MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Phil Steele released its all-conference, all-freshman and All-American teams Monday afternoon and Alabama State is well-represented on a pair of those teams.
Tytus Howard earned his third All-American nod of the season, being named to the Second Team as an offensive lineman. Howard, who was invited to the Reese's Senior Bowl, earned the honor by playing in 10 of the 11 contests this season. Howard was matched up against some of the best in the country at defensive end, allowing just one sack and grading out at an average of 90-plus for the season; while playing both left and right tackle.
The senior earned First Team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) honors following the season, as well as a Second Team selection to the STATS FCS All-America team. He was named a First Team All-American by HERO Sports just two weeks ago.
Howard, not only earned All-American honors, but he also earned First Team All-Conference honors by the publication and was named the SWAC Offensive Lineman of the Year.
He was joined on the All-SWAC First Team by kick returner
Ezra Gray. He became one of the most respected kick returners in the conference, forcing teams to kick the ball away from him midway through the 2018 season after returns of 72 yards and 99 yards (called back from touchdown) in the first three weeks of the season. Gray finished in the top 50 in the nation (third in the conference) in combined kick returns, and in the top 75 in the nation (third in the conference) in kickoff returns at 23.4. He was also in the top 100 in the nation (fifth in conference) in all-purpose yards per game, while also leading the team in rushing.
Meanwhile,
Anthony Craven was chosen as the Second-Team all-conference punter after his performance this season. Craven, in his first year with the Hornets, took over for all-conference performer
Trevor Vincent and responded by ranking 18th in the country in punting (second in the conference) at a 42.7-yard average. The junior has punted the ball 78 times for 3,31 total yards, while recording four touchbacks and has forcing seven fair catches. Craven pinned Alabama State opponents inside the 20 on 29 occasions and has 20 punts of 50 or more yards, including a career-high 80-yard punt against South Alabama. He finished the year 17th in the nation in punting in his first season as a Hornet.
Garrett Shelton, a freshman snapper, was thrust into action with the injury to All-SWAC performer
Dylan Renaker against Auburn. The freshman ended the season snapping in the final nine games of the year on all punts, field goals and extra points; earning Third Team All-Conference honors.
Four others were named Third-Team All-Conference including linebacker
Darron Johnson who led the team in tackles with 78 despite missing the Prairie View A&M contest. The junior has 29 solo stops on the season, and has also recorded 5.0 tackles for loss. He also recorded 0.5 sacks (three yards) and had two interceptions – one of which he returned for a 27-yard touchdown for his first career score. Johnson recorded five or more tackles nine times this season, including a career-high 14 against Alcorn State. He recorded eight against Tuskegee in the season opener. He also had seven against Grambling State.
Christian Clark was named as Third Team defensive lineman and finished fourth on the team in tackles from his nose guard position with 47 total tackles, including 18 solo stops. He has recorded three tackles for loss on the year, while helping plug up the middle of the line against the run. The junior has two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry to his credit, while also having a quarterback hurry. He has one fumble recovery and one blocked kick on the season, and recorded five or more tackles six times this season, including a season-high nine stops against Alcorn State to set a new career high. Clark also had eight against Grambling State and seven against Texas Southern.
Senior defensive back
Kurron Ramsey earned Third Team honors for the Hornets after finishing second on the team in total tackles with 74 from his safety position, including 47 solo stops. The senior had 0.5 tackles for loss (two yards), and also forced a fumble this year. He recorded five plus tackles eight times this season, including a pair of games in double-digit tackles. Ramsey finished with 14 tackles – a new career high – in the season opener against Tuskegee, and had another 10 against Alcorn State. He also recorded nine against Jackson State and eight against Texas Southern.
Carl Thompson was the lone third team selection on the offensive line and played 90 percent of the snaps this season from the center position. The junior has anchored a line that has blocked for 1,139 yards rushing by the Hornets and allowed 28 sacks in 10 games. He has allowed just one sack and has graded out at an average of 90 percent.
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