BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The Mountain East Conference unveiled its annual football awards on Tuesday, and West Virginia State earned one of its largest postseason hauls in program history with 12 All-MEC selections, highlighted by running back Devin Cox, the league's Offensive Freshman of the Year. The Yellow Jackets placed four players on the First Team, six on the Second Team (including Cox), and two on the Honorable Mention list, recognizing standout contributors across all three phases of the game.

Devin Cox - MEC Offensive Freshman of the Year, Second Team Running Back



Freshman running back Devin Cox earned MEC Offensive Freshman of the Year after rushing for 628 yards and three touchdowns, including three 100-yard performances against Charleston, Glenville State, and Fairmont State. He finished with 707 all-purpose yards and averaged 6.8 yards per carry across 10 games.

Amare Ary - First Team Wide Receiver 

Wide receiver Amare Ary earned First Team All-MEC honors after leading the league in yards per catch, receptions per game, and receiving yards per game. He topped 100 yards three times—including 189 in a Player of the Week
outing against Fairmont State—and finished the year with 995 yards and eight touchdowns.

Malik Baker - First Team Wide Receiver 

Wide receiver Malik Baker earned First Team All-MEC honors after finishing second in the league in receptions per game (4.4), receiving yards per game (72.9), and yards per catch (16.7). He recorded 583 yards and seven touchdowns, highlighted by a 108-yard outing against Charleston and two additional 100-yard all-purpose games.

Justice Hutchison - First Team Offensive Line

Offensive lineman Justice Hutchison earned First Team All-MEC honors as a key leader of a WVSU offensive line that averaged 410.5 yards and 30.45 points per game. The Jackets rushed for 200.7 yards per contest and 5.1 yards per carry behind the front five, helping produce 44 total touchdowns and one of the MEC's most balanced attacks.

Marshawn Mankins - First Team Linebacker

Linebacker Marshawn Mankins earned First Team All-MEC honors after leading the Jackets with 67 tackles and delivering a standout Defensive Player of the Week performance against Barton College. He added 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two breakups, and two quarterback hurries while anchoring the WVSU defense.

Jojo Restall - Second Team Running Back

Running back Jojo Restall earned Second Team All-MEC honors after producing 668 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 99 carries, averaging 6.7 yards per attempt. He recorded two 100-yard games—113 at Frostburg State and 108 vs. Wesleyan—while helping WVSU average over 200 rushing yards per contest.

Dalton Hall - Second Team Offensive Line

Offensive lineman Dalton Hall earned Second Team All-MEC honors after helping drive a WVSU offense that averaged over 410 yards and 30 points per game. His work in the run game was central to a ground attack that produced 200.7 yards per contest and multiple 100-yard performances from the Jackets' backfield.

Mike Wilson - Second Team Defensive Line

Defensive lineman Mike Wilson earned Second Team All-MEC honors after recording 51 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, a half sack, and a blocked kick across 11 games. His steady production and versatility made him one of the Jackets' most reliable contributors up front.

Jacob Camacho - Second Team Linebacker

Defensive back Jacob Camacho earned Second Team All-MEC honors after recording 31 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups across 11 games. He also held on all of WVSU's placekicks, assisting in 39 PAT conversions and 10 field goals on the season.

Tony Hornbuckle - Second Team Kicker

Kicker Tony Hornbuckle earned Second Team All-MEC honors after converting 39-of-42 PATs and 10-of-13 field goals, including perfect marks inside 20 yards and from 40–49 yards. He finished with 49 total scoring kicks and added kickoff duties with a 54-yard average and one touchback.

Kaleb Jackson - Honorable Mention Quarterback

Quarterback Kaleb Jackson earned Honorable Mention All-MEC after throwing for 2,287 yards and 17 touchdowns, completing 148 of 265 passes. He added 254 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, including a season-long 51-yard run, while starting every game for one of the MEC's top offenses.

Adrian Bowers - Honorable Mention Linebacker 

Linebacker Adrian Bowers received Honorable Mention All-MEC recognition after recording 42 tackles (19 solo, 23 assisted), 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and a quarterback hurry across 11 games. He provided steady production and rotational strength in the middle of the WVSU defense.

West Virginia State's 12 honorees cap a season in which the Yellow Jackets finished 5–6 overall and 4–4 in MEC play, highlighted by one of the league's top offenses and several breakout individual performances. With multiple all-conference returners and a strong foundation built throughout the year, State enters the offseason with momentum and a clear path toward climbing the MEC standings in 2026.

About WVSU
West Virginia State University is a founding member of the Mountain East Conference. Follow WVSU Athletics on Facebook (@wvsuathletics), Instagram (@wvsuathletics), and X (@wvsu_gojackets).