Murray State University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Three Racers Named To All-OVC Teams
11/26/2019 11:55:00 AM | Football
Junior Anthony Koclanakis and seniors Steve Dawson and TJ Warren received postseason accolades from OVC Tuesday, with Koclanakis being named to the All-OVC first team, while Warren and Dawson were named to the second team.
Koclanakis led the OVC in tackles on the season with 124, including a league 63 solo stops. His 10.3 tackles per game currently ranks him eighth in the nation in that category, while his 5.3 solo tackles ranks 19th. The Anaheim, California native also posted a team-high 9.5 tackle-for-loss on the season in addition to 3.0 sacks. He ended the season with seven 10-plus tackle performances including tallying a career-high of 18 twice. In addition, Koclanakis finished 2019 with two fumble recoveries, a pass breakup, a quarterback hurry and an interception.
Australia native Dawson has played American for all of two seasons and is now a two-time All-OVC selection. The senior averaged 40.0 yards on 53 punts in 2019 with nine punts going 50-plus yards and a long punt of 53. More than his average, the areas where Dawson especially excelled this season were pinning down opponents and flipping the field. Of his 53 punts, 20 were downed inside the 20-yard line and only one went for a touchback.
Warren not only helped lead the Racers on the defense this season with 69 tackles, but he was a leader off the field and played a pivotal role in special teams as well. In addition to his four pass breakups and an interception as a defensive back, the Conyers, Georgia native also had a 30-yard rush and a 30-yard reception on a pass from Dawson on fake punts. Warren ended the year with 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sacks, a school-record two safeties, two forced fumbles, a quarterback hurry.
