By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University junior defensive end Nikk Ryan (Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS) has been named First Team All-Northwest Conference in voting by the NWC head coaches. Three other Bearcats were chosen for Second Team All-NWC honors, while one Willamette player was selected for Honorable Mention.
On offense, Austin Jones (Jr., TE, Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS) of Willamette was named to the Second Team. On defense, Henry Adelman (Sr., ILB, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS) and Damian Jackson (Jr., FS, Puyallup, WA/Rogers HS) were selected to the Second Team, while Nick Brickous (Jr./So., SS, Mesa, AZ/Perry HS/U.S. Military Acad.) received Honorable Mention.
The 2015 All-Northwest Conference Football Team included 29 First Team selections, along with 28 athletes on the Second Team and seven players on the Honorable Mention list.
Quarterback Sam Riddle (Jr.) of Linfield College was chosen NWC Offensive Player of the Year and defensvie lineman Alex Hoff (Sr.) of Linfield was named NWC Defensive Player of the Year. Head Coach Joseph Smith from Linfield was voted NWC Coach of the Year.
Willamette finished the season with a 2-7 overall record, including 2-5 in the NWC. The Bearcats lost five games by seven points or less, including four games in NWC action.
First Team All-Northwest Conference
Nikk Ryan (Jr., DE) was Willamette's top tackler in the defensive line. He recorded 24 unassisted tackles and added 18 assists for 42 total tackles. He led the Bearcats and ranked second in the NWC with 11.5 tackles for loss (47 yards), and was the team leader with 4.0 quarterback sacks (25 yards). He also recovered a fumble against Whitworth University on Nov. 7.
In Northwest Conference games, Ryan earned 36 total tackles with 21 solo stops and 15 assists. He recorded 10 of his tackles for loss and all four of his sacks in conference play.
During his Willamette career, Ryan has accumulated 76 total tackles. He has made 46 unassisted stops to go with 30 assists. He has 15.0 career tackles for loss and 5.0 career sacks.
Second Team All-Northwest Conference
Austin Jones (Jr., TE) led the Bearcats with 26 catches for 373 yards and five touchdowns. He tied for sixth in the NWC with his five touchdown catches. He averaged 14.3 yards per catch.
Jones played in eight of nine games, but missed most of Willamette's final two games due to injury. Even so, he caught three or more passes in five games.
He tied a Willamette record with four touchdown catches against Lewis & Clark College on Oct. 31. He scored against the Pioneers on passes covering 12, 34, 4 and 27 yards. He was named NWC Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week.
In three seasons with the Bearcats, Jones has caught 47 passes for 680 yards and seven touchdowns. He owns a career average of 14.5 yards per reception.
Henry Adelman (Sr., ILB) topped the Willamette tackle chart this season with a career-high 82 total tackles evenly split between 41 solo tackles and 41 assists. He ranked fourth in the NWC in total tackles and was fourth tackles per game (9.1 avg.).
During the year, he registered 6.5 tackles for loss (20 yards) and earned one quarterback sack. He intercepted a pass against Trinity University on Sept. 12 and recovered two fumbles against George Fox University on Nov. 14. He recorded 11 tackles four times and provided eight or more tackles seven times.
As a four-year player for the Bearcats, Adelman played in 37 games and achieved 125 tackles. He contributed 59 unassisted tackles and added 66 assists. He had 9.0 tackles for loss.
Damian Jackson (Jr., FS) tied for second on the team with 50 tackles. He was second for the Bearcats with 28 solo tackles and also provided 22 assists. He led the team and tied for second in the NWC with four interceptions, which he returned for a total of 32 yards. He also broke up three passes and forced a fumble.
He earned 12 tackles against Pacific University on Oct. 24 for the most tackles by one Bearcats in a game this season. He was credited with nine tackles against nationally-ranked Linfield College on Oct. 17.
In the past two seasons, Jackson has accumulated 84 tackles for Willamette. He played in all nine games both years and recorded 46 unassisted tackles and 38 assists. He has seen action in 25 games in his career. He has 86 career tackles, including two solo tackles as a freshman in 2013.
Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference
Nick Brickous (Jr./So., SS) finished the season tied with Jackson for second on the defensive chart with 50 tackles. He made 21 unassisted tackles and ranked second on the team with 29 assists. He was Willamette's leader with seven pass break-ups. He registered 2.5 tackles for loss and recovered one fumble.
His fumble recovery was on fourth down and ended a goal line stand against California Lutheran University on Sept. 19. He grabbed the ball at the 1-yard line and returned it 24 yards. He provided WU with five or more tackles in seven games.
During two years at Willamette since transferring from the U.S. Military Academy, Brickous has amassed 64 total tackles, including 36 solo stops. He has intercepted three passes and broken up 11 passes.
