AUSTINTOWN - Five Wilmington College football players earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors, voted by the league coaches, the league announced today (November 25).

Sophomore Jeremy Duncan (Cincinnati, OH/Archbishop Moeller) became the first Wilmington offensive player to earn a special award from the league. In addition to being named first-team All-OAC, Duncan won the Ed Sherman Most Outstanding Receiver Award. He was the only receiver in the league to reach the 1,000-yard plateau, finishing with 1,184 yards with eight touchdowns. He set a league single-game record with 327 yards against Muskingum. His 118.4 yards per game led the OAC, and is seventh nationally.

"For Jeremy Duncan to be named Outstanding Receiver in the OAC is an incredible honor for him," said WC head coach Stacey Hairston. "It is a true testament of what kind of season he had, despite being on a team that didn't win a game says even more about what he has done this year. There were some amazing receivers this year in the OAC, and I believe any one of the top four could have won this award. That shows the respect that he has garnered from the rest of the OAC coaches. I am extremely happy for him and I look forward to the next two years with him."

Duncan is the first offensive player since Marque Jones, Jr. and Wes Anders in 2007 to earn first-team All-OAC honors. In addition, he becomes just the third Wilmington football player to earn an OAC special award. Chad Otte (2007) and Hall of Famer Antonio Broadnax (2000) earned the Lee Tressel Most Outstanding Defensive Back Award.

In addition to Duncan, sophomore Tarrell Starckey (Richmond, VA/Highland Springs) earned first-team All-OAC honors on defense. He is the first defensive player since Bryce Martin in 2010 to claim first-team defensive laurels. Starckey led the league with 126 tackles and was seventh with 10.5 tackles for loss. His 12.6 tackles per game are seventh nationally.

"Having two players be named 1st Team All OAC is a measurement of just how talented those two were this year," said Hairston. "Defensively, for Tarrell Starckey to named first-team All-OAC at linebacker is once again an incredible honor. The coaches in the OAC voted Tarrell as first team even though as a team, we struggled on defense this year. They recognize how talented he is and what kind of season he had. Tarrell is as good as they come at the linebacker position. As a defensive athlete, I believe he is not only one of the top in the OAC, but he is one of the top defensive athletes in the nation, that being my opinion of course."

Senior defensive lineman Aaron Day (Cincinnati, OH/Walnut Hills) was named second team All-OAC after recording 10.5 tackles per loss, good for second in the OAC, and 85 tackles. His 8.5 stops per game were ninth-best in the OAC.

"It is a great tribute to what he has done this year," said Hairston. "I would call this year, the year of the defensive lineman in the OAC, because there were so many great players. In most years, Aaron's stats would probably have gotten him a first team bid. But when you look at the long list of players, in the OAC, that had outstanding years on teams that were either unbeaten or lost one or two games this year, it is evidence that Aaron Day himself had an exceptional year and the other OAC coaches recognized it. I am happy for Aaron and his accomplishments this year."

Two players – defensive lineman Donnie Ary (Jamestown, OH/Greeneview) and punter Brandon Arehart (Wilmington, OH/Wilmington) – were named honorable mention. It was the third consecutive year the OAC honored Ary as he earned second team honors in 2012, and was honorable mention in 2011. He finished the season with 46 tackles, including 1.5 sacks.

"Coming into this year, Donnie Ary was clearly our best defensive lineman being named All OAC two years in a row," said Hairston. "But he was doubled team and triple teamed a lot this year and didn't have quite as many stats. With him getting so much attention, that allowed his teammate Aaron to have a lot of one-on-one battles, which he took advantage of. I believe Donnie could have easily been named 1st team OAC, but since this year was loaded with defensive lineman who had great years, he has fallen to Honorable Mention. Being named All OAC three years in a row is an accomplishment that not many athletes get." 

It's the first time Arehart earned OAC recognition. He averaged 36.4 yards per punt with a long of 55 yards with nine fair catches and five placed inside the 20. It was also his best season of his career as a quarterback, finishing with 2,557 yards on 171-of-357 passing with 16 touchdowns.

"Brandon was very consistent this year punting the ball," said Hairston. "He punted the ball 60 times without having one blocked. He is very deserving of his All OAC award."

2013 All-OAC Football Teams

• OAC Coach of the Year: Vince Kehres, Mount Union & Tom Arth, John Carroll
• OAC Assistant Coach of the Year: Geoff Dartt, Mount Union & Brandon Staley, John Carroll
• Bob Packard Award (top offensive back): Cartel Brooks, Heidelberg
• Ken Wable Award (top offensive lineman): Quentin Rembert, Heidelberg
• Ed Sherman Award (top receiver): Jeremy Duncan, Wilmington
• Paul Hoernemann Award (top defensive lineman): Matt Fechko, Mount Union & Ben Poirier, Heidelberg
• Gene Slaugher Award (top linebacker): Matt Feeney, John Carroll
• Lee J. Tressel Award (top defensive back): Randy Greenwood, John Carroll

All-OAC First Team
WR: Aramis Greenwood (JCU), Jeremy Duncan (WILM), Jack Nicholls (MTU)
TE: Luc Meacham (MTU)
C: Alex Banschroeder (HEID)
OL: Quentin Rembert (HEID), Austin Hunter (HEID), Denny Ardman (MUSK), Jason Cook (BW)
QB: Kevin Burke (MTU), Mark Myers (JCU)
RB: DaQuan Grobsmith (JCU), Tim Conner (MAR), Cartel Brooks (HEID)
K: Kreimir Ivkovic (JCU)
DL: Frank Pines (JCU), Ben Poirier (HEID), Zach Grieves (OTT), Matt Fechko (MTU), Tom Lally (MTU)
LB: Matt Feeney (JCU), Mitch Krotz (JCU), Adam Cepik (BERG), Tarrell Starkey (WILM), Jonathan Gonell (MTU)
DB: Randy Greenwood (JCU), Darell Jones (MUSK), Alex Kocheff (MTU), Tre Jones (MTU)
P: Matt Harmon (BW)

All-OAC Second Team
WR: Donteea Dye (HEID), Kirby Harris (MAR), Devon Price (ONU), Josiah Holt (BW), Steve Carpenter (OTT)
TE: Wes Rataiczak (MUSK)
C: Breen Clulivan (JCU), James Kent (MTU)
OL: Aaron Short (JCU), Mike Lehman (HEID), Tito Jeffries (MAR), Johnny Cannell (MTU)
QB: Mike Mees (HEID)
RB: Justin Magazine (ONU), Alex Coleman (CAP), Bradley Mitchell (MTU)
DL: David Porter (JCU), Will Nunnally (HEID), Aaron Day (WILM), Luke Riemenschneider (BW), Ted Rosalva (MTU)
LB: Damond Goggins (MUSK), Jake Hammer (MAR), Dillon Kwiat (ONU), David Flegal (BW)"
DB: Jovon Dawson (JCU), Mitch Kelly (BERG), Ryan Reid (ONU), Joshua Scott (MTU)
P: Sam Green (MUSK)
Special Teams: Choe Samba (JCU), Ryan Fischer (BERG)

All-OAC Honorable Mention
DB: Anthony Cicione (CAP), Brody Zangaro (JCU)
DL: Steve Kenny (ONU), Donnie Ary (WILM)
FB: Aaron Kapelka (BERG)
LB: Dan O'Brien (BW), Matt Byrne (HEID), Hank Spencer (MTU), Austin Jones (OTT)
OL: Alex Lovasz (BW), Caleb Hitchcock (MAR), Sam Lucas (MUSK)
QB: Pat Angle (ONU), Ben Sizemore (OTT)
RB: Brent Walton (CAP)
TE: Josh Llaneza (MAR)
WR: Alex Kline (JCU), Brian Gainer (MTU), James Washington (MUSK)
P: Brandon Arehart (WILM)