Caushaud Lyons
Caushaud Lyons, a defensive end for the Tusculum College football team, has been named a finalist for two national awards and earned other regional honors.
Lyons, a senior from Ellenwood, Ga., has been named a national finalist for the 2014 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award and a finalist for the 2014 Cliff Harris Award.
The Gene Upshaw Award is sponsored by the Manheim Touchdown Club and the award recipient has the opportunity to play in two all-star games. The award is named for the late Mr. Upshaw, who was not only an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders, but later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. Upshaw, a former standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007 in his first year of eligibility.
The Cliff Harris Award recognizes the top small college defensive player of the year for NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA.
In addition, Lyons has been named to the 2014 Daktronics NCAA Division II Football All-Super Region Two second team and was named to the All South Atlantic Conference First Team for football.
Lyons, recorded one of the finest seasons ever by a Tusculum defensive lineman. He led the Pioneers with 89 tackles this year, 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 College history and most by a Pioneer lineman. He averaged 8.1 tackles per game, which are most in the South Atlantic Conference and Super Region 2 for defensive lineman and fourth most in the nation (NCAA II).
In 2014, 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 wraps 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 Pioneer 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.
Tusculum finished the season with a 6-5 overall record, including a 4-3 league mark to finish in sole possession of third place in the conference. After starting the year 1-4, the Pioneers rebounded by winning five of their final six contests, including a four-game winning streak to conclude the 2014 campaign.