Governors Overwhelm All-Conference Awards, Proving Austin Peay Football Dominance

Chris Parson, Joshua Sales Jr., Carson Smith, Jackson Head, Nick Hilliard, Montreze Smith Jr., and Ellis Ellis Jr. (APSU, Contributed)

It's been a strong season for Austin Peay State University football, and the numbers prove it. 

Seven Governors earned First Team All-United Athletic Conference honors, leading the entire league in first-team selections. Even better, two APSU players took home major individual awards: Carson Smith was named UAC Specialist of the Year, and Montreze Smith Jr. won UAC Freshman of the Year.

Leading the Conference

Austin Peay didn't just earn recognition—they dominated the All-Conference selections. The Governors had four first-team picks on offense, more than any other team in the conference. No other school had more than two offensive players selected for first-team honors. Overall, APSU led the league with seven total First Team All-UAC selections, while no other team had more than five.

Quarterback Chris Parson, offensive lineman Joshua Sales Jr., and kicker Carson Smith were all unanimous All-UAC selections, meaning every voter agreed they deserved the honor. Tight end Jackson Head, offensive lineman Nick Hilliard, linebacker Montreze Smith Jr., and defensive back Ellis Ellis Jr. also earned first-team spots.

Historic Achievements

Carson Smith, who was a Second Team All-UAC selection last year, became the first player in Austin Peay history to be named a conference specialist of the year. That's a big deal for the program and shows just how good he's been on the field this season.

Montreze Smith Jr., a redshirt freshman, is only the third player in Austin Peay history to be named a conference freshman of the year. He's also the first defensive player to win the award. The other two winners were quarterbacks Jeremiah Oatsvall in 2017 and Draylen Ellis in 2020, both of whom won the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year award.

Meet the Players

Chris Parson – Quarterback

Parson had an incredible first season at Austin Peay, leading the UAC in total offense (3,746 yards), total offense per game (312.2), points responsible for (222), and points responsible for per game (18.5). He also led the team in rushing with 168 carries for 743 yards and 14 touchdowns.

He set an APSU single-game record with 487 yards of total offense against No. 5 Tarleton State, which was also the eighth-best single-game mark in the FCS and the best in the UAC this season. Parson was the only UAC player to post 400-plus yards of total offense in a game this season.

Carson Smith – Kicker, UAC Specialist of the Year

Smith went 14-of-17 on field goals and a perfect 53-of-53 on extra points, scoring 95 points this season. His 14 made field goals matched the Austin Peay single-season record, and his 95 points scored rank as the fourth-best single-season mark in APSU history. He hit a season-long 50-yard field goal against Samford, which is tied for the ninth-longest field goal in program history.

Montreze Smith Jr. – Linebacker, UAC Freshman of the Year

Smith Jr. led Austin Peay in tackles (74), solo tackles (40), interceptions (3), and defensive touchdowns in his first season. He also ranked 14th in the UAC in total tackles and fourth in interceptions. He posted three double-digit tackle games this season, all in conference play, and recorded a standout performance against North Alabama with 12 tackles and two interceptions.

Jackson Head – Tight End

Head had 22 receptions for 303 yards and two touchdowns. He posted the best single-game performance by a tight end in Austin Peay history with seven receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown at Abilene Christian. His 132 receiving yards were the best single-game total by a tight end in APSU history.

Joshua Sales Jr. – Offensive Line

Sales Jr. was ranked the No. 1 tackle in the UAC by Pro Football Focus with a 70.9 grade. He started all 12 games and helped Austin Peay's offense rank 12th in the FCS in total offense and 15th in scoring offense.

Nick Hilliard – Offensive Line

Hilliard started all 12 games at right guard in his first season at Austin Peay. He was graded as the No. 14 overall guard by Pro Football Focus and the No. 5 pass blocking guard in the UAC with zero sacks allowed.

Ellis Ellis Jr. – Defensive Back

Ellis Jr. started all 12 games at cornerback and led the team with eight pass breakups. He ranked sixth in the FCS and led the UAC with two blocked kicks—one blocked field goal and one blocked PAT that was returned for a defensive two-point conversion.

What This Means for Clarksville

Austin Peay football is making waves in Clarksville and across the conference. These awards show that the Governors are building something special, and local fans have a lot to be proud of.

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