Conference Champion Wildcats Land 7 on All-UAC Teams

The back-to-back United Athletic Conference champion Abilene Christian football team was rewarded with seven players on the postseason All-UAC teams, which were released Tuesday.

The Wildcats led the way with four defensive players on the all-conference first team: defensive lineman Chris Wright, linebackers Will Shaffer and Rashon Myles, Jr., and defensive back Dorian Plumley.

Offensive lineman Luke Roaten was named to the All-UAC first team while center Colter Lynch landed on the second team. Defensive lineman Kaghen Roach was voted to the all-conference second team.

ACU continues its season with a second round game in the FCS Playoffs at Stephen F. Austin on Saturday with kickoff at 1 p.m. CT in Nacogdoches.

CLICK HERE: Buy tickets to Saturday's game

The winner between the Wildcats and Lumberjacks advances to the quarterfinals against the winner of the Yale at No. 2 Montana State game, which kicks at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday.



All-UAC First Team

Luke Roaten - Redshirt Junior, Tackle (Tomball, TX)

• Has started every game at right tackle next to twin brother Landon
• Blocked for the UAC's third ranking scoring offense
• Overall grade of 84% with 65 knockdowns / second-level blocks

Chris Wright - Redshirt Senior, Defensive Lineman (Aledo, TX)

• Has started all 27 games of his ACU career, including 13 this season
• Recorded 62 tackles with an ACU-leading 10.5 TFL
• Tied for team-high with 6.0 sacks

Will Shaffer - Redshirt Senior, Linebacker (Tempe, AZ)

• Has started all 27 games of his ACU career, including 13 this season
• Second on the team with 106 total tackles
• Voted team captain

Rashon Myles, Jr. - Redshirt Junior, Linebacker (Brownsburg, IN)

• Started every game this season
• Leads ACU with 107 total tackles, including 8.0 TFL and 2.5 sacks
• Five fumble recoveries is most by any player at any division of NCAA football this season
• Two-time UAC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 20 vs. Austin Peay; Nov. 1 vs. Tarleton State)

Dorian Plumley - Senior, Defensive Back (El Reno, OK)

• Team's active leader in career starts with 34 at ACU, including 12 this season
• First on defense with 5 interceptions
• Has had two games with 2 interceptions each
• UAC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 8 vs. Utah Tech)

All-UAC Second Team

Colter Lynch - Redshirt Sophomore, Center (Lubbock, TX)

• ACU's starting center for every game this season
• Blocked for the UAC's third ranking scoring offense
• Overall grade of 84% with 78 knockdown / 2nd level blocks

Kaghen Roach - Redshirt Senior, Defensive Lineman (Celina, TX)

• Has started all 27 games of his ACU career, including 13 this season
• Recorded 49 tackles with 8.0 TFL
• Leads team with 6.5 sacks
• Has recovered 2 fumbles, including one in the endzone for a touchdown vs. Austin Peay

Below is the full list of 2025 UAC All-Conference selections as voted on by the nine head coaches.


Coach of the Year: Joel Taylor (West Georgia)*
Offensive Player of the Year: Joshua Dye (Southern Utah)*
Defensive Player of the Year: Lando Brown (Southern Utah)
Specialist of the Year: Carson Smith (Austin Peay)* & Adam Watford (North Alabama)*
Freshman of the Year: Montreze Smith Jr. (Austin Peay)*


OFFENSE

First Team	Second Team
QB - Chris Parson (Austin Peay)*	QB - Victor Gabalis (Tarleton State)*
RB - Joshua Dye (Southern Utah)*	RB - Tre Page III (Tarleton State)
RB - Landen Chambers (Central Arkansas)	RB - Latrelle Murrell (West Georgia)
WR - Malachi Henry (Central Arkansas)	WR - Shane Carr (Southern Utah)
WR - Peyton Kramer (Tarleton State)	WR - Cody Jackson (Tarleton State)
TE - Jackson Head (Austin Peay)	TE - Eric Olsen (Utah Tech)
OL - Joshua Sales Jr. (Austin Peay)*	OL - Kandiyeli Sirri (Southern Utah)
OL - Luke Roaten (Abilene Christian)	OL - Aidan Moe (Tarleton State)
OL - Nick Hilliard (Austin Peay)	OL - Braden Smith (Tarleton State)
OL - Hunter Smith (Tarleton State)	OL - Brody Balliew (West Georgia)
C - Edward Riley (Southern Utah)	C - Colter Lynch (Abilene Christian)

* - Denotes unanimous selection (included on all coaches ballots)
 
DEFENSE

First Team	Second Team
DL - Lando Brown (Southern Utah)*	DL - Kaghen Roach (Abilene Christian)
DL - Chris Wright (Abilene Christian)	DL - Jeremiah Bailey (EKU)
DL - Angelo Anderson (Tarleton State)	DL - Brad Gurley (EKU)
DL - David Hoage (West Georgia)	DL - Brandon Tolvert (Tarleton State)
LB - Will Shaffer (Abilene Christian)	LB - Demarcious Robinson (North Alabama)
LB - Rashon Myles Jr. (Abilene Christian)	LB - Sebastian Adamski (Southern Utah)
LB - Montreze Smith Jr. (Austin Peay)	LB - Yasir Holmes (Tarleton State)
DB - Kasyus Kurns (Tarleton State)*	DB - Dillon Williams (Central Arkansas)
DB - Dorian Plumley (Abilene Christian)	DB - Vito Tisdale (EKU)
DB - Ellis Ellis Jr. (Austin Peay)	DB - Omar Emmons (Tarleton State)
DB - Jaheim Ward (EKU)	DB - Jalen Burton (West Georgia)

* - Denotes unanimous selection (included on all coaches ballots)


SPECIAL TEAMS

First Team	Second Team
K - Carson Smith (Austin Peay)*	K - Tommy Holden (West Georgia)
P - Adam Watford (North Alabama)	P - Ryan Marks (Utah Tech)
RS - Deandre Buchanon (West Georgia)*	RS - TJ Mitchell III (EKU)*
LS - Nathan Curry (North Alabama)	LS - Gavin Lipkin (Southern Utah)

* - Denotes unanimous selection (included on all coaches ballots)