2021 GSC FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UWF sophomore quarterback Austin Reed was named the Offensive Player of the Year and a record 13 Argonauts were named to the All-Conference Teams as announced by the Gulf South Conference on Thursday.
 
The record 10 First Team reps included Reed, wide receiver David Durden, center Dalton Simpler, guard Mike Dilla, tackle Jacob Bruce, defensive lineman Matthew Gotel, linebacker Shea Campbell, safety D'Anthony Bell, nickel back Trent Archie and special teams utility performer Marcus Clayton. Argos on the second team included running back Shomari Mason, wide receiver Ka'Ron Ashley and linebacker Stephon Williams.
 
Reed has been one of the top signal callers in the country all season long, ranking among the top eight nationally in nine of 11 quarterback categories. He leads the GSC with 328 passing yards per game, 3,284 yards, 35 touchdowns and a 168.3 passer efficiency rating. He has six games over 300 yards passing, including the last five and has thrown four scores seven times and at least two in every game. In his career, the St. Augustine, Florida product is 22-2 as a starter.
 
Durden has been the top receiver in the league all season, even while missing two games at midyear. He leads the GSC with 89.4 yards per game, is second with 22.3 yards per catch and fourth with nine touchdowns. He has four 100-yard games, including the last two where he went for 105 yards at West Alabama and 120 against Valdosta State, with five receptions in each contest. The junior transfer out of Midville, Georgia is sixth in the league with 101.5 all-purpose yards per game.
 
The offensive line trio of Simpler, Dilla and Bruce are the veterans on the unit that has been one of the best in the country the past two seasons. UWF's starting line has allowed just three sacks in 2021 to lead the country, while also ranking seventh in the NCAA in passing offense (331.2) and seventh in total offense (497.4). The 166.2 rushing ypg is a school record and in the upper half of the national rankings. Simpler, a junior from Freeport, Florida started the year at left guard before moving to center due to an injury on the line in game two. A Gainesville, Florida standout who started all 15 games at right tackle in 2019, Bruce moved to the left tackle spot this year and has anchored that side. Dilla has been the mainstay at right guard the past three years, starting the last 38 games since arriving as a freshman from Hobe Sound, Florida in 2017.
 
Archie has been with the program since redshirting in 2015. In 2021, he has 41 tackles and 21 solos. He is now the first 3-time All-GSC selection in school history. Mobile, Alabama star is the program's all-time leader in tackles with 301.
 
Gotel has been the core of a dominant defensive line, totaling 22 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and three quarterback hurries. The senior from Tacoma, Washington has started every game in two seasons at UWF, while making the switch from end to tackle early this season.
 
Campbell joined the squad as a graduate transfer this season and has been among the league leaders in tackles all year. The Morgantown, West Virginia linebacker is third in the GSC with 73 stops and 7.3 per game while adding three sacks and an interception.
 
Bell is one of the hardest hitters on the team who has started every game at safety the past two seasons. He has two interceptions and four pass break-ups to go along with 54 tackles and two forced fumbles. The Covington, Georgia native was recently invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
 
Mason has three 100-plus yard rushing games this season and has 966 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns. He leads the country with 9.3 yards per carry. Over the last six games the North Fort Myers, Florida back has averaged 109 yards per game. He was a first team selection in 2019 and joins former Argos Samuel Antoine, Antoine Griffin, Ishmel Morrow as 2-time all-conference picks.


Ashley ranks sixth in the GSC with 65.5 yards per game and 4.3 receptions per game while totaling 655 yards on 43 catches. The Jacksonville, Florida native is tied for second with 10 touchdowns which also is second in UWF single-season history.
 
Williams has been a mainstay at the 'Sam' Linebacker spot since coming in as a graduate transfer prior to this season. He has 41 tackles, six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. This is the second postseason honor for the St. Petersburg, Florida player, who was a First Team choice at Valdosta State in 2019.
 
UWF has had 39 all-GSC picks in five seasons, picking up a record number of honorees every year since starting the program in 2016. Previous totals were three in 2016, five in 2017, eight in 2018, 10 in 2019 and 13 in 2021.
 
The Argos 10 First Team selections led the conference and their 13 total winners are the second-most in 2021.