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KBEC Sports report
CANYON – JT Cavender was named to the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-South Central Region first team following a stellar freshman season for the West Texas A&M football team.
The announcement came Thursday morning and moved Cavender, as well as teammate Tobias Harris, onto the D2CCA All-American ballot.
Cavender proved himself as one of the top linebackers in the country this past season, registering 108 total tackles (4.5 TFL) to go along with one sack, one interception and a forced fumble.
The 2020 Midlothian High graduate finished the regular season ranked 24th in Division II football in total tackles (108) while also sitting eighth in the nation in solo tackles (72). He was named the Lone Star Conference Linebacker of the Year as well as the LSC Defensive Freshman of the Year.
Cavender recorded double-digit total tackles in five games this past fall, including a career-high 20 total tackles (12 solo) against rival No. 21 Midwestern State on Nov. 6.
West Texas A&M finished the season 7-4 overall and 5-2 in LSC action.
During the COVID-altered 2020 season, Cavender recorded four tackles and 0.5 TFL in three games. He tallied a season-high three tackles in his collegiate debut against Oklahoma Panhandle State.
As a senior linebacker for the Midlothian Panthers, Cavender earned 5A All-State Honorable Mention honors and was named the District 4-5A Division-I Defensive Player of the Year and the Panthers’ Most Valuable Player.
Cavender recorded 140 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks and four forced fumbles during his senior campaign in 2019. He also earned first-team all-district and All-Ellis County honors as a junior.
