The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced the 2015 All-Conference Football Teams on Wednesday, November 18. Westminster's sophomore running back Latif Adams earned the Offensive Player of the Year award, as well as a spot on the All-Conference Running Backs First Team. Nine other Blue Jays also earned All-Conference honors.
Adams, senior Will Morse and junior Ayo Oyesanya each earned All-Conference First Team honors, and junior Mike Washington, senior Arron Bird, senior Grant Gershner, senior Kevin Ludwig, freshman Matt Quarles, junior Jack Williams and senior Carlos Weeden Jr. are All-Conference Second Team recipients.
Adams, a sophomore running back from St. Louis, Mo., earned the Offensive Player of the Year title and All-Conference First Team honors after finishing fifth in the nation in rushing yards with 1,492 yards. He finished first in the conference in six categories (all-purpose yards, rushing yards per carry, rushing touchdowns, rushing yards, rushing yards per game and scoring). Adams broke the Westminster game-day rushing yards record on September 26 at Greenville with 270 rushing yards. He tied the game-day rushing touchdown record with four touchdowns on November 7 versus Minnesota-Morris. In the season finale, he broke the season rushing yards record (1,492 yards) and rushing touchdowns (16 touchdowns) record.
Morse, a senior offensive lineman from Klamath Falls, Ore., grabbed a spot on the All-Conference Offensive Lineman First Team. As an individual, he allowed just one sack. As a team, the offensive line allowed just 11 sacks in the season. He was directly responsible for the success Adams had running the ball.
Oyesanya, a junior defensive lineman from Norman, Okla., was named to the All-Conference Defensive Lineman First Team. He broke the Westminster season sack record with nine, ranking first in the conference. He also led the conference in tackles-for-loss per game with 1.7, totaling 17 on the season for a loss of 69 yards. He finished the season with 55 total tackles.
Washington, a junior wide receiver from Jefferson City, Mo., was one of three that grabbed All-Conference Wide Receiver Second Team honors. He recorded 36 receptions for 447 yards and three touchdowns throughout the 10 game season.
Bird and Gershner, senior offensive linemen from Yuma, Ariz. and Springdale, Ark., were each named to the All-Conference Offensive Lineman Second Team. They were both a part of the Blue Jay offense that allowed just 11 sacks throughout the season.
Ludwig, a senior kicker from Manchester, Mo., was selected as the All-Conference Kicker Second Team. He led the conference with a .700 field goal percentage. He made 10 field goals, including a record breaking 43-yard field goal on September 19 versus MacMurray. He made 27 extra points for the Blue Jays. He averaged a 53.8 yard kickoff, tallying 2,635 yards on 49 kickoffs.
Quarles, a freshman kick returner from Detroit, Mich., grabbed the Kick Returner Second Team All-Conference spot. He broke the Westminster season record and led the conference for kickoff return average with 26.5 yards. He finished the season with 11 returns for 291 yards.
Williams, a junior punt returner from St. Louis, Mo., was named the All-Conference Second Team Punt Returner. He broke the Westminster season punt return record with 17. He ranked second in the conference for punt return yards per game with 9.5. His longest career punt return came from a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown on October 17.
Weeden Jr., a senior defensive back from St. Louis, Mo., earned a spot on the All-Conference Defensive Backs Second Team. He ranked second in the conference for interceptions per game and passes defended. He recorded four interceptions on the season with one returned for a touchdown on September 5 at SAGU. He posted eight pass breakups and 63 tackles on the season.
Senior Jantzen Bradford was selected for the UMAC Individual Sportsmanship Award. One individual from each school is selected by the coach and players to be on the team.
The Blue Jays finished the season with a 6-4 record. They placed third in the UMAC with a 6-3 mark.
