The Sports Inquirer

Release from Kennesaw State Athletics:

A winning inaugural season record did not go unnoticed by Big South Conference head coaches and media as three Kennesaw State players were named to the all-conference team and another individual earned all-academic recognition following Tuesday’s release of the annual postseason honors.

Redshirt freshman defensive back Taylor Henkle was named first team All-Big South Conference, while junior safety Derrick Farrow and junior offensive lineman Malik Letatau were tabbed second team selections. Additionally, redshirt senior wide receiver Prentice Stone was named to the all-academic team as voted on by the conference’s athletics communications representatives.

“For a first-year program to have four guys earn all-conference is pretty impressive and says a lot about our program and a lot about each of these guys,” head coach Brian Bohannon said. “I couldn’t be more excited and proud of each one of these guys as they are deserving of all-conference recognition. It says a lot about our program and what is to come for Kennesaw State football.”

Henkle was named to the first team after leading the Owls and finishing fourth among Big South Conference defensive backs with 65 tackles. He also tied for the conference lead and 18th in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with four interceptions. The Marietta, Ga. native either led Kennesaw State or tied for the team lead in tackles three teams, including twice totaling 10 tackles.

A two-time Big South Conference Freshman of the Week, and FCS STATS National Freshman of the Week, Henkle recorded three of his four interceptions in a two-game span, recording a late-game interception that sealed a 23-13 Big South Conference win over Monmouth (Oct. 31) and intercepting two passes versus eventual conference champion Charleston Southern (Nov. 7).

“Since Day 1 when he arrived on campus, Taylor has been where he is supposed to be and done what he is supposed to do,” Bohannon said. “Taylor exemplifies what a Kennesaw State football player is supposed to be and he is deserving of whatever awards he has received and any that he will receive in the future.”

Farrow, Henkle’s backfield mate, also was a force in the Owls’ secondary, finishing second on the team with 63 tackles while leading the Big South Conference and tying for ninth in the FCS with four forced fumbles, including three in one game.

The Cochran, Ga. native and junior college transfer’s signature game came in Kennesaw State’s home opener versus Edward Waters when, on consecutive plays, he forced a fumble and on the next play sprinted from the far side of the field to catch an Edward Waters running back after a 73-yard run and jarred him of the ball that was recovered by Raymone Jennings at the Kennesaw State 3-yard line.

The performance earned Farrow Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors and eventually onto the 2015 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS Defensive Awards Watch List.

“Derrick is an unbelievable leader, role model, and a heck of a football player,” Bohannon said. “I am very excited and proud of Derrick for being honored as an all-conference player.”

Letatau, who joined the Owls’ program from the College of San Mateo in California, immediately was inserted as a starter along the offensive line and anchored the line from the center position. He played in nine games and helped pave the way for a Kennesaw State offense that averaged 429.8 yards a contest to rank 27th in the FCS and fifth in rushing with 293.0 yards a game.

“Malick is another unbelievable leader, role model, and a heck of football player,” Bohannon said. “I am excited and proud that he is an all-conference player in his first year after transferring in from a junior college.”

Stone joined the program as a walk-on and became a starter at wide receiver, playing in all 11 games and catching nine passes for 116 yards. He also handled the majority of the kickoff return duties, returning 24 kicks for 526 yards, an average of 21.9 yards per return.  Stone currently has a 3.75 grade-point average while majoring in exercise science.

“Earning all-academic honors is one of the better awards to receive,” Bohannon said. “PJ has been to three different schools and became a starter for us. To have close to a 4.0 grade-point average is a testament to the type of person PJ is and I am proud of what he has accomplished and what he will accomplish the rest of his life.”