CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri landed eight players on the 2020-21 All-Ohio Valley Conference football teams, the league announced Thursday.

Running back Geno Hess, wide receiver Zack Smith, guard Jaden Rosenthall, defensive tackle Bryson Donnell and punter Zach Haynes earned first-team honors, while center Shyron Rodgers, outside linebacker Omardrick Douglas and punt returner Shabari Davis claimed second-team accolades.

Hess, who made the league's All-Newcomer Team in 2019, leads the OVC and the Football Championship Subdivision with 12 rushing touchdowns. He is first in the conference in scoring and ninth nationally with nine points per contest. Hess finished second among OVC leaders and rated ninth in the FCS with 666 rushing yards (82.1 ypg), as well. Additionally, Hess scored multiple rushing touchdowns three times this season and ran for a season-best 128 yards at Southern Illinois (Oct. 30).

Smith finished as the Redhawks top receiver with 38 catches for 403 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 50.4 yards per game and 10.6 yards per catch. Smith ranked fifth in the OVC in receptions per game (4.8) and ninth in receiving yards per contest (50.4). He was named OVC Player of the Week after establishing new career-highs in receptions (10) and receiving yards (173) against Tennessee Tech (Mar. 28). Smith later won Co-OVC Specialist of the Week honors on Apr. 13.

Rosenthall started seven games at left guard and Rodgers made eight starts at center helping lead a SEMO offense that ranked second in the OVC in scoring with 27.6 points per game. The Redhawks also boasted the league's second-best rushing offense with 147.5 yards per contest. 

Donnell made five starts on the defensive line and was SEMO's fourth-leading tackler with 41 stops. He added three tackles for loss, a sack and four quarterback hurries. Donnell also blocked a kick, forced a fumble and had one fumble recovery.  

A walk-on, Haynes led the OVC and ranked 15th in the FCS with 42.2 yards per punt. He punted 36 times for 1,521 yards and dropped 15 of his punts inside the 20-yard line. Haynes had a season-long 53-yard punt at Eastern Illinois (Feb. 28).

Douglas notched 26 tackles with 14 solo stops in six starts at outside linebacker. He also added 3.5 tackles for loss, a team-high five pass breakups and blocked a kick.

Davis returned 10 punts for 95 yards and gained 9.5 yards per return. He ranked third in the OVC in punt return average. Davis' longest punt return was 22 yards against Murray State (Mar. 7).

This year's specialty award-winners include Austin Peay wide receiver DeAngelo Wilson (Offensive Player of the Year), Jacksonville State safety Nicario Harper (Defensive Player of the Year), Austin Peay quarterback Jaylen Ellis (Co-Freshman of the Year), Tennessee State running back Devon Starling (Co-Freshman of the Year) and Murray State's Dean Hood (Roy Kidd Coach of the Year).