Bryson Rollins earned 2022 USA South Football Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and Kevon Samuels grabbed a spot on the All-USA South First Team to highlight Maryville selections from the league coaches.
Rollins, a freshman quarterback from Elizabethton, becomes the third Scot to earn USA South Football Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, joining Melvin Burston in 2011 and Elijah Hairston in 2017. Rollins led the conference with 24 passing touchdowns, was second with 2,555 yards through the air, and third in completions (182), attempts (308), and completion percentage (59.1) during the regular season.
Samuels finished with 42 receptions for 836 yards and a USA South-leading 10 touchdowns. The first-year receiver from Jasper, Alabama, became just the third Scot to reach double-figures in TD catches in a season. His yardage total is the sixth-best in program history.
The Rollins-to-Samuels 84-yard touchdown completion in the 61-7 win against North Carolina Wesleyan was the longest-scoring pass play in the league this season.
Tuesday's release had four Scots on the Second Team: Rollins at quarterback, Jace Brittain as a three-time selection on the offensive line, Jonathan Harris on the defensive front and Grant Henderson at cornerback. Corey Russell was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.
Tops Among DIII Freshmen
Rollins' passing touchdown and yardage figures rank as the second-most in a season in Maryville program history. He added seven rushing touchdowns during the fall, and his points responsible for per game total of 18.6 leads all Division III freshmen. Rollins tops all DIII first-year quarterbacks in passing yards per game as well at 255.5. He collected USA South Offensive Rookie of the Week honors six times.
Brittain helped Maryville boost its total offensive yardage output by 25 percent this season, from 326.2 per game a year ago to 406.8 in 2022. The North Carolina native was an All-West Division pick during the shortened Covid spring season of 2021 and has earned All-USA South Second Team honors in back-to-back campaigns.
Harris in his second season led the Maryville defensive line with 34 tackles and 10½ tackles-for-loss, the latter total accounting for a team-high 42 yards in losses. The Alabama product posted two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. His 3½ sacks were third on the team.
Henderson finished the regular season third in the USA South with 13 pass breakups. That figure ties for fourth on the all-time Maryville season chart. The Miami native was third on the Scots defense with 41 tackles, including a team-leading 30 solo stops.
Russell caught at least one pass in every game this season and went five for 86 yards and two scores in the upset finale at Belhaven. Included was the winning catch in that 25-22 thriller with just 4:21 remaining. The Roan Mountain product finished with 23 receptions for 282 yards and three touchdowns.
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