MONROE, La. – After tallying the most tackles for ULM since the 1998 season, linebacker Hunter Kissinger has been named First Team All-Sun Belt as the conference released its annual postseason teams and award winners on Wednesday afternoon.
In all the Warhawks had a total of seven players named All-Sun Belt Conference following the conclusion of the 2015 regular season. Gerrand Johnson earned Second Team All-Sun Belt honors as a defensive lineman.
A quartet of ULM student-athletes were named honorable mention, with two coming on offense (Marcus Green, WR; Colby Mitchell, OL) and two on defense (Trey Caldwell, DB; Michael Johnson, LB). Rookie defensive lineman Ben Banogu rounded out the honors for the Warhawks as he was named to the Sun Belt's Newcomer Team.
First Team All-Sun Belt Selection
Hunter Kissinger (Grad., LB, Springdale, Ark.)
Hunter Kissinger finished the 2015 season with 133 total tackles despite missing the first two games of the season due to a non-football related surgery. Of his 133 tackles, 81 were solo and he finished with 11.5 tackles for loss including two sacks. He also had one interception and one fumble recovery, both coming in the season finale against New Mexico State as the Warhawks rallied for a 42-35 win over the Aggies.
Second Team All-Sun Belt Selection
Gerrand Johnson (Grad., DL, Rayville, La.)
Gerrand Johnson finished his final collegiate season with 65 total tackles including 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He forced one fumble on the season and finished with three pass breakups and one quarterback hurry as he was a focal point of opposing offensive lines during the 2015 season.
Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Selection
Trey Caldwell (Sr., DB, Richardson, Texas)
Trey Caldwell finished the 2015 campaign with 52 total tackles, including 41 solo stops. Of his 52 stops, 5.5 were for loss and he also broke up a total of 10 passes during the season. He recorded an interception in his final career game and it proved to be the difference as he returned it 40 yards for a touchdown as ULM defeated New Mexico State on December 5.
Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Selection
Marcus Green (RFr., WR, Pontotoc, Miss.)
Marcus Green led the Warhawks in both receptions (63) and touchdown receptions (seven) during his redshirt freshman season. He finished second on the team in total yards as he registered 698 yards on his 63 grabs in 2015. Two of his touchdown grabs came in the season finale as he helped the Warhawks rally past New Mexico State, 42-35, on December 5.
Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Selection
Michael Johnson (Grad., LB, Maumelle, Ark.)
Michael Johnson was one of two ULM linebackers to notch 100 or more tackles this season as he finished with 103 total tackles, with 58 of those being solo stops. He tallied 14 tackles for loss and finished with three sacks during his final collegiate season. Johnson also finished with eight quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries from his outside linebacker position
Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Selection
Colby Mitchell (Grad., OL, Bartlesville, Okla.)
Colby Mitchell started all 13 games at center for the Warhawks during the 2015 season. The oldest member of the offensive line, Mitchell helped the line pave the way for 150-yard rushing performances in four different games and the line allowed the passing game to tally 250 or more yards through the air on four different occasions.
Sun Belt Conference Newcomer Team Selection
Ben Banogu (RFr., DL, McKinney, Texas)
Ben Banogu was a force from his defensive end position as he tallied team highs in both tackles for loss (14.5) and sacks (5.0) as he started all 13 games. He finished with 45 total tackles and five quarterback hurries. Banogu also forced a pair of fumbles and recovered one during his first collegiate season.
For updates on the football squad, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
