Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Related News

Howell, McCormick Named All-Sun Belt Second Team

Howell, McCormick Named All-Sun Belt Second Team

Football Dec 01
MONROE, La. – ULM junior wide receiver Tyrone Howell and fifth-year senior punter Devyn McCormick have been named to the 2022 All-Sun Belt Second Team, as selected by the conference's head coaches and media panel.
 
Howell led the team in receptions (50), receiving yards (852) and touchdown receptions (6). The 6-foot-2, 202-pound Howell led the team in receptions in five of the last six games. He had three 100-yard receiving games in 2022.
 
In Sun Belt Conference games, Howell led the league in receiving yards per game (98.3), receiving yards (786), yards per catch (20.7) and TD catches (6; tied with Georgia State's Jamari Thrash). During the regular season, he tied TCU's Taye Barber and Nebraska's Trey Palmer for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision lead with three receptions of 70 or more yards, including an 89-yard reception against the Ragin' Cajuns and 75- and 83-yard TD receptions at South Alabama. He completed the regular season ranked 41st in FBS and eighth in the SBC in yards per reception at 17.04.
 
He had 39 of his 50 receptions over the last seven games, going for 668 of his 852 yards and all six of his TDs. Howell also led the team in first down receptions (33), explosive receptions (12, 20-plus yards) and yards after catch (459). His 459 YAC total is good for third among SBC receivers.
 
The Idabel, Oklahoma, native had a career-best 12 receptions for 176 yards and two scores (46 and 18 yards) in ULM's 31-30 come-from-behind victory over Texas State. Howell broke four tackles en route to an end zone for a 46-yard scoring play from Chandler Rogers as the Warhawks, who trailed 21-0 in the first 10 minutes of the game pulled to within 24-17 at the intermission. He finished off a 13-play, 73-yard drive late in the third quarter by spinning out of an attempted tackle at the Texas State 2 to complete an 18-yard TD reception. It marked Howell's third 100-yard receiving game of the season and fourth of his career. He gained 72 of his 176 receiving yards after the catch.
 
Howell set career highs for receiving yards (244) and TD receptions (3) on nine catches at South Alabama. He scored on receptions of 75, 25 and 83 yards from Rogers. He picked up 151 of his 244 receiving yards after the catch. With ULM trailing 41-20, Howell caught three passes for 104 yards and one score in the fourth quarter alone. His three TD catches (tied for third) and 244 receiving yards (fourth) rank among the top single-game totals posted in the NCAA FBS in 2022. For his effort, he was named to the Pro Football Focus College National Offensive Team of the Week.
 
His 244 receiving yards marked the second-highest single-game total in ULM history, trailing only Stepfret Williams who caught 10 passes for 264 yards at Nevada in 1995. His three TD receptions tied the third-highest single-game total in school history – just one shy of the record shared by Brent Leonard (4 vs. South Alabama, 2012) and Williams (4 vs. Nevada, 1995).
 
Howell had four receptions for 77 yards and his first-career touchdown reception at the NCAA FBS level on a 42-yard strike from Rogers on the opening drive of the third quarter against Coastal Carolina. His catch received attention from ESPN, as he made the TD grab with his left hand while falling into the end zone, drawing a pass interference penalty, which was declined.
 
He posted his first 100-yard receiving game as a Warhawk against the Ragin' Cajuns. Howell caught three passes for 124 yards, including an 89-yard catch-and-run to set up Malik Jackson's go-ahead 2-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. His 89-yard reception ranks as the fourth-longest pass play in ULM history. It was his first 100-yard receiving game since his true freshman season at NCAA Division II Central Oklahoma in 2018, when he caught five passes for 152 yards and 2 TDs at Lindenwood.
 
McCormick ranked 29th in the NCAA FBS and second in the Sun Belt Conference in punting with his 43.9-yard average – the seventh-highest single-season total in ULM history. McCormick placed 17 of his 60 punts (28%) inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He finished second in the Sun Belt during the regular season with his 14 punts of 50-plus yards.
 
The 6-foot-1, 201-pound McCormick averaged 45.2 yards on six punts against Southern Miss in the home finale, including two inside the Eagles' 20-yard line.
 
McCormick averaged 50.3 yards on three punts at Troy, dropping one inside the Trojan 20.
 
He averaged 37.8 yards on five punts in ULM's 31-28 road win at Georgia State, placing three punts inside the 20-yard line. His three punts inside the 20 matched his career best.
 
McCormick averaged 47.7 yards on three punts in ULM's 31-30 come-from-behind victory over Texas State. His 49-yard punt late in the second quarter that rolled out of bounds at the Texas State 7 helped set up a ULM touchdown that pulled the Warhawks to within 24-17 at the intermission. ULM trailed 21-0 10 minutes into the game. McCormick also launched a 51-yarder late in the fourth quarter that helped flip the field position.
 
He averaged 47.8 yards on five punts at South Alabama, including a career-long 62-yarder.
 
McCormick averaged 48.6 yards on five punts at Arkansas State, including a 60-yarder in the third quarter that rolled out of bounds at the Red Wolves' 18-yard line.
 
He was one of the unsung heroes in ULM's 21-17 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns, averaging 38.9 yards on seven punts with a career-best three kicks inside the 20.
 
McCormick launched nine punts for an average of 44.8 yards at No. 2/1 Alabama, with two kicks placed inside the Crimson Tide 20-yard line.
 
He was named Louisiana Sports Writers Association Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 44.0 yards on five punts against Nicholls, including three kicks downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
 
A Port Charlotte, Florida, native, McCormick finished ranked among ULM's all-time leaders in punting average (sixth at 41.8 avg.) and punting yards (10th at 5,350).
 
Four other Warhawks have received All-Sun Belt honorable mention: junior linebacker Quae Drake, super senior placekicker Calum Sutherland, graduate defensive lineman Caleb Thomas and graduate linebacker Zack Woodard.
 
Drake tied for second on the team in tackles for loss (8.5 for 25 yards) and fourth overall in tackles with 47 (28 solos, 19 assists). He also was credited with half a sack (7 yards), an interception, pass break-up and quarterback hurry.
 
The 6-foot-1, 237-pound Drake contributed five tackles (3 solos, 2 assists) against Southern Miss in the 2022 season finale, including 1.5 for losses (2 yards).
 
He scored two touchdowns on returns and contributed four tackles (2 solos, 2 assists) to help lead ULM to a 31-28 victory at Georgia State, snapping a 19-game road losing streak. Drake's 34-yard interception return for a score gave ULM its first lead of the game at 29-28 with 6:23 left in the fourth quarter. Early in the second quarter, he returned a punt, blocked by Nick Torres, 23 yards for a touchdown as the Warhawks pulled to within 14-10. Drake became the first ULM player to return a punt for a score since Marcus Green's 71-yard return at Ole Miss on Oct. 6, 2018.
 
The Wadley, Alabama, native also became ULM's first non-offensive player to score multiple TDs in a game since Isaiah Newsome returned a pair of interceptions for scores (71 and 75 yards) at Texas State on Oct. 12, 2013.
 
Drake recorded a career-high nine tackles (6 solos, 3 assists) at Army.
 
He made seven stops (6 solos, 1 assist) at Arkansas State, with a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss (13 yards) including a half sack for 7 yards.
 
Sutherland led the Warhawks in scoring for the second season in a row, finishing with 62 points while connecting on 10-of-11 field-goal attempts (.909) and all 32 extra-point tries. He made nine consecutive field-goal attempts over the last six games. In addition, Sutherland converted 39-straight extra-point attempts (missed his first PAT attempt at Texas State on Nov. 6, 2021). He averaged 61.4 yards on 49 kickoffs this season, with 22 resulting in touchbacks (45%).
 
A native of Keller, Texas, Sutherland accounted for a season-high 11 points in ULM's 31-28 victory at Georgia State to end a 19-game road losing streak. He was perfect on the afternoon, hitting all three field-goal attempts and both extra-point tries. Sutherland kicked field goals of 44 and 36 yards in the first half and his career-long 54-yarder early in the fourth quarter pulled the Warhawks within one score at 28-23. In addition, he averaged 64.1 yards on seven kickoffs, with four resulting in touchbacks. His four touchbacks matched his career high.
 
Sutherland finished tied for sixth in ULM history with 26 career field goals made and 10th in kick scoring with 137 career points.
 
Thomas ranked third among ULM defensive linemen and 10th on the team overall in tackles with 35 (19 solos, 16 assists). His career-high 8.5 tackles for loss (25 yards) tied for second on the Warhawks with linebacker Zack Woodard. He delivered at least a half tackle for loss in five games.
 
The 6-foot-1, 299-pound Thomas contributed three tackles (1 solo, 2 assists) and matched his career best with two quarterback hurries in the home finale against Southern Miss.
 
He recorded a career-high eight tackles (5 solos, 3 assists) in ULM's 31-28 win at Georgia State, with two tackles for loss (9 yards) including an 8-yard sack.
 
Thomas made seven stops (5 solos, 2 assists) at Army, including three tackles behind the line of scrimmage (7 yards). His three tackles for loss matched his career best.
 
He totaled three solo tackles at Arkansas State, with two resulting in losses (3 yards).
 
Thomas registered four tackles (1 solo, 3 assists), with a tackle for loss (5 yards) and combined with Fitzroy Gardner for an 8-yard sack against Chandler Fields on the final play of the game to preserve ULM's 21-17 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns.
 
Woodard led the Warhawks in tackles with 77 (47 solos, 30 assists). His 8.5 tackles for loss tied for second on the team with Thomas and Drake, behind defensive end Kenard Snyder (10 for 22 yards). Woodard produced at least one tackle for loss in seven games. He averaged 8.1 tackles over the last seven games.
 
In Sun Belt Conference games, he ranked 10th in the league in tackles (64 total: 40 solos, 24 assists), averaging 8.0 per game. Woodard produced double-figure tackles twice in Sun Belt play.
 
He recorded nine tackles (5 solos, 4 assists) in the home finale against Southern Miss and tallied eight stops (2 solos, 6 assists) at Troy, including one for a 1-yard loss.
 
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Woodard reached the 300-career tackle milestone with his seventh and final stop in ULM's 31-28 win at Georgia State. His 317 career tackles rank tied for 24th among active NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players.
 
He shared ULM Defensive Player of the Week honors with Quincy Ledet Jr. after matching his season high with 10 tackles (7 solos, 3 assists) against Texas State, including one behind the line of scrimmage for a 4-yard loss. It marked his sixth double-figure tackles game in a Warhawk uniform and the 10th in his career.
 
Woodard posted eight stops (5 solos, 3 assists) at South Alabama.
 
The Thomasville, Ala., native recorded a season-high 10 tackles (8 solos, 2 assists) in a 28-21 loss against then-unbeaten Coastal Carolina, with two resulting in losses (8 yards) including a 4-yard sack. The ULM defense pitched a shutout in the second half against CCU, forcing punts on all five possessions including three three-and-outs. The Warhawks limited the Chants to four first downs and 110 total yards over the final 30 minutes.   
 
Woodard was named Louisiana Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week after producing eight tackles (4 solos, 4 assists), including a 10-yard sack, and recovering a fumble in ULM's 21-17 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns. He also was credited with a quarterback hurry.
 
 
 
Print Friendly Version