LEBANON, Tenn.--Junior safety Cannon Johnson was named the Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Year, leading a strong group of Phoenix All-Conference honorees that includes First Teamers Jarrius Rogers, Chazz Hunter, and Will Sanchez, and Second Team selections Drake Fisher, Jacob Cornejo and Daniel Doegan.

Johnson becomes just the third Defensive Player of the Year in program history, joining Heath Springer (1997) and Nathan Jernigan, who won back-to-back honors in 2015 and 2016. 

Johnson's breakout season cemented him as one of the league's premier defensive forces. The Maryville, Tenn., native led the MSC with 45 solo tackles and finished top-two in the conference in total tackles with 68. He added 4.0 sacks, fourth-best in the league as well as 11.0 tackles for a loss, also second best. Johnson had two interceptions, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery, anchoring a defensive unit that consistently delivered in tight games. 

Johnson also had two defensive touchdowns this season on his way to Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors twice this season against Reinhardt and Pikeville. He also was named the Tennessee Sports Writer's Association Player of the Week one time this season. 

Cumberland placed four players on the MSC First Team: Johnson, wide receiver Jarrius Rogers, linebacker Chazz Hunter, and left tackle Will Sanchez. 

Rogers, one of the most explosive receivers in the MSC, produced 601 receiving yards, fifth-best in the league. Rogers averaged a team-best 54.6 yards per game with six touchdowns, ranking among the national leaders in yards per catch at 23.1 per reception.

Hunter finished second on the team and tackles and fourth in the league with 62 total tackles. Hunter had 5.0 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble, while serving as one of the league's most consistent downhill defenders. He was named Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Week in Cumberland's win over the Cumberlands as well as delivered the game-winning tackle on a two-point conversion to hold off 6th-ranked Campbellsville at home. 

Senior left tackle Will Sanchez continued to cement his legacy as one of the most reliable offensive linemen in the Mid-South Conference, earning First Team All-MSC honors for the third time in his career. A cornerstone of Cumberland's offensive front, Sanchez anchored a unit that produced one of the league's most balanced attacks averaging 397.3 yards per game and ranking among the nation's top rushing offenses at 210.7 yards per contest. 

Right guard Drake Fisher, running back Jacob Cornejo and defensive back Daniel Doegan earned spots on the Second Team.

Drake Fisher earned Second Team All-Mid-South Conference recognition after anchoring the interior of a Cumberland offensive line that ranked among the league's most productive units. Fisher's physical presence and consistency in the run game helped the Phoenix average 210.7 rushing yards per contest, while his reliability in protection supported one of the MSC's most efficient passing attacks at 8.3 yards per attempt. 

Cornejo, a Second Team selection for the second season in a row, powered the Phoenix run game with 854 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, and 77.6 yards per contest, helping Cumberland finish 10th nationally in total rushing and 13th in rushing yards per game at 210.7.

Doegan delivered in the secondary, totaling 35 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and an interception to secure a Second Team defensive back slot.

Behind these performances, Cumberland pieced together one of its most balanced seasons in recent years, averaging 397.3 yards of offense per game, including 210.7 rushing yards, while scoring 31.5 points per contest. The Phoenix went a perfect 5-0 at home, capped by a record-setting 72-14 Senior Day win over Faulkner, the highest scoring output in program history.

Defensively, Cumberland held opponents to 346.4 yards per game, allowed just 130.5 rushing yards, and collected 11 interceptions, helping fuel a 7-4 overall finish, the first time Cumberland has had back-to-back seven win seasons since 2012-13.

2025 First Team All Mid-South Conference:

PLAYER	POSITION	SCHOOL
Roger McNeer	Offensive Line	Cumberlands (Ky.)
Larry Montgomery	Offensive Line	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Daulton Peetz	Offensive Line	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Will Sanchez	Offensive Line	Cumberland (Tenn.)
Jaden Taylor	Offensive Line	Bethel (Tenn.)
Jack Busey	Tight End	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Roland Hazard Jr.	Wide Receiver	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Jarrius Rogers	Wide Receiver	Cumberland (Tenn.)
Khia Sherrard	Wide Receiver	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Max Gainey	All Purpose	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Tate Rice	Quarterback	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Tre' Bass	Running Back	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Davontaye Saunders	Running Back	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Zachary Clutch	Kicker	Bethel (Tenn.)
AJ Alozie	Defensive Line	Faulkner (Ala.)
Darius Moore	Defensive Line	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Allen Parrish	Defensive Line	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Jamell Smith	Defensive Line	Georgetown (Ky.)
Chazz Hunter	Linebacker	Cumberland (Tenn.)
Cameron Rankins	Linebacker	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Ellis Reed	Linebacker	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Hunter Zirkle	Linebacker	Cumberlands (Ky.)
Khaleb Bridges	Defensive Back	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
DQ Brown	Defensive Back	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Cannon Johnson	Defensive Back	Cumberland (Tenn.)
Durrell Miller	Defensive Back	Bethel (Tenn.)
John Carter Myers	Defensive Back	Georgetown (Ky.)
Ashton Auker	Return Specialist	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Drew Rader	Punter	Georgetown (Ky.)
Roger McNeer	Long Snapper	Cumberlands (Ky.)

 


2025 Second Team All Mid-South Conference:

PLAYER	POSITION	SCHOOL
Drake Fisher	Offensive Line	Cumberland (Tenn.)
Dorein Greer	Offensive Line	Georgetown (Ky.)
Preston Parks	Offensive Line	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Shadie Rankhorn	Offensive Line	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Marquez Washington	Offensive Line	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Seth Phillips	Tight End	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Clayton Davis	Wide Receiver	Georgetown (Ky.)
Ray Harvey	Wide Receiver	Bethel (Tenn.)
Michael Petty	Wide Receiver	Cumberlands (Ky.)
Ashton Auker	All Purpose	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Jett Engle	Quarterback	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Guy Bailey	Running Back	Georgetown (Ky.)
Jacob Cornejo	Running Back	Cumberland (Tenn.)
Colin Fratus	Kicker	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Malik Brown	Defensive Line	Bethel (Tenn.)
Ahmaury Calhoun	Defensive Line	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Troy Churchill	Defensive Line	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Tyler Snell	Defensive Line	Georgetown (Ky.)
Brylan Jordan	Linebacker	Bethel (Tenn.)
Darrien Lewis	Linebacker	Bethel (Tenn.)
Chase Maynard	Linebacker	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Clayton Melcher	Linebacker	Georgetown (Ky.)
Ronald Carr	Defensive Back	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Aaron Cyrus	Defensive Back	Campbellsville (Ky.)
Daniel Doegan	Defensive Back	Cumberland (Tenn.)
Howie Gant	Defensive Back	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Caleb Williams	Defensive Back	Faulkner (Ala.)
Max Gainey	Return Specialist	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Braxton Berrey	Punter	Faulkner (Ala.)
Ben Banks	Long Snapper	Campbellsville (Ky.)