Draft Scout Stephen F. Austin Player News, College Football: Stephen F. Austin

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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Stephen F. Austin

Previous 15 Notes

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11/26/19 - Storm Ruiz, Sr/2020, Stephen F. Austin + More +

NOV 25 SOUTHLAND SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Storm Ruiz, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., Kicker, League City, Texas,...Ruiz played a vital role in a rivalry game win over Northwestern State, accounting for nearly half of the 'Jacks points with three made field goals and three extra-points. He converted three-pointers from distances of 54, 41 and 44 yards, finishing his career as the Southland Conference leader in career field goal percentage (78.1) and wrapping up 116-for-116 on PATs. Honorable Mention: Gavin Lasseigne, Nicholls; Hayden Ray, Central Arkansas; Devonte Williams, Southeastern La. Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school's sports information director. Voting for one's own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on 25 percent of ballots. - Southland Football

Sr/2020

K Storm Ruiz, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: Southland Football
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11/21/19 - Xavier Gipson, Sr/2023, Stephen F. Austin + More +

Josh McGowen ran 158 yards and a score on 22 carries, Xavier Gipson had seven receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown, and Stephen F. Austin beat Northwestern State 32-20 in the season finale for both teams on Thursday night. Thomas Hutchings added 75 yards rushing, including a 7-yard TD, for Stephen F. Austin. Storm Ruiz made a career-long 54-yard field goal midway through the first quarter and three plays later Gary Sampson recovered a fumble at the Northwestern State 13 to set up Hutchings' touchdown run before Ruiz added a 41-yarder to make it 13-0 going into the second quarter.

McGowen scored on a 20-yard run and, on the first play from scrimmage after the Lumberjacks (2-9, 2-6 Southland Conference) recovered an onside kick, Trae Self hit Gipson in stride for a 55-yard TD to make it 27-0 with 10:39 left in the first half. Shelton Eppler threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Price to cut Northwestern State's deficit to 27-7 at halftime but Gary Sampson strip-sacked Eppler for a safety and then Ruiz kicked a 44-yard field goal to make it 32-7 with 8:48 left in the third quarter. Eppler was 27-of-50 passing for 333 yards and two touchdowns and Quan Shorts had nine receptions for 132 yards and a score for Northwestern State (3-8, 3-5). - AP College Football

Sr/2023

WR Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: AP College Football
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11/09/19 - Xavier Gipson, Sr/2023, Stephen F. Austin + More +

Xavier Gipson caught four passes for 132 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown to help Stephen F. Austin beat Incarnate Word 31-24 on Saturday night. Cam Arnold connected with Gipson in stride on a go route for a 70-yard TD pass that made it 28-21 for the Lumberjacks (2-8, 2-5 Southland) with 13:26 left in the fourth quarter. Storm Ruiz kicked a 38-yard field goal to extend the lead to 31-21. Carson Mohr answered with a 32-yard field goal for the Cardinals (5-5, 4-4) with 5:19 left in the game. Stephen F. Austin took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter after Thomas Hutchings scored on a 2-yard run and Arnold took a 20-yard keeper into the end zone. Incarnate Word scored all three of its touchdowns in the second quarter to lead 21-14 at half. Hutchings scored on a 21-yard run to tie it at 21 early in the third quarter. Jon Copeland completed 35 of 62 passes for 349 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Cardinals. - AP College Football

Sr/2023

WR Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: AP College Football
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11/08/19 - Xavier Gipson, Sr/2023, Stephen F. Austin + More +

2019 JERRY RICE AWARD WATCH LIST: Xavier Gipson, WR/KR, Stephen F. Austin: 37 receptions, 619 yards, 4 TDs; 21.6 KO return average; 109.7 all-purpose yards per game (9 games),...Through his debut collegiate campaign, the Dallas, Texas, product has distinguished himself as not just one of the best freshmen in the Southland Conference but among all FCS competitors as well. Over the course of his first nine games as collegian, Gipson tops SFA's charts in receiving yards (619), receiving yards per game (68.8), receptions (37) and receiving touchdowns (four).

Not only has Gipson served as a potent weapon for the 'Jacks on offense, his special teams prowess is eye-catching as well. A kickoff return specialist, too, Gipson has accumulated a total of 345 return yards which are the fifth-most in the Southland and the 52nd-highest total on the FCS scene this season. The freshman's all-purpose yardage average of 109.7 per game ranks as the fifth-best in the Southland and the 56th-best among FCS student-athletes. - STATS FCS/Stephen F. Austin Football

Sr/2023

WR Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: STATS FCS/Stephen F. Austin Football
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10/23/19 - Brian Maurer, rSr/2025, Stephen F. Austin + More +

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt says quarterback Brian Maurer is "probably doubtful" for Saturday's game with South Carolina after the freshman sustained a concussion in each of the Volunteers' last two contests. Pruitt updated Maurer's status Wednesday by noting the freshman hasn't taken any reps in practice this week. Pruitt had said Monday that he'd know more about Maurer's availability in the next few days. Tennessee's only other scholarship quarterbacks are junior Jarrett Guarantano and redshirt freshman J.T. Shrout.

Pruitt says he's giving both the same amount of reps in practice this week. Maurer has been knocked out of each of his three starts since unseating Guarantano as Tennessee's first-team quarterback. Maurer left a 35-13 loss to No. 1 Alabama last week late in the first quarter. Guarantano replaced him but was benched in favor of Shrout midway through the fourth period after his fourth-and-goal fumble was returned 100 yards for an Alabama touchdown. - AP College Football

rSr/2025

QB Brian Maurer, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: AP College Football
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10/01/19 - Amad Murray, rSr/2024, Stephen F. Austin + More +

SEPT 30/WEEK 5 SOUTHLAND DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stephen F. Austin's Amad Murray, R-Fr., Defensive End, Huntsville, Texas,...Murray played a vital role in a Stephen F. Austin defense that held Lamar to just three points through the first three quarters of Saturday's 24-17 win over the Cardinals. The redshirt freshman defensive end tallied two of the ‘Jacks' four sacks, both of which came on third-downs tops. Murray is the first SFA player this season to record multiple sacks in a game. Honorable Mention: Scean Mustin, Sam Houston State; Alexis Ramos, Southeastern Louisiana; Tre Richardson, UIW. - Southland Conference Football

rSr/2024

DE Amad Murray, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: Southland Conference Football
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09/29/19 - DaLeon Ward, rSr/2022, Stephen F. Austin + More +

Quarterback Trae Self passed for 291 yards but it was running back Da'Leon Ward who threw the winning touchdown as Stephen F. Austin defeated Lamar 24-17 on Saturday night. Trailing for the first time in the game, Stephen F. Austin drove 75 yards in 1:29 and regained the lead when Ward hit Ryan Waugh with a 4-yard pass for the touchdown. Self ran for two points and a 24-17 lead for the Lumberjacks (1-4, 1-1 Southland). Lamar (2-3, 0-2) went ahead 17-16 when Jordan Hoy threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Mason Sikes with 6:44 remaining. The Cardinals' other touchdown came via a 15-yard pick-6 by Kyron Norwood early in the fourth quarter. Hoy completed 19 of 36 passes for 203 yards and matched Myles Wanza with 54 yards for the team rushing lead. Ward led the Lumberjacks with 55 yards rushing with one touchdown. Storm Ruiz kicked three field goals for SFA. - AP College Football

rSr/2022

RB DaLeon Ward, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: AP College Football
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09/25/19 - Storm Ruiz, Sr/2020, Stephen F. Austin + More +

SEPT 9/WEEK 2 SOUTHLAND SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stephen F. Austin's Storm Ruiz, Sr., Placekicker - League City, Texas,...Responsible for more than half of SFA's point total, Ruiz banged home all four of his field-goal tries, marking a career high for the senior from League City, Texas. He added a pair of extra points in the ‘Jacks home opener and became the first SFA kicker to make four field goals in a game since Nov. 3, 2012. Honorable Mention: Bailey Giffen, Lamar; Bailey Raborn, McNeese; Taylor Wallace, Central Arkansas. - Southland Conference Football

Sr/2020

K Storm Ruiz, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: Southland Conference Football
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08/30/19 - Alize Ward, rSr/2022, Stephen F. Austin + More +

All-America S Alize Ward is lost for the season following a non-contact knee injury occurred this month in practice. - Houston Chronicle

rSr/2022

FS Alize Ward, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: Houston Chronicle
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Ward will miss the season and was already considered a priority free agent and he could either come out for the 2020 draft or return for the 2021 draft.

08/15/19 - Alize Ward, rSr/2022, Stephen F. Austin + More +

2019 PRESEASON PHIL STEELE/DRAFT SCOUT ALL-FCS FOURTH TEAM: Alize Ward, Stephen F. Austin, Sr.,...Ward finished second on the team in total tackles (58) last season. The San Diego, California (DeSoto HS), native led the 'Jacks in solo stops (36) in 2018 and claimed 2.5 tackles for loss to go along with an interception, forced fumble and pair of pass breakups. - Stephen F. Austin Football

rSr/2022

FS Alize Ward, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: Stephen F. Austin Football
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07/16/19 - Alize Ward, rSr/2022, Stephen F. Austin + More +

2019 PRESEASON ALL-SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM (COACHES): DB Alize Ward, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., San Diego, Calif.,...Ward, who has claimed back-to-back All-Southland Second Team spots the previous two years, finished second on the team in total tackles (58) last season. The San Diego, California (DeSoto HS), native led the 'Jacks in solo stops (36) in 2018 and claimed 2.5 tackles for loss to go along with an interception, forced fumble and pair of pass breakups.

He ranked 20th among all Southland defenders with 6.4 tackles per game, while second among SFA kickoff returners with 254 yards on 11 returns. Although not meeting NCAA minimums, Ward would have tied for 42nd nationally in yards per kickoff return (23.1) and ranked third in the Southland in that category. He had three games with 10 or more tackles and racked up over 50 yards on kickoff returns on two separate occasions. Ward notched six or more tackles five times last fall and had at least four tackles in eight different games. - Stephen F. Austin Football

rSr/2022

FS Alize Ward, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: Stephen F. Austin Football
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It's going to be interesting to see what kind of road grades Ward gets back during the season. He's a legit Day 3 possibility and All-Star Bowl candidate now ... but will he hold that status, even with a big year and three-to-five top underclassmen FS/SS in the mix come Jan 18th.

07/16/19 - Storm Ruiz, Sr/2020, Stephen F. Austin + More +

2019 PRESEASON ALL-SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM (COACHES): PK Storm Ruiz, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., League City, Texas,...A 2017 Fred Mitchell Award Finalist and 2018 September and October Fred Mitchell Award watch list member, Ruiz served as SFA's starting placekicker for the third-straight season a year ago. He went 9-for-12 (.750) on field goal attempts in 2018 and was an unblemished 22-for-22 on PATs, finishing 7-for-8 from beyond 30 yards and 4-for-5 from over 40 yards.

The League City, Texas (Clear Springs HS), native was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals between 40-49 yards en route to ranking 33rd nationally and fifth in the Southland in field goal percentage. Accounting for 49 of the Lumberjacks' 181 points on the season, Ruiz averaged 4.8 points per game to rank eighth in the leauge in kick scoring. He also ranked 56th in the nation and sixth in the conference in field goals per game (0.90). This season, Ruiz has a chance to become the only current FCS kicker to convert every PAT throughout his four-year collegiate career. - Stephen F. Austin Football

Sr/2020

K Storm Ruiz, Stephen F. Austin
News Source: Stephen F. Austin Football
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06/19/19 - DaLeon Ward, rSr/2022, Stephen F. Austin + More +

Da'Leon Ward, who was Texas Tech's primary running back for parts of the 2016 and 2018 seasons, announced Thursday he plans to transfer to Stephen F. Austin. Ward was among four players suspended by Tech coach Matt Wells early in spring practice and was among three who were never reinstated. He put his name into the NCAA transfer portal in early June. As a true freshman, the Dallas Skyline graduate took over as Tech's primary running back late in the 2016 season and finished with 103 carries for a team-high 428 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury redshirted Ward in 2017, directing him to focus on academics and off-field maturity. Ward carried 79 times for 341 yards and three TDs last season. He had 17 carries for 90 yards in the season opener against Mississippi, but then missed half the season with a groin injury. He also had a combined 44 pass receptions for 327 yards and one touchdown during the two seasons he played. - Lubbock Avalanche Journal

rSr/2022