Nine members of the Culver-Stockton College football team have earned spots on the 2024 Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division all-conference team that was released by the league office Thursday afternoon.

Highlighting the selections were three first team selections, three second team selections and three honorable mentions sections. In addition, freshman linebacker Kaden Thomas was named the Freshman of the Year in the North Division.

Named to the first team were wide receiver Kyle Dixon, defensive end Kendall Fowler and defensive back Tyheim Merriel. Named on the second team were running back Demarion Cobb, Thomas, and cornerback Robert Jones. Safety Sonny Jenkins, offensive lineman Ryan Yabi and defensive end Malotumau Fano were honorable selections.

Dixon, a sophomore from Carlinville, Ill. (Carlinville HS / Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville), led the Wildcats with 60 receptions for 1,112 yards last season. He also led C-SC with 13 total touchdowns, including 12 receiving touchdowns. The 1,112 yards was second most in the 14-team Heart while his 60 receptions were second in the North Division and third overall. His 78 points scored was second-most in the division and tied for fifth overall. The 101.1 yards per game receiving were second most overall.

In addition, Dixon is only the fourth player in school history to register a 1,000-yard receiving season, and the 1,112 yards are third-most in school history. His 60 receptions are tied for seventh in a season while his 12 receiving touchdowns are second-most in a season, and his 13 touchdowns overall are tied for third-most in a single season.

Fowler, a graduate student from Birmingham, Ala. (Gardendale, HS), was named to the first team for the second consecutive season and the third time in his career. He totaled 72 total tackles, which was second on the team and eight-highest in the Heart. Fowler also garnered four sacks, which tied for the team lead, 7.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, three passes defended and one blocked kick.

In his career, Fowler totaled 169 total tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. In addition, Fowler had three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries to go along with four passes defended.

Merriel, a sophomore from Harvey, La. (West Jefferson HS), was named to the all-conference team for the first time after totaling 38 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. In addition, Merriel recorded two interceptions, forced a fumble, and had seven pass breakups, which was seventh highest in the league.

Thomas, a freshman from Tulsa, Okla. (Union HS), is the second Wildcat to be named freshman of the year under current Wildcat coach Tom Sallay. Andrew Rowe received the honor in 2019.

Thomas recorded a team-high 73 total tackles, which was the fourth-highest mark in the North Division and the seven-highest in the entire conference. Thomas registered half a sack, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and three passes defended.

Cobb, a senior from Racine, Wis. (St. Catherine's HS), registered a team-high 590 yards rushing on 138 attempts, averaging 4.3 yards per carry this season. In addition, Cobb scored five rushing touchdowns.

In his career, Cobb rushed for 1,454 yards on 358 carries, averaging 4.1 yards per carry, and scoring nine career touchdowns. His 358 carries are the sixth best in school history while his nine rushing touchdowns are sixth highest in the program's history.

Jones, a sophomore from St. Louis, Mo. (Duchesne HS), was named to the team as an athlete after recording 54 total tackles this season, including four tackles for loss. He also garnered eight pass breakups, intercepted two passes, and had two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned a school-record 97 yards for a touchdown against Clarke (Iowa) on Nov. 16. In addition, Jones averaged 17.4 yards on five punt returns and 16.7 yards on 38 kickoff returns.

Jenkins, a junior from Sarasota, Fla. (Manatee HS), had 49 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one interception this season. Fano, a sophomore from Honolulu, Hawaii (Radford HS), tied for the team lead with four sacks. He also had 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. Yabi, a red-shirt sophomore from Carol Stream, Ill. (Glenbard North HS), is a two-year starter on the offensive line. He was named to the team after missing all but one game last season due to injury.

The Wildcats finished the 2024 season with a 3-8 overall record and fourth in the seven-team North Division with a 3-3 division mark.