BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Following a 7-5, 5-3 campaign, the Gardner-Webb football team placed 15 members on the 2025 OVC/Big South All-Conference Teams as announced by the league on Tuesday, November 25, the most since joining the association.
Six players earned First Team All-Conference honors, including three on offense, two on defense and one as a special teams member.
Carson Gresock and Quasean Holmes picked up First Team All-Conference honors at the running back position, the first duo to do so for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Holmes finished second in the OVC/Big South with 969 yards and five touchdowns while Gresock led the conference with 14 rushing touchdowns. The pair compiled four games with multiple rushing scores with Gresock running for a season-high four TDs at Lindenwood.
Joining Gresock and Holmes on the First Team Offense is wide receiver Chris Lofton. Lofton led the entire conference with 934 receiving yards, more than 100 yards more than second place while ranking fifth in the league with five touchdowns. His best game of the year came in the season finale against Western Illinois, catching 11 passes for 169 yards and a score.
Defensive lineman Robert Holtz and Antonio O'Berry picked up First Team All-Conference honors on the defensive side of the ball for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Holtz dominated the line after finishing tops on the team with 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss, both of which ranked top 3 in the league. O'Berry controlled the opposite side of the line for Gardner-Webb, compiling 4.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. The tandem combined for 4.5 sacks during the Southeast Missouri State game in which the Runnin' Bulldogs set a new school record with 11 sacks of the quarterback.
Wide receiver Anthony Lowe rounded out the First Team All-Conference honors as a kick returner as well as all-purpose yards for the Dawgs. Lowe totaled 20 returns for 478 yards, an average of 23.9 yards per return with a long of 58 yards.
Four Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs earned Second Team All-Conference accolades.
Lowe added to his resume with an Offensive Second Team All-Conference honor after catching 54 passes for 580 yards and four scores. Lowe had multiple catches in every game this season.
Offensive linemen Andrew Threatt and Aaron McIver were named to second team offense for the first time in their careers. Threatt and McIver led an offense that averaged a conference second-best 180 yards per game on the ground.
Josiah Harris picked up Second Team All-Conference honors at the defensive back position. Harris led the Runnin' Bulldogs with five interceptions, including a career-high three picks in a win at Tennessee State.
Honorable Mention All-Conference nods went to CJ Dawson (OL), Luke Rector (OL), Cahari Haynes (LB), Que Billingsley (DB), Charlie Viorel (PK), Brady Braun (P), and Lowe (PR).
2025 OVC-BIG SOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION TEAMS AND AWARD WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Year: Kekoa Visperas (QB, Jr.), Tennessee Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: Keyshawn Johnson (OLB, Jr.), UT Martin
Special Teams Player of the Year: Mason Miller (P, Grad.), Eastern Illinois
Offensive Freshman of the Year: Cason Carswell (QB, Fr.), Western Illinois
Defensive Freshman of the Year: Anthony Paulk (DB, R-Fr.), Charleston Southern
Coach of the Year: Bobby Wilder, Tennessee Tech
FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
OFFENSE
QB – Kekoa Visperas, Jr., Tennessee Tech
RB – Carson Gresock, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb
RB – Markell Holman, Jr., Western Illinois
RB – Quasean Holmes, Grad., Gardner-Webb
WR – Rico Bond, R-Fr., Lindenwood
WR – Chris Lofton, R-So., Gardner-Webb
WR – Cam Pedro, Jr., Southeast Missouri
WR – Rashawn Cunningham, R-Fr., Charleston Southern
TE – Brian Courtney, Sr., Tennessee Tech
OL – Logan Weedman, Sr., Tennessee Tech
OL – Drew Wilder, Sr., Tennessee Tech
OL – Josiah Tingley, Grad., UT Martin
OL – Andrew Threatt, Jr., Charleston Southern
OL – Elijah Bowser, R-Fr., UT Martin
OL – Gavin Hulet, R-Sr., Lindenwood
DEFENSE
DL – Keyshawn Johnson, Jr., UT Martin
DL – Robert Holtz, Sr., Gardner-Webb
DL – James Stewart, R-Sr., Tennessee State
DL – Malik McKinzie, Sr., Charleston Southern
DL – Antonio O'Berry, Grad., Gardner-Webb
LB – Theron Gaines, Sr., Tennessee Tech
LB – Steve Zayachkowsky, Jr., Charleston Southern
LB – Aaron Swafford, Sr., Tennessee Tech
LB – Christian Pierce, Sr., Western Illinois
LB – Tylan Foster, R-Sr., Eastern Illinois
DB – Tim Coutras, Sr., Tennessee Tech
DB – Andrew Smith, Sr., Tennessee Tech
DB – JaMichael McGoy Jr., R-Sr., UT Martin
DB – Jacob Stevenson, R-Sr., UT Martin
DB – Landon Sylvie, So., Southeast Missouri
SPECIALISTS
PK – Cole Hechter, Jr., UT Martin
P – Mason Miller, Grad., Eastern Illinois
LS – Hayden King, R-So., UT Martin
KR – Anthony Lowe, Grad., Gardner-Webb
PR – Tre' Holloway, Sr., Tennessee Tech
AP – Anthony Lowe, Grad., Gardner-Webb
SECOND-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
OFFENSE
QB – Nate Glantz, R-Sr., Lindenwood
QB – Jase Bauer, R-Sr., UT Martin
RB – Quintell Quinn, Sr., Tennessee Tech
RB – Q'Daryius Jennings, Sr., Tennessee Tech
RB – Steve Hall, R-So., Lindenwood
WR – Anthony Lowe, Grad., Gardner-Webb
WR – Tre' Holloway, Sr., Tennessee Tech
WR – Demari Davis, Sr., Western Illinois
WR – Jalen Smith, R-So., Lindenwood
TE – Alex Williams, Sr., Western Illinois
OL – Andrew Threatt, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb
OL – Christian Thomas, Sr., Tennessee Tech
OL – Aaron McIver, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb
OL – Nic DiSanto, Jr., Eastern Illinois
OL – Rahfeeq Katumbusi, R-Fr., Eastern Illinois
OL – Jai'Lun Hampton, Grad., UT Martin
DEFENSE
DL – Maurice LaPierre, Sr., Tennessee Tech
DL – Chima Iwuagwu, Sr., Tennessee Tech
DL – Tajay Passmore, R-Sr., Lindenwood
DL – Toby Camp, R-Sr., UT Martin
DL – David Portu, R-Jr., Charleston Southern
LB – Justin Waters, Sr., Charleston Southern
LB – Tah Mac Bright Banda, Grad., UT Martin
LB – Ja'Wuan Nickson, Jr., Eastern Illinois
LB – Jeremy Walton, Southeast Missouri
LB – Jacob Waller, R-Jr., Lindenwood
DB – Josiah Harris, Jr., Gardner-Webb
DB – Gavin Bryson, Sr., Tennessee Tech
DB – Champ Brantley, Jr., Charleston Southern
DB – Knai Cook, So., Charleston Southern
DB – Jayden Patrick, R-Sr., Lindenwood
SPECIALISTS
PK – Justin Keller, Jr., Southeast Missouri
P – Ryan Kingston, Jr., Southeast Missouri
LS – Judd Cunningham, Sr., Southeast Missouri
KR – Cole Ruble, Jr., Southeast Missouri
PR – Cooper Willman, Eastern Illinois
AP – Tre' Holloway, Sr., Tennessee Tech
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-CONFERENCE
OFFENSE
QB – Zolten Osborne, R-So., Charleston Southern
RB – Ke'Marion Baldwin, R-So., Charleston Southern
RB – Jared Rhodes, R-Jr., Lindenwood
RB – Brandon Epton Jr., Sr., Southeast Missouri
WR – Maury Sullivan, R-Sr., Tennessee Tech
WR – Noah Robinson, Sr., Tennessee Tech
WR – Kalvin Gilbert, So., Southeast Missouri
WR – Bryce Bailey, R-Sr., UT Martin
TE – Darrin Fugitt, R-Jr., Lindenwood
OL – Collin Sorensen, So., Charleston Southern
OL – CJ Dawson, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb
OL – Veguer Jean-Jumeau, R-Fr., Tennessee State
OL – Sam Reynolds, So., Southeast Missouri
OL – Luke Rector, R-So., Gardner-Webb
OL – Dagen Miller, Sr., Western Illinois
DEFENSE
DL – Kobe McClendon, R-Sr., Lindenwood
DL – Steven Lewis, Sr., Southeast Missouri
DL – Trevon Piggee, R-So., Eastern Illinois
DL – Alton Jefferson, R-Sr., Eastern Illinois
DL – Samuel Robles, Jr., Eastern Illinois
LB – Slade Dollar, Sr., Southeast Missouri
LB – Cahari Haynes, R-So., Gardner-Webb
LB – Sanjay Strickland, R-Sr., Lindenwood
LB – Justin Buckner, Fr., Western Illinois
LB – Shamari Weir, Grad., UT Martin
DB – Anthony Paulk, R-Fr., Charleston Southern
DB – Eric Gant, R-Sr., Lindenwood
DB – Moses Alexander, R-Sr., Eastern Illinois
DB – Isaiah Houi, So., Eastern Illinois
DB – Que Billingsley, R-So., Gardner-Webb
SPECIALISTS
PK – Charlie Viorel, Jr., Gardner-Webb
P – Brady Braun, Sr., Gardner-Webb
LS – Brett Galletti, Grad., Eastern Illinois
KR – CJ Bennett, Fr., Lindenwood
PR – Anthony Lowe, Grad., Gardner-Webb
AP –Kendric Rhymes, Sr., Tennessee State
