Seven Bulldogs receive All-AAC honors; Luttrell named AAC Coach of the Year
Barbourville, Ky. – On Wednesday, the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) released its All-Conference Teams for the 2023 season. Union had three players named All-AAC First-Team, while having four selected All-AAC Second-Team.
Union head coach John Luttrell was named AAC Coach of the Year. The Bulldogs followed a winless 2022 season with a 4-6 (3-3 AAC) campaign in 2023. The Bulldogs opened and ended the season with shutout victories.
The combined score of the Bulldogs' four wins this season is 124-19. Union won its final three home games of the season by a combined score of 97-19.
Union Bulldogs named First-Team All-AAC:
Taji Jackson (RB) – Jackson finished the season with an average of 5.6 yards per carry with 583 yards off 105 carries. He ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game. Jackson is the reigning AAC Offensive Player of the Week as he recorded 200 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown against KCU off 12 touches.
Quinterrius Tanksley (DL) – Tanksley was a force for the Bulldogs all season. The nose guard finished the season with 23 total tackles, one sack, four TFLs, and one fumble recovery.
Noah Steen (LB) – Steen concluded the season with a total of 74 tackles, which ranks third in the conference. He recorded nine TFLs on the season in addition to three sacks. Steen tallied two interceptions on the season, which includes a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown in Union's win over Point.
Union Bulldogs named Second-Team All-AAC:
Omarion Parks (RB) – The freshman averaged 5.0 yards per carry on the season. He averaged 42.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks sixth in the conference. In Union's last two games of the season, he rushed for a total of 200 yards off 28 carries.
Byron Gee (DL) – Gee has recorded 8.5 sacks this season, which leads the AAC and is tied for eighth in the NAIA. He also registered 13.5 TFLs this season, which ranks third in the conference.
Samuel Hawthorne (LB) – Hawthorne recorded 4.5 sacks this season, which is tied for third in the conference. He's tied for sixth in the conference in TFLs with nine.
Tramonte Gardner (DB) – Gardner recorded 57 total tackles this season, which is tied for sixth in the AAC. He also registered three sacks, 4.5 TFLs, and seven pass breakups.
Austin Combs was Union's representative on the AAC's Champions of Character Team. Bryson Grabowski, Shawn Howell, Cameron Mitchell, Timothy Robbins, Walker Russell, Wyatt Rutgerson, and Wade Walker were named to the AAC's All-Academic Team.
To view the entire list of All-AAC honors, click here.