Senior safeties Wesley Eckles and Gary Riggs of NSU were second-team selections in voting by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

Receiving honorable mention recognition from Northwestern were sophomore tight end Justin Aldredge, senior fullback Dante Austin, junior offensive guard Michael Booker, true freshman kick returner Bradley Brown, senior linebacker Blake Delcambre, senior receiver Darius Duffy, senior linebacker and special teams standout Isaiah Greenhouse and senior linebacker Rogers Loche.

Quarterbacks Derrick Fourroux of McNeese State, a senior, and Jeremy Moses of Stephen F. Austin, a junior, shared the SLC Player of the Year accolades.  SFA's J.C. Harper, a former NSU assistant coach in 2002, won coach of the year honors for leading the Lumberjacks from an 0-11 season in 2007 to a 9-2 record and a share of the SLC title this year.

Smith, a 6-1, 301-pounder from Matthews and Central Lafourche High, capped his career with first-team All-SLC recognition after earning second-team honors as a sophomore. He had 50 tackles, six for a negative 50 yards, including four sacks for minus 25 yards. Smith led the team with 15 quarterback hurries and blocked an extra point. He was voted by teammates as a defensive permanent team captain.

"Al anchored our defense," said head coach Bradley Dale Peveto. "He had a great senior year. There are a lot of really good defensive linemen in our conference and to make first-team all-conference is quite an achievement. Almost every week, after we played, the other offensive line coach would tell us what a load Big Al was for them to handle."

Eckles, a 6-0, 186-pound Mansfield product, took second-team honors after winning first-team recognition last year. He led the Demons with three interceptions and was fourth on the team with 70 tackles. Eckles was also elected as a permanent defensive team captain after finishing with 224 career tackles.

Riggs was also a second-team All-SLC selection in 2007. The 6-2, 215-pound Jennings product was third on the NSU squad with 85 tackles, a career high, giving him 272 in his career.

Smith, Eckles and Riggs were all three-year starters.

Aldredge had a breakout year in his first season at tight end. The 5-11, 215-pound Ruston-Cedar Creek sophomore led NSU with four touchdown receptions and ranked third on the team with 25 catches for 328 yards. He also scored another TD on a 1-yard run.

Austin, a 5-10, 249-pound four-year letterwinner from Galveston, Texas, and Ball High School earned his recognition for his blocking ability. He had four receptions for 52 yards and did not get a carry in his senior season.

Booker, a two-year starter after transferring from Oklahoma State before last season, continued to be a stalwart for NSU on the offensive line. The 6-3, 314 product of Paris, Texas and North Lamar High played both guard slots for NSU, mostly on the left side.

Brown, a 5-10, 170-pounder receiver and kick returner from Baton Rouge-Capitol High, had immediate impact in his first collegiate season. His 22.2 kickoff return average came on 26 runbacks and combined with his receiving production to make him the Demons' leader in all-purpose yardage with an 86.3 yards per game average. Brown ranked second on the team with 27 receptions for 356 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Delcambre topped NSU with 94 tackles and also led in tackles for loss (8) and sacks (4). He had 11 quarterback hurries and led NSU with three forced fumbles. The senior from New Iberia, a three-year starter and four-year letterman, finished his Demon career with 276 tackles, including 19.5 for lost yards.

Duffy broke the school single-season receptions record by making 54 snags, topping by two the total of Nathan Black in 2001. Duffy, a 5-10, 198-pound senior from Lafayette-Northside, also led NSU with 486 yards receiving.

Greenhouse made the All-SLC roster based on his fantastic performances on special teams, particularly kick coverage units. Many opponents over the last two seasons dedicated two and three blockers trying, mostly unsuccessfully, to slow him down. The 6-2, 232-pound senior from Marksville had 32 tackles this season.

Delcambre, Duffy and Greenhouse were also among the permanent team captains elected by NSU's players.

Loche, a rugged and cerebral 5-11, 235-pound linebacker from Bastrop, was second on the team with 92 takcles. He had four tackles for minus 48 yards, snared an interception, had two pass breakups, blocked a field goal, forced a fumble and had six quarterback hurries.

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