STARKVILLE — Accolades rolled in for Mississippi State football players and coaches Monday.

On the same day MSU defensive coordinator Bob Shoop was named a finalist for the Broyles Award, senior center Elgton Jenkins and junior defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons were named the Southeastern Conference co-Offensive Lineman and Defensive Lineman of the Week.

Later in the day, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced Simmons won the fans’ voting portion for the C Spire Conerly Trophy.

The Broyles Award is given to the best assistant coach in the nation. Shoop is a finalist with Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, Army defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott, and Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long.

Shoop believes he has players who are ready and willing to soldier through a brutal season.

“That’s the one thing that’s impressed me. Whether I’ve been at Tennessee, Penn State, or Vanderbilt, at this time of year you can see body language, you can see things that look like a team that’s mentally and physically tired. I don’t feel that way about this group,” Shoop said two weeks ago. “They come to practice, they come to meetings spirited. I think they’re very confident. They feel like they’re one of the best defenses in college football and they want to prove it every single day.”

Shoop’s Bulldogs lead the nation in scoring defense (12 points per game allowed), touchdowns allowed (12), yards per play allowed (4.14), and red zone defense (25 percent touchdown rate allowed). MSU is also first in the SEC in third down defense (27.71 conversion rate allowed) and tackles for a loss (96).

Shoop is the first MSU assistant to be a finalist for the award since defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn in 1999.

“I am proud of Bob, our staff, and our players for finishing the regular season as the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense,” MSU coach Joe Moorhead said in a statement. “That is a product of hard work, attention to detail, and selflessness. Bob is as outstanding a person as he is a coach. He is as deserving as any coach for the Broyles Award, and we are glad he is a part of the Bulldog family.”

Jenkins earned his honors a week after earning the Kent Hull Trophy, which is given to the state’s best offensive lineman. He didn’t allow a sack or a pressure against Ole Miss.

This is the third time Simmons has earned the honor, and the first this season. He had four tackles, two for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry against the Rebels. He ended his season with 14 1/2 tackles for a loss, fourth in the SEC.

The Conerly Trophy is given to the state’s best player. Ten players, one at each of the football-playing four-year colleges in the state, were selected. Fan votes are combined with media member votes from around the state to select the winner.

The announcement of the winner will be made Tuesday in Jackson.

Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson