CHARLESTON, S.C. --- Tusculum College defensive
end Caushaud Lyons has been selected to play in the 2015 Medal
Honor Bowl this Saturday afternoon at Johnson Hagood Stadium on the
campus of The Citadel. The college all-star game will kick off at
2:30 p.m. and will be televised on the NBC Sports Network.
Lyons, a 6-5, 295-pound native of Ellenwood, Georgia, will be
playing on the National Team, which will be coached by former
Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey.
Lyons is one of a handful of small college stars invited to the national all-star game. The team rosters are primarily dotted with players from the NCAA's FBS conferences, including 38 players from either SEC or ACC schools.
This week will give Lyons an opportunity to demonstrate his ability to play at the professional level. He has already drawn attention from several NFL teams this fall.
Lyons has accounted for one of the finest seasons ever by a TC defensive lineman. He led the Pioneers with 89 tackles in 2014, which are a new school single-season record for a defensive lineman. Of those stops, 19 were for loss, which are the second most in TC history and most by a Pioneer lineman. His 1.5 tackles for loss per game average led the SAC and were 40th in the country.
The 2014 consensus All-America and All-Region pick averaged 8.1 tackles per game, which are most in the South Atlantic Conference and Super Region 2 for defensive linemen and fourth most in the nation (NCAA II). His 8.1 tackles for loss are third in the league overall. He also averaged 0.77 sacks per contest, which is second in the SAC and 38th in NCAA II.
This past fall he recorded 10 or more tackles on four occasions, including a career-high 15 stops against Carson-Newman. A week later, he posted seven tackles, including four for loss and two sacks in Tusculum's 14-10 road win at Wingate. Against the Bulldogs, he made five quarterback hurries and broke up a pass. He was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Week and the Tennessee Sportswriters Association College Player of the Week.
Lyons wrapped up his collegiate career with 181 tackles, which are a new Tusculum record for a defensive lineman. His 28 career tackles for loss are 10th in school history and second most by a TC lineman. His 13 career sacks are tied for seventh in program history (3rd for defensive lineman). He also was credited for two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four passes defended, including an interception.
Lyons finished one of eight national finalists for the Gene Upshaw Award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division II lineman in the country. He was also national finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, which honors the top small college defensive player of the year for NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA.
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