Lakers Feature Record 15 Players On MSFA All-Midwest Teams

CHICAGO – A record 15 Roosevelt University football players were named to the Mid-States Football Association's All-Midwest teams for the 2022 season, the league announced Monday.

The Lakers had three players named to the first team, nine players named to the second team and three players who earned honorable mention awards. Senior defensive lineman Dionte Moorehead became the first player in program history to be named a four-time all-conference member after picking up second-team honors this season. In addition, Zavier Barnes, Blaize Griffin and Salvador Gonzalez all earned all-conference honors for the third time in their careers.

Barnes and Gonzalez were joined by senior linebacker Corties Draper on the All-Midwest first team after helping the Lakers win seven games this season. It is the second consecutive first-team honor for Barnes, who led Roosevelt this season with 71 tackles, and the first such honors for Draper and Gonzalez. Draper had a pair of interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, in Roosevelt's win over Missouri Baptist, which earned him the league's Defensive Player of the Week honors for Oct. 8. Gonzalez was the Lakers' starting left tackle this season and was a key reason Roosevelt allowed just 10 sacks this season and rushed for nearly 187 yards per game.

Of the nine Lakers on the second team, Griffin, Davis and Moorehead are the only players who previously earned all-conference honors from the MSFA. Griffin was a second-team selection last season and continued his strong play with 32 catches for a team-best 468 yards and four scores. He was joined on the offensive side by running back Tyler Tenner, the NAIA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 15, who led the Lakers with 922 yards and 16 scores this season while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Sophomore offensive guard Elijah Bobo earned his first all-conference honors as a key member of the interior part of the offensive line.

In addition to Moorehead, Charlie Brooks, Clarence Davis, Bennie Harris and Jalen Perkins were second-team honorees on defense. Brooks led the Lakers with seven sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss alongside Moorehead at defensive end. Harris was second on the team with 56 tackles from his linebacker position and he forced a team-high four fumbles as well. Davis and Perkins were part of a dynamic Roosevelt secondary as the two leaders in pass breakups. Perkins led Roosevelt with six interceptions and seven breakups while Davis had five breakups.

Andrew Bucaro pulled double duty as the second-team kicker and punter in his first full year at both positions. The junior converted three of his four field goal attempts and 42 of 45 extra points to finish with 51 total points. Bucaro also pinned 12 of his 35 punts inside the opposing 20-yard line while averaging more than 37 yards per kick.

Roosevelt's defensive line was again at the forefront for the honorable mentions list with seniors Malik Barbee and Dominic Barbosa both earning the honor from the MSFA. Barbee registered three sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble this season. Barbosa was credited with 25 tackles, including 2.5 sacks for the Lakers. Junior wideout Jerrell Calhoun was also named to the honorable mentions team after catching a team-high 36 passes for 462 yards and a touchdown.

The full list of All-MSFA Midwest team members can be found HERE.