FRISCO, Texas – HCU led all Southland Conference schools with six student-athletes selected to the 2024 Academic All-Conference Team announced on Thursday afternoon.
Zae Smith makes his second academic all-SLC appearance and is joined by
Khary Crump,
D.J. Harris,
Braden Hay,
Zayteak McGhee and
Nonso Omezi who all earn their first academic recognition by the league.
Smith, a junior defensive lineman, ended his season with 54 tackles, a team-leading five sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. He also tallied three quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. His four sacks in SLC play tied for fourth-most in the conference.
An offensive lineman, Omezi started every game for the Huskies and was part of an offensive line unit that led the third-best offense in the conference in league play. Omezi has been a member of the Dean's List every semester he has been at HCU.
Crump, a cornerback, had a standout season in his first year with the Huskies, leading all SLC players with 13 passes defended. He finished the year with 40 tackles, three interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 2.5 tackles for loss. His 1.1 passes defended per game ranked 27
th in the FCS.
McGhee, a safety, finished his first year in the blue and orange with 53 tackles, one interception, six pass breakups and 0.5 tackles for loss. All six of McGhee's breakups came in SLC play with three of them coming in the Huskies' Homecoming win over Nicholls.
Harris, a linebacker, closed the 2024 campaign tied for fourth in the Southland with 94 tackles. He also registered 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries, one interception and one pass breakup. In a late season game at East Texas A&M, Harris racked up 15 tackles, five TFLs, 2.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
Hay, also a linebacker, led the team in tackles per game and ranked 33
rd in the FCS with 8.6 tackles per game. He finished the year with 86 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. Hay set a career-high with 16 tackles vs. Southeastern.
