American by The Sports Network, as well as a second-team selection by the Consensus Draft Services.
He led the nation in 2010 by averaging 21.88 yards per return average. He was a Second-Team All-America selection from The Sports Network and Phil Steele Magazine, as well as being named the College Football Performance Awards National Punt Returner of the Year.
Johnson set a MSU record by returning two punts for touchdown in the same season. In just his second career game returning punts, he took a first-quarter punt 91 yards for a touchdown in a conference victory over UT Martin. Johnson finished the day by averaging 49.3 yards on three returns. He followed that up by returning a punt 70 yards for a touchdown against Jacksonville State.
As a defensive back, Johnson finished the season with 67 tackles, including 7.5 tackles-for-loss. He also led the team with eight pass breakups, while ranking second with two interceptions. He intercepted his first pass against Eastern Kentucky, and then returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown against Austin Peay.
Cullen (Louisville, Ky.) is a two-time all-conference kicker, while also earning all-conference honors as a punter in 2009. He has handled all the kicking duties in each of his first three seasons. Last season, Cullen connected on a career-best 15 field goals, including six over 40 yards. He also connected on 44-of-48 extra-point attempts.
