Coastal's Taliaferro, Backus gain top Big South awards

Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Coastal Carolina running back Lorenzo Taliaferro and linebacker Quinn Backus were named the Big South offensive and defensive players of the Year, respectively, by the conference's head coaches and media panel on Tuesday.

Coastal's LaDarius Hawthorne was voted the inaugural special teams player of the year.

Charleston Southern had the freshman of the year in quarterback Daniel Croghan III and the coach of the year in Jamey Chadwell.

In addition, the Big South's sports information directors voted Liberty linebacker Scott Hyland as the football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

2013 ALL-BIG SOUTH FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

QB - Alex Ross, R-Soph., Coastal Carolina

RB - Lorenzo Taliaferro, Sr., Coastal Carolina

RB - Christian Reyes, Jr., Charleston Southern

WR - Kenny Cook, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb

WR - Matt Hazel, Sr., Coastal Carolina

WR - Darrin Peterson, Soph., Liberty

TE - Brandon Apon, R-Sr., Liberty

OL - Jamey Cheatwood, R-Sr., Coastal Carolina

OL - Hunter Steward, Sr., Liberty

OL - Chad Hamilton, R-Jr., Coastal Carolina

OL - Drew Herring, R-Sr., Coastal Carolina

OL - Clayton Truitt, Jr., Charleston Southern

DEFENSE

DL - Shaquille Riddick, Jr., Gardner-Webb

DL - Preston Pemasa, Sr., Gardner-Webb

DL - Chima Uzowihe, Soph., Liberty

DL - O.J. Le'iatua Mau, Soph., Gardner-Webb

LB - Quinn Backus, Jr., Coastal Carolina

LB - Tanner Burch, Jr., Gardner-Webb

LB - Nick Sigmon, R-Jr., Liberty

LB - Calvin Bryant, Jr., Charleston Southern

DB - Jacob Hagen, R-Jr., Liberty

DB - Walt Aikens, R-Sr., Liberty

DB - Kevin Fogg, R-Sr., Liberty

DB - Keon Williams, Sr., Gardner-Webb

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK - Alex Catron, Jr., Coastal Carolina

P - Jordan Day, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb

LS - Richard Wright, R-Sr., Liberty

KR - Devin Brown, Fr., Coastal Carolina

PR - Jeremiah McKie, Jr., Presbyterian College