Jake Mullins is the FRS Quarterback Performance of the Year award winner for 2011

ABILENE, Texas – The state of Texas DID find itself with a winner on Super Bowl Sunday.

McMurry University quarterback Jake Mullin – a product of Burleson High School in the Dallas/Fort Worth area – pulled off one of the biggest upsets since David slew Goliath by winning the FRS Quarterback Performance of the Year contest. The results of the fan voting (conducted via social media) were announced as a part of the 2012 All-Star Football Challenge show on ESPN2 prior to Sunday’s Super Bowl game.

Mullin was joined by several dozen teammates, War Hawk fans and staff to watch the announcement in McM’s Campus Center.

“It’s awesome,” Mullin said of winning the award. “Hopefully, this gets (the McMurry) name out there even more. I just want to thank everybody who supported me; that voted for me. If it wasn’t for them, there’s no way I could have done this.

“I’m getting the honor, but it’s more of a team thing because the receivers make plays for me and the linemen block. There’s no way I could have done it without them.”

Mullin out-distance such notable weekly winners from the college football season as Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III (Baylor), projected No. 1 NFL Draft pick Andrew Luck (Stanford) and next year’s Heisman hopeful Matt Barkley (USC) to win the award. The junior signal-caller was the only non-NCAA Division I nominee in the voting (McMurry is an NCAA Division III school).

“This is a fantastic honor for both Jake and for McMurry University,” McM Head Coach Hal Mumme said. “Just to have Jake mentioned in the same sentence with some of the names of the other nominees was a high compliment. For him to have won the contest was a testament to Jake’s skills and abilities as a quarterback, as well as his knowledge of our offensive system.

Mullin’s award-winning performance came last October 15 versus Texas Lutheran University, when he threw for 614 yards and four touchdowns in the War Hawks’ 60-16 victory over the Bulldogs.

In that game, Mullin completed 43-of-57 passes with no interceptions, on his way to setting both the school and American Southwest Conference records for passing yards in a game. His efforts also helped the McMurry team set an NCAA III record for total offense in a game with 848 total yards.

Mullin will return for his senior season at McMurry in 2012 and be leading the program as the University’s athletics program moves to NCAA Division II beginning in the Fall of 2012. Mullin was a nominee for the 2011 Gagliardi Award as the top player in NCAA III. Mullin, the ASC Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-ASC member, passed for 3,371 yards and 29 touchdowns in 11 games while completing 64 percent of his passes. Early in the season, he became McMurry’s all-time passing yardage leader and, through three seasons, has amassed 8,979 passing yards and 89 touchdown passes.

“I’m looking forward to Jake being able to showcase his talents at the D-II level next season,” Mumme added. “People are going to see that his ‘tools’ as a quarterback will transcend whatever level of competition at which he plays.”

McMurry quarterback Jake Mullin‘s highlights from his 614 yard passing performance against Texas Lutheran this season will be featured on the 2012 FRS All-Star Football Challenge from 3-5 PM CDT on Super Bowl Sunday. Mullin also has a chance to win the FRS All-Star Quarterback Performance of the Year going up against Heisman winner Robert Griffin (Baylor), No. NFL Draft Pick hopeful Andrew Luck (Stanford), and USC QB Matt Barkley among others. Mullin is the only D3 Football  player and only non-D1 player featured in the show!

ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University football Head Coach Hal Mumme introduced his “Class of 2012” on Wednesday evening, a list of 18 student-athletes who will be the cornerstone of the War Hawk program’s transition to NCAA Division II beginning in the Fall of 2012.

The group will also be among the first student-athletes on the McMurry campus to receive athletic scholarships since the 1976-77 season.

As one examines the demographics of the “Class of 2012,” not surprising perhaps is the fact that no less than 13 of the newcomers will be on the offensive side of the ball and should enhance Mumme’s “Air Raid” offense. The largest number of recruits were at the wide receiver position, where all five come in with both good credentials and good size. The quintet all stands better than 6-foot, with two of them checking in at 6-foot-3.

Up front on offense, McMurry brought in some sizeable protectors. Among the four men added to the offensive front – charged with giving the War Hawk quarterbacks time to scan the field in the high-powered scheme – three check in at 300 pounds or better. The incoming “O-line” has an average size of 6-foot-4 and 294-lbs.

Mumme has also added three running backs to the McM stable, as well as a state championship quarterback.

On defense, the initial “Class of 2012” members includes two safeties, a defensive end, as well as a state championship and all-state linebacker. One special teams player – a kicker/punter – rounds out McMurry’s first wave of recruits for 2012.

As far as the high school supply line goes, three players will be coming from 3A state champion Wimberley (Brady Lambert, QB; Nick Alana, LB; Taylor Robertson, OL), along with two each from Denton Guyer (Josh King, K/P; Ryan Williams, S) and Smithson Valley (Easton McIntosh, WR; Nolan Nasis, OL).

Mumme’s group will have some local flavor with one recruit each from Abilene (Paxton Grayer, RB), Abilene Cooper (Garrison Railsback, DE), Brownwood (Stehl Ratliff, RB), and San Angelo Central (Corey Lopez, WR).

Burleson (Barrett Cain, WR), Sachse (Billy Cole, RB), Ft. Bend Hightower (Ryan Nelson, WR), Corpus Christi Moody (Charlie Thornton, OL), A&M Consolidated (Brett Mahnke, S), Allen (Jake Trotter, OL) and Grand Prairie (A.J. Singleton, WR) all contributed one player, as well.

Three of the new War Hawks will also be bringing Academic All-State credentials in as a part of their résumés.

“I think that this group will be a great compliment to the outstanding things the players over the past few seasons have accomplished here,” Mumme said. “This group will also be integral as we make that move toward full NCAA Division II membership and the type of young man we want to represent McMurry University Football.

“We obviously want a high-caliber athlete. But just as important is that we have individuals who can carry the name of McMurry – as well as the city of Abilene – to other places as we compete and be good ‘ambassadors’.”
 

Delfonte Diamond (pictured), five teammates and head coach Hal Mumme were honored by D3football.com with all-South Region awards

2011 All-South Region D3football.com Team

ABILENE, Texas – Hal Mumme and six of his players were honored by D3football.com Monday. Mumme was named South Region Coach of the Year while Will Morris and Delfonte Diamond earned first team honors for McMurry University. The War Hawks finished the season 9-3 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

Diamond, the senior tight end, and Morris the senior free safety were honored as first team members while junior quarterback Jake Mullin, senior offensive guard Bertrick Ervin, and junior cornerback D.J. Baiza were second-team honorees. Junior defensive end Corey Hall was a third-team all-South Region defensive team selection.

Mumme took over McMurry’s program that went 0-10 in 2008 and 16-63 from 2001 to 2008 and turned the War Hawks into a playoff team by his third season. Mumme led the team to a 4-6 record in 2009, a 6-4 mark in 2010, and tied the school’s record for wins with a 9-3 season this year.

The War Hawks defeated Trinity Nov. 19 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the program’s first playoff victory of any kind. McMurry’s season came to an end the next Saturday in a loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Diamond, the Houston native, caught 71 passes for 930 yards and eight touchdowns in 12 games this season for the War Hawks. He was a first-team all-American Southwest Conference selection earlier this season.

Morris earned his second-straight first-team all-region honor from D3football.com finishing the year with 90 tackles, five interceptions, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one recovery.

Mullin, the ASC Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-ASC member, passed for 3,371 yards and 29 touchdowns in 11 games while completing 64 percent of his passes. Earlier in the season he became McMurry’s all-time passing yardage leader and through three seasons he has 8,979 yards passing and 89 touchdown passes.

Ervin followed up his first-team all-ASC selection with the all-region honor. He anchored an offensive line that boasted the No. 1 passing offense in the nation and allowed only four sacks all season long on 556 team pass attempts. He also led the team in pancake blocks and along with Diamond was a four-year player who saw McMurry go winless his freshman season to a playoff team when he left.

Baiza had an all-around season for McMurry at defensive back and return specialist. He blocked three kicks, returned two punts for touchdowns while adding 44 tackles, five interceptions, seven pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Corey Hall led the team with 14 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, forced four fumbles, blocked two kicks, intercepted a pass and was credited with five quarterback hurries to accompany 52 tackles.

D3football.com began handing out all-America awards in 2003 and all-region honors in 2005. Morris and Desmond Baker were each the first McMurry players honored with all-South Region honors in 2010.

McMurry players give the gatorade bath to head coach Hal Mumme who has likely led McMurry to its first ever NCAA Playoff appearance after Saturday's win over Mississippi College

ABILENE, Texas – Special teams helped McMurry University overcome a sluggish first half, and the No. 20-ranked War Hawks defeated Mississippi College 63-38 Saturday at Wilford Moore Stadium to all but ensure their first ever NCAA Division III Playoffs berth.

Photo by Greg Kendall-Ball (Abilene Reporter-News)

D.J. Baiza had an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown and Jeret Smith returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the first half, and Mississippi College fumbled a kickoff return late in the second quarter setting up a last-second touchdown helping McMurry take a 35-24 lead at half.

Stephen Warren threw the 26-yard touchdown pass to R.J. Long filling in for Jake Mullin who sprained his knee in the second quarter and did not return.

The War Hawks improved to 8-2 overall and 7-1 in league play to lock up second place in the American Southwest Conference. In addition, at No. 5 in the NCAA Division III South Region rankings, McMurry should hear its name called Sunday at 5 p.m. CDT to guarantee its first playoff berth in the NCAA era and first as a program since 1980.

Photo by Greg Kendall-Ball (Abilene Reporter-News)

Mullin left the game with 81 passing yards and a touchdown, and his status for the first round of the playoffs Saturday is unknown. Warren filled in nicely with three touchdown passes and 186 yards while Justin Johnson and Chris Simpson combined for 206 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

However, the two returns along with two blocked punts highlighted a special teams effort that propelled McMurry to its first 8-win season since 1998. Corey Hall and Kevin Stewart each had blocked punts that set up touchdowns. Hall blocked a punt that went only 18 yards, which led to a 7-play 56-yard scoring drive where Warren found Long for a 6-yard catch with 1:08 to play in the second quarter giving McMurry a 28-24 lead.

On the ensuing drive Stewart blocked another Choctaw punt allowing Warren to find Long again on the last play of the first half to help the War Hawks carry an 11-point lead into the locker room at half time.

Long had two receptions for 32 yards and two scores while Smith and Eric Shaffer also had touchdown grabs.

Photo by Greg Kendall-Ball (Abilene Reporter-News)

Will Morris led a defensive effort that held the Choctaws to only 112 passing yards and 283 overall. He had six tackles and a pass breakup. The senior free safety now has 203 tackles in his career and passed Blake Timmons (2004-07) for 25th on the all-time school tackle list.

Stewart had five tackles including two for a loss to go along with his punt block. Hall had five tackles, a pass breakup and 0.5 tackles for a loss to accompany his block while Ty Tuner had six tackles and a sack to round out a nice day for the defensive line.

Johnson gained 134 yards on 22 carries while Simpson had 72 on six respectively helping the War Hawks gain a season-high 188 rushing yards.

The Choctaws fell to 3-7 overall and finished ASC play with a 2-8 record; the second consecutive losing season for Mississippi College despite making the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2009.

The Choctaws’ Steven Knight helped Mississippi College cut the lead to one point with two consecutive scoring runs of 59 and 21 yards late in the first and early in the second quarter. Smith took home the 100-yard kick before Blake Rowell forced, recovered and scored a Mullin fumble and Chris Campbell drilled a 52-yard field goal to give the Choctaws a 24-21 lead with 7:01 in the second.

However, the two punt team blunders for the visitors set up the two touchdown passes from Warren and MC managed only two fourth quarter touchdowns after the game was out of hand.

In the losing effort, Knight had 118 yards on 20 carries while Tommy Reyer finished 9 of 22 passing for 112 yards and two scores. McMurry’s D.J. Baiza picked off his fourth pass of the season off Reyer in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, Garrett Horst, Bryce Brewer and Jeremy Bertrand had nine tackles apiece while Bertrand had two interceptions in the losing effort.

McMurry’s players and coaches will play host to a viewing ceremony of the NCAA Playoff Selection show at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Mabee Room on campus at the student center.