By: Brian Howard
GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University football program placed eight on the 2022 Phil Steele/Draftscout FCS Postseason All-SWAC Teams, which was released on Friday.
Sundiata Anderson, who earned All-SWAC Second Team honors, and Donald Johnson III were named to Phil Steele's All-SWAC First Team, while Maurice Washington, Lyndon Rash, Lewis Matthews and Joshua Reed were selected to the second team. GSU did not have anyone on the third team as Tyler Thomas and Jimmy Iles were named to the fourth team.
Anderson played in 10 games for the Tigers and was third on the team in tackles with 50, including 23 solo stops. He added 12.5 tackles for a loss of 64, while leading the Tigers in sacks, with seven. In addition, recorded two quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and blocked one kick.
Johnson stepped up in the return game where he averaged 13.9 yards per return. He broke an 80-yard return for a score against Florida A&M.
Washington led the Grambling State ground game with 589 yards on 61 carries. He scored seven touchdowns, including runs of 75,73, 61 and 56 yards. The Stockton, Calif. native averaged 53.5 yards per game and 9.7 yards per carry.
Rash led all Tiger receivers in catches and yards, finishing with 32 receptions for 517 yards, along with five touchdowns. He caught a season-long 83 yard touchdown in a win over Northwestern State. In addition, Rash averaged 47.0 yards per game and 16.1 yards per reception.
Matthews, an All-SWAC Second Team selection, ranked 14th in the nation and tops in the conference in solo tackles, while also second in the SWAC in total tackles and 27th in the FCS. He led Grambling State defensively with 102 total tackles, including 61 solo stops. The junior linebacker had 12 tackles for a loss of 28 yards and a pair of sacks.
Reed, who along with Matthews, bolstered the Tigers defense where he finished with 86.0 total tackles, including 49 solo stops. He tallied 8.0 tackles for a loss of 25 yards and had one sack. In addition, he recorded three quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.Â
Thomas made the move from tackle/guard in the offseason to center. He was a steady veteran on the offensive line that saw the Tigers average 300.3 total yards of offense.Â
Iles saw action in every game as he punted the ball 63 times for 2,560 yards. His 69-yard punt at Alabama A&M was a career long and registered eight punts of 50-plus yards. He averaged 40.6 yards per punt with 16 being pinned inside the 20 yard line.
Jackson State's Shedeur Sanders and Aubrey Miller, Jr. were named the SWAC's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Travis Hunter, also of Jackson State, was selected the Freshman of the Year. Mark Evans II, of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, was tabbed the Offensive Lineman of the Year, while Bethune-Cookman's Darnell Deas earned Special Teams Player of the Year.
FOLLOW GRAMBLING STATE ATHLETICS Â
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /GramblingStateTigers1901 (Facebook), @gramblingathletics (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
