Davis Second Four-Time Honoree; Hays & Spies Three-Time Picks

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team has placed seven players on the 2023 All-MIAA squad.

The league’s head coaches vote on the makeup of the team and cannot vote for their own players.

Super senior defensive lineman Tell Spies (Mullen) leads the way as he was a second-team honoree. He is now one of nine Lopers to have earned All-MIAA honors three times in his career; that group includes his older brother, Tye (2016-18). Next, super senior offensive lineman Hunter Hays (McCook) and super senior cornerback Armani Webster (Chicago) were selected to the third-team. Hays is also a three-time all-league pick with Webster named for the first time.

Finally, graduate quarterback TJ Davis (Colorado Springs), graduate linebacker Zach Schlager (McCook), super senior safety Tre O’Guinn (Peoria, Ariz.) and junior defensive end Quillan Felton (Lithonia, Ga.) all were given honorable mention accolades. Davis joins linebacker Tyke Kozeal (2013-16) as the only Lopers to be four-time All-MIAA honorees with O’Guinn and Schlager being tabbed for a second time. Felton was a first-year Loper after transferring in from Butler (Kan.) C.C.

Spies, who began his career at FCS-member South Dakota, moved inside this year and promptly had 52 tackles including 9.5 for loss He led UNK in sacks (6.0) and blocked kicks (three) while ranking second in TFL’s and QB hurries (five) and was third in overall stops. Finally, Spies amassed 143 tackles in his UNK career including the sixth most sacks (16.5) by a Loper.

The versatile Hays, who played as a true freshman for Fort Hays State in 2018, played just about everywhere along the o-line for the Lopers this fall. He started every game and was part of an offense that averaged 19.6 points and 302.4 yards per game. Next, Webster had a big sixth-year to the tune of 52 tackles, seven pass breakups, two interceptions, 1.5 TFL’s, a forced fumble and a QB hurry. He led UNK in PBU’s and INT’s and was third in solo tackles (36).

Rewriting the Loper books to the tune of 123 career offensive TD’s and 10,887 yards of offense, Davis final season featured 221 yards a week. He had seven of the team’s 12 rushing scores, 14 of UNK’s 15 TD tosses and completed 60% of his passes. Davis also led the team in rushing and even played some receiver.

Missing 2022 due to injury, Schlager had 66 tackles (39 solo) including 13 in a season-ending loss at Northwest Missouri. The former Colorado State Ram and Nebraska Cornhusker ranked second on the team in tackles while also having three QB hurries and two PBU’s. Finally, he had 139 tackles in a two-year Loper career.

O’Guinn, after stops at three other schools, led UNK in tackles in 2023 with 70 (40 solo). He had four PBU’s, a forced fumble and TFL. Battling through injuries, he also totaled 139 tackles in his two-years in Kearney. Finally, Felton had three sacks in the season finale at Northwest to push his season TFL total to a team-best 10.5 (4.0 overall sacks). He appeared in all 11 games and had 44 tackles (21 solo) as well as five PBU’s, four QB hurries, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

UNK, going 3-8 in the recently completed season, begins winter workouts next month with spring ball slated for March 2024.