ATLANTA – The Southern Athletic Association named its 2021 All-Conference Football Teams on Tuesday and seven members of the Millsaps football program made the list, as selected and voted on by the league's head coaches.
Junior wideout
Moïse Tezzo was tabbed All-SAA First Team Offense, while
D.B. Bennett,
Latrell Dace,
Walter Johnson and
Thomas Weber secured All-SAA Honorable Mention Offense recognition. On the opposite side of the ball,
Christopher Butler and
Ethan Klapatch garnered All-SAA Honorable Mention Defense status.
Tezzo, Millsaps' C Spire Conerly Trophy nominee, appeared in eight games, but still managed to tally 670 receiving yards, eight total touchdowns, while averaging 18.6 yards per catch with 36 receptions.
In total, the Houston, Texas, native tallied 1,067 all-purpose yards with an additional 105 rushing yards, 223 kickoff return yards as well as 69 yards via punt returns. He secured seven receiving touchdowns and one punt return score.
He leads the SAA in receiving yards per game (83.8 ypg), second in total receiving yards, third in receiving touchdowns, fourth in receptions and fourth in yards per reception (18.6 ypr).
Bennett, a sophomore tight end from Oxford, Miss., hauled in 13 passes for 169 yards to go along with 10 starts. The Lafayette High School standout corralled a season-best six catches for 68 yards against Olivet College on Sept. 25.
He also made three catches for 60 yards in a 42-32 win, hosting Sewanee on Oct. 30. Bennett made a 35-yard reception that set the Majors up inside the five-yard line during the second quarter.
Dace, a New Orleans, La., product was the primary center for Millsaps. The senior made eight starts in nine games after missing the spring season due to injury. Dace helped the Majors tally 3,316 yards of total offense over the course of 10 games.
Johnson, who made seven starts at right guard in seven appearances, was named the team's Juan Joseph Memorial Award recipient. The senior wore the number 11 in honor of Joseph and was a key leader both on the field and on campus.
Hailing from Kenner, La., Johnson was also nominated for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy which recognizes the nation's best player through academics, community service and on-field performance.
Weber, a senior left tackle from Diamondhead, Miss., made nine starts in his nine games. He was responsible for protecting Millsaps right-handed quarterback's blind side. In total, the Majors only yielded 27 sacks all season against stout non-conference and SAA pass rushers.
On the defensive front, Butler locked things down at the cornerback position. One of the most feared defenders on the left side, the LaPlace, La., native made 24 tackles (14 solo), provided two pass breakups and blocked a kick.
The junior made 1.5 tackles for loss in Millsaps' victory against Sewanee. Both he and Johnson were selected to the All-SAA Second Team following the spring 2021 season.
Klapatch, a freshman punter, totaled 1,601 net kickoff yards this season on 32 attempts, averaging 50 yards a kick. In nine games, he booted 58 punts a total of 2,265 yards, which both are third most in the SAA. Additionally, 12 of the punts landed inside the 20-yard line.
The Metairie, La., native also sits tied atop the SAA with nine punts of at least 50 yards. Klapatch also added a PAT against Hendrix on Nov. 6.
2021 MILLSAPS FOOTBALL ALL-SAA HONOREES
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