Wayne State had 12 players selected to the Northern Sun Conference All-Conference Football Team while redshirt freshman wide receiver Kendrick Watkins-Hogue was named Newcomer of the Year.
Six Wildcats collected First Team honors while six other were named All-NSIC Second Team. Junior offensive lineman Jett Janssen, Watkins-Hogue and redshirt freshman running back Latravious Boyd received First Team honors on offense. First Team selections on defense were junior linebacker Dexter Larsen, junior defensive lineman Luke Sims and redshirt freshman defensive back Joe Morrison.
Second Team selections on offense were junior quarterback Nick Bohn along with sophomore offensive linemen Tierel Tompkins and Will Washenberger with Second Team honorees on defense being senior defensive lineman Rex Becker, junior linebacker Alex Schall and junior defensive back Jacob Byrd.
Watkins-Hogue, a 6-foot, 180-pound sophomore wide receiver, had a breakout opening season with the Wildcats, ranking sixth in the league in receptions (59) for 743 yards (5th NSIC) with eight TD’s, that tied for fourth in the league. He was sixth in the NSIC with 67.6 yards receiving per game and had two 100-yard receiving games for WSC. Watkins-Hogue had a season-high 129 yards on six catches vs. Southwest Minnesota State and had a season-high nine catches for 98 yards and three TD’s at Sioux Falls.
Janssen, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound junior,) was a First Team selection after earning Second Team honors last season. He is a three-year starter on the Wildcat offensive line at left tackle and started all 11 games this season.
Boyd, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound redshirt freshman running back, was a First Team All-NSIC selection after gaining 714 yards while scoring seven touchdowns this season. He ranked ninth in the league in rushing yards per game (64.9), tied for fifth in touchdowns and had a league-high 87-yard TD run at Minot State. Boyd gained a season-best 196 yards on 14 carries and scored three TD’s at Minot State.
Larsen, a 5-foot-10, 215-pound junior linebacker, was a First Team selection on defense after leading the Wildcats in tackles this season with 91. He ranked second in the NSIC in tackles per game (8.3) and tied for third in the league with two forced fumbles and was tied for fourth with two fumble recoveries and 20 return yards. Larsen posted a season-best 15 tackles in a 14-12 win over 12th ranked Augustana and had eight tackles with a 20-yard fumble recovery for touchdown in season-ending 56-21 win at Concordia-St. Paul.
Sims, a 5-foot-11, 285-pound junior nose guard, was a First Team selection on defense after recording 41 tackles (23 solo) this season. He recorded 4.5 tackles for loss, two breakups, two quarterback hurries, one sack and one interception for 31 return yards. He recorded a season-best six tackles at Northern State.
Morrison, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound redshirt freshman defensive back, was a First Team honoree on defense after ranking second in the NSIC in passes defended this season with 13. He recorded 33 tackles and was tied for second with nine pass breakups and tied for third in the league with four interceptions for 60 yards. Morrison had a season-high seven tackles at Sioux Falls.
Bohn, a 6-foot-1, 215 pound junior quarterback, was honored for a third time with All-NSIC honors (First Team 2022, Second Team 2021) and Second Team this season. He completed 178 of 293 passes for 2,677 yards and 22 TD’s while adding another 12 TD’s rushing. Bohn ranked third in the NSIC in total offense yards per game (259.7), second in passing yards and passing TD’s, third in passing yards per game (243.4), third in pass efficiency rating (156.8) and fifth in pass completions. He was named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week three times this season.
Tompkins, a 6-foot-4, 295-pound sophomore offensive lineman, was a Second Team selection on offensive after starting all 11 games this season at right guard on the Wildcat offensive line.
Washenberger, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound sophomore offensive lineman, earned All-NSIC Second Team honors after starting all 11 games at center this season.
Becker, a 6-foot, 265-pound senior defensive end, collected All-NSIC Second Team honors on defense ranking fifth on the Wildcat defense with 43 tackles this season. He posted five tackles for loss with one sack to go with two quarterback hurries, one pass breakup and one forced fumble. Becker had a career-high 12 tackles at Minnesota State.
Byrd, a 6-foot,195-pound junior defensive back, was a Second Team selection on defense after finishing fourth on the Wildcat defense with 59 tackles this season. He was second on the team with six pass breakups, added three interceptions for 33 yards and one fumble recovery for 37 yards to go with one forced fumble. Byrd had a season-high nine tackles at Missouri S&T.
Schall, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior linebacker, received All-NSIC Second Team honors after ranking second on the Wildcat defense with 88 tackles this season. He was fourth in the NSIC in total tackles and tackles per game (8.0) and had 5.5 tackles for loss with two pass breakups and one interception and one sack. Schall had four games with 10 or more tackles this season, highlighted by a career-best 15 stops (11 solo) at Sioux Falls.
