Gray Highlights Six SE All-GAC Selections

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern football places six players on the All-Great American Conference team, highlighted by Marquis Gray picking up his second-straight first team honor on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Gray was the only Savage Storm first team selection, while DJ Brown and Stephane Zabie were both second team picks.
 
Hunter Hawthorne, Cameron Tate, and Ryan Hirt each earned honorable mention honors.
 
Gray, a senior wide receiver from Tyler, Texas, picked up his second-straight first team All-GAC selection after posting 30 catches f0r 447 yards with five touchdowns despite missing two full games and part of a third. He ranked in the top 10 in the league in yards per catch at 14.9 ypc and he boasts a season-long reception of 62 yards. His five scores leads the team and ranks top five in the league.
 
Brown, a sophomore running back from Leonard, Texas, finished the season strong and led the Storm in rushing with 671 yards on 144 carries with a 4.7 yards per carry average. He would find the endzone four times on the ground.  He would also add 94 yards through the air on 18 catches with a pair of touchdowns.
 
Zabie, a senior offensive lineman from Austin, Texas, paved the way for the Storm rushing attack as left tackle, with the team putting up 1,362 yards on the ground and 2,162 yards through the air with him protecting the quarterback's blindside.
 
Hawthorne, a senior wide receiver from Bells, Texas, would lead the Storm in receiving with 43 catches for 585 total yards and two touchdowns.  He would average 13.6 yards per catch and was fourth in the GAC in total receiving yards and seventh in catches.
 
Tate, a senior linebacker from Forney, Texas, led SE in tackles with 69 stops on the season, 39 of them solo, with two tackles for loss, an interception, four pass breakups, and a blocked kick. His 6.3 tackles per game was tied for 10^th best in the GAC on the season.
 
Ryan Hirt, a sophomore running back from Coppell, Texas, earned recognition as a special teams and utility player, racking up 10 tackles all in kick coverage on the year while also serving as the team's number two running back, finishing the year with 370 yards on 56 carries for an average of 6.6 yards per carry with a team-high seven rushing touchdowns.
 
Southeastern closed out the 2023 season with a 5-6 record, ending on a high note with a 24-14 win over rival east central in the season finale.