Boll Weevil, Nixon Named LRTDC Team MVP

Courtesy UAM Athletics Department

MONTICELLO — The Little Rock Touchdown Club has named junior wide receiver Jamal Nixon the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s most valuable player for the 2012 season. 

Nixon will be honored at the club’s ninth annual awards banquet scheduled for Friday, February 1 at 11 a.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel in West Little Rock. Honorees from all 11 football-playing colleges and universities from Arkansas, in addition to the top high school players and coaches from each classification will be recognized at the banquet. 

The club will also present its annual Paul Eels Award and recognize its national college football award winners and award winners from the Southeastern Conference for the 2012 season.

Nixon finished the 2012 season with 59 receptions for 771 yards with five touchdown catches. His 771 yards ranked second in the league, his average of 77.1 yards per game ranked third and his average of 5.9 receptions per game ranked fourth. 

Nixon native eclipsed the 100-yark mark twice this season, with both sitting atop the single-game charts in the conference this season. He had 14 receptions for a GAC-best 212 yards with two touchdowns in UAM’s 24-21 loss to Arkansas Tech on October 20. The Harvey, La. native ended the season with an eight-catch, 186-yard performance with one touchdown in a 38-35 loss to Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Nixon also had touchdown catches in UAM’s season-opening 78-0 win over College of Faith and week two’s 31-24 loss to Northwestern State (La.). He had five receptions for 69 yards against COF and eight receptions for 96 yards against NWLA. 

His 212 yard-performance against ATU this season ranks second all-time in the two-year history of the Great American Conference. Those 14 catches in that contest set a new UAM single-game record for a junior and second for all classifications. The 212 yardage total ranks fifth in UAM’s single-game record chart. 

Throughout his two-year career at UAM, Nixon has totaled 89 receptions for 1,227 yards with seven touchdown catches. He averages 4.2 receptions per game and 58.4 yards per game throughout 21 games.

In addition to his football numbers, Nixon is also a regular in the UAM men’s basketball lineup. He has played in 11 games this season, making six starts at guard. He currently averages 8.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while also totaling 24 assists and 24 steals throughout the year.

Others to be honored at the February 1 banquet include Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Ben Anderson, Arkansas Baptist receiver Jimmy Jean, Arkansas State quarterback Ryan Aplin, Arkansas Tech quarterback Tanner Marsh, Central Arkansas quarterback Wynrick Smothers, Harding quarterback Kelvin Martin, Henderson State linebacker Maxie Graham and quarterback Kevin Rodgers, Ouachita Baptist receiver Brett Reece and Southern Arkansas cornerback Don Unamba.

For tickets and more information, contact club executive director Kelly Lasseigne at info@lrtouchdown.com or 501-590-3529. Tickets are $25 and $50 for VIP seating. A buffet lunch will be served from 11-11:45 a.m. and the program will run from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. The awards banquet is sponsored by Metropolitan National Bank, The Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Crain Automotive, Arkansas Sports Performance Center, Wright, Lindsey & Jennings.