East Texas A&M University linebacker Brandon Tucker has been named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year, marking a historic achievement for the Lion football program. Tucker, who hails from DeSoto, Texas, is the first player in the Southland era to earn a Player of the Year award and the first Lion since Toni Pulu in 2014 to be named Defensive Player of the Year.
In addition to the prestigious honor, Tucker was also named to the first-team all-conference defense. Teammate Max Epps, a defensive back from Spring, Texas, earned a spot on the first team for the second consecutive year. Defensive back Jaden Rios from Frisco, Texas, and wide receiver Christian Jourdain, from New Orleans, Louisiana, were also recognized, earning second-team all-conference honors.
Tucker’s standout season included setting a new program record for most tackles in a season with 141, ranking second in the conference and second in the nation. He also led the conference with 15 tackles for loss, was fourth in forced fumbles with two, and had two fumble recoveries.
Epps, a redshirt senior, ranked 15th in the conference in tackles with 76, and placed in the top 10 for pass breakups and interceptions. Rios, a preseason all-conference honoree, finished ninth in the conference with nine passes defended, second with three interceptions, and added 30 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss.
Jourdain, in his lone season with the Lions, recorded 683 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 51 receptions, ranking sixth in the conference for receiving yards and fifth in receiving touchdowns.
The four all-conference honorees represent the most for the Lions since 2022.