Ouachita Baptist University’s Julius Pruitt and Bob Ruffing were selected Thursday to the All-Gulf South Conference First Team, while four more Tiger football players were named to the second team.
Joining Pruitt and Ruffing as All-Gulf South Conference selections were KJ Johnson, Terrence Garrett, Jerry McNeil and Antwon Thompson on the second team.
Pruitt, a native of Newport, Ark., set a school record and career record in his final collegiate game against Henderson State with 250 receiving yards on 10 catches in a 43-36 victory. The senior wide receiver finishes this season with 77 catches for 1,116 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 111.6 yards per game.
He ranks just second all-time in receiving yards in a career with 2,406. Only Doug Freeze’s mark of 2,453 is better. Pruitt, who was an All-Gulf South Conference second team player last season, set a school records this past season in receptions with 171 and holds the single-season mark with 77. He is also second in all-time career touchdowns among receivers at OBU. Freeze holds the mark with 26, while Pruitt finished his four-year career with 24.
Ruffing, a senior tight end from Chico, Calif., caught seven passes for 60 yards, while adding a pair of touchdowns. He was a key contributor in the offense with his pass and run blocking abilities.
Johnson, who had a breakout season after playing behind Willie Hopson for the past two years, was second in the Gulf South Conference in rushing with 996 yards on 200 touches. The native of Monroe, La., eclipsed the 100-yard mark four times, including a season-high and career-high 183 yards on 14 carries against West Georgia.
Garrett, a sophomore linebacker from Wynne, Ark., was third in the Gulf South Conference in tackles. He recorded 91 total tackles with 58 solos. Garrett also had 10.5 tackles for a loss of 47 yards, along with half a sack for a loss of four yards. He finished with two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
McNeil, a native of Greensboro, N.C., finished his junior season as one of most dominating defensive ends in the conference. He led the GSC in sacks with 10 for a loss of 66 yards. He was fourth on the team in tackles with 54, including 14 for a loss of 71 yards. McNeil, who had one interception and one blocked kick, also led the team in quarterback hurries with 14. He forced three fumbles and recovered two.
Thompson, who is making his second appearance on the All-Gulf South Conference Second Team, had 39 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss of five yards, this past season. The Tallahassee, Fla., native had four pass breakups and one interception. He also recorded two forced fumbles.
Arkansas-Monticello quarterback Scott Buisson was tabbed the GSC Offensive Player of the Year, while Delta State’s Lardester Hicks was selected the GSC Defensive Player of the Year. Mark Johnson of Southern Arkansas and Chris Hart of Valdosta State earned Co-GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year honors and Delta State’s Dominique Davenport garnered the defensive award. Delta State’s Ron Roberts was named GSC Coach of the Year.
