BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2021 Football Postseason Honors on Monday morning. The all-conference teams and individual award winners were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Alabama A&M’s Aqeel Glass was selected Offensive Player of the Year while Florida A&M’s Isaiah Land was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson State’s James Houston was named Newcomer of the Year. Jackson State’s Shedeur Sander was selected for Freshman of the Year accolades while JSU’s Deion Sanders was tabbed Coach of the Year to round out the list of individual award winners.

Offensive Player of the Year

Alabama A&M’s Glass closed one of the most impressive careers in league history with a fitting final campaign, recording 3,568 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and 356.8 yards per game along with a 160.8 passing efficiency in ten games. He recorded five games of at least 400 passing yards in Fall 2021, including resetting the program’s NCAA Division I Era record with 462 yards in a single game. Additionally, he has been named one of 25 finalists for the Walter Payton Award representing the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and was the first selection to the Inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl.

Defensive Player of the Year

Florida A&M’s Land was one of the top players in the nation this past season as he was selected as one of 25 players named to the Buck Buchanan Award Finalist list. At the conclusion of regular season play he led the nation with 25.5 tackles for loss and 19 sacks. Land also added three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. He was named Week 4 BOXTOROW Player of the Week after a three-sack performance. Land was also named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week after setting a Rattlers’ record five sacks versus South Carolina State. He recorded a sack or tackles for loss in ten of the 11 games this season and recorded two or more sacks in five games and did the same for tackles for loss in six games.

Newcomer of the Year

Jackson State’s Houston concluded regular season play as one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the SWAC. During regular season play he totaled 59 tackles (44 solo) and 20.5 tackles for loss for -125 yards. Houston also contributed 14.5 sacks for -102 yards, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown, and eight QB hurries. The Tigers featured the top-ranked defense at the conclusion of regular season play and allow just 13.8 points and 258.3 yards per game.

Freshman of the Year

Jackson State’s Sanders had a stellar debut season for the Tigers as he has been named a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice award. At the conclusion of regular season play he led the SWAC with a 68.7 completion percentage while passing for 2,971 yards (2^nd in SWAC), 28 touchdowns (2^nd in SWAC) and only five interceptions. Sanders averaged 270.1 passing yards (2^nd in SWAC) per game while leading the Tigers to an undefeated 8-0 record in league play and their first SWAC Championship appearance since 2013.

Coach of Year

Jackson State’s Sanders led the Tigers to a 10-1 overall record and a perfect 8-0 mark in SWAC regular season play. Under Sanders’ leadership the Tigers are currently ranked in the top 15 of the FCS Coaches Poll and are also ranked in the top 25 of the Stats FCS Poll. The Tigers claimed the SWAC East Division title for the first time since the 2013 season. For his efforts Sanders has been named a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson award.

A complete listing of all-conference selections and individual award winners is listed below.

2021 SWAC Football Postseason Awards

Offensive Player of the Year
Aqeel Glass- Alabama A&M

Defensive Player of the Year
Isaiah Land- Florida A&M

Newcomer of the Year
James Houston- Jackson State

Freshman of the Year
Shedeur Sanders- Jackson State

Coach of the Year
Deion Sanders- Jackson State 

All-SWAC First Team Offense
Quarterback: Aqeel Glass- Alabama A&M
Running Back: Bishop Bonnett- Florida A&M
Running Back: Gary Quarles- Alabama A&M
Offensive Lineman: Keenan Forbes- Florida A&M
Offensive Lineman: Dallas Black- Southern
Offensive Lineman: Mark Evans II- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Offensive Lineman: Johnathan Bishop- Southern
Offensive Lineman: Drake Centers- Texas Southern
Wide Receiver: Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim- Alabama A&M
Wide Receiver: Odieu Hilaire- Alabama A&M
Tight End: Kemari Averett- Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC First Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: James Houston- Jackson State
Defensive Lineman: Jason Dumas- Prairie View A&M
Defensive Lineman: Sundiata Anderson- Grambling State
Defensive Lineman: Antwan Owens- Jackson State
Linebacker: Isaiah Land- Florida A&M
Linebacker: Untareo Johnson- Bethune-Cookman
Linebacker: Aubrey Miller- Jackson State
Defensive Back: Markquese Bell- Florida A&M
Defensive Back: Drake Cheatum- Prairie View A&M
Defensive Back: BJ Bohler- Florida A&M
Defensive Back: Omari Hill-Robinson- Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC First Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Jose Romo-Martinez- Florida A&M
Punter: Josh Sanchez- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Return Specialist: Isaiah Bolden- Jackson State 

All-SWAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Shedeur Sanders- Jackson State
Running Back: Caleb Johnson- Mississippi Valley State
Running Back: Niko Duffey- Alcorn State
Offensive Lineman: Tony Gray- Jackson State
Offensive Lineman: Ja’Tyre Carter- Southern
Offensive Lineman: Danny Garza- Prairie View A&M
Offensive Lineman: Jay Jackson-Williams- Florida A&M
Offensive Lineman: Robert Alston- Alabama State
Wide Receiver: Keith Corbin- Jackson State
Wide Receiver: Dee Anderson- Alabama A&M
Tight End: Jyrin Johnson- Texas Southern

All-SWAC Second Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Ronnie Thomas- Mississippi Valley State
Defensive Lineman: Savion Williams- Florida A&M
Defensive Lineman: Michael Badejo- Texas Southern
Defensive Lineman: Deonte Williams- Florida A&M
Linebacker: Monroe Beard III- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Linebacker: Keonte Hampton- Jackson State
Linebacker: Tarik Cooper- Texas Southern
Defensive Back: Irshaad Davis- Alabama State
Defensive Back: Keonte’ Daniels- Mississippi Valley State
Defensive Back: Darius Campbell- Prairie View A&M
Defensive Back: Shilo Sanders- Jackson State

All-SWAC Second Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Garrett Urban- Grambling State
Punter: Garrett Urban- Grambling State
Return Specialist: Darnell Deas- Bethune-Cookman

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NEW ORLEANS – Coastal Carolina’s Reese White and Josaiah Stewart and South Alabama’s Diego Guajardo claim Sun Belt weekly awards after propelling their teams to 2-0 starts. 

Football Offensive Player of the Week
Reese White, Coastal Carolina
(Jr., RB – Sandy Springs, Ga.)

Chanticleers junior running back Reese White rushed for a career-high 102 yards and three touchdowns in Coastal Carolina’s 49-22 victory over Kansas. The 100-yard rushing game was the first of the Sandy Springs, Ga., native’s career, while his three rushing touchdowns are the most by a Sun Belt running back in a single game this season.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
(Fr., DL – Everett, Mass.)

Chanticleers freshman defensive lineman Josaiah Stewart set a single-game program record with 3.5 sacks and tied the Coastal Carolina high-water mark with 3.5 tackles-for-loss. The Everett, Mass., product tallied eight total tackles to lead the Chanticleer defense that accumulated 11.0 tackles-for-loss, 6.0 sacks, a blocked punt and a blocked extra-point in a 49-22 win over Kansas.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Diego Guajardo, South Alabama
(So., K – Spanish Fort, Ala.)

Jaguars sophomore kicker Diego Guajardo kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired to lift South Alabama to a 22-19 win over Bowling Green. The Spanish Fort, Ala., native also connected from 22 and 41 yards out, as part of a 10-point effort. Guajardo’s three field goals tied his career high, while his walk-off kick provided the Jaguars their first win on the final play of the game since Oct. 20, 2012.

2021 Sun Belt Football Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Corey Rucker, Arkansas State
Week 2 – Reese White, Coastal Carolina

2021 Sun Belt Football Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Zion Williams, Troy
Week 2 – Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina

2021 Sun Belt Football Special Teams Players of the Week
Week 1 – Britton Williams, Georgia Southern
Week 2 – Diego Guajardo, South Alabama

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TUSKEGEE – Gabriel Dunkle had the golden toe for West Alabama in its 33-7 victory over Tuskegee University Saturday afternoon. The senior kicker went 4-for-5 in field goals, including a career-long 47-yarder to begin the scoring effort for the Tigers.

UWA (2-0) had 467 yards of total offense (173 rushing, 295 passing) while holding the Golden Tigers (0-2) to 194. West Al’s defense was a stopping force and halted Tuskegee scoring attempts in the red zone with three interceptions and one forced fumble for a UWA recovery.

Quarterback Jack McDaniels was 23 for 38 through the air for 294 yards and one touchdown. James Smith, III rushed for 134 yards and a score for West Alabama, and Bayley Blanchard caught four passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.

On the defensive side of the ball, Josh Hatcher tallied 12 tackles (nine solo, three assist) with two tackles for a loss of five yards. Undraez Lillyrecorded seven total tackles (five solo, two assist) with 3.5 tackles for a loss of 10 yards, and Chris Terrell had five solo tackles, three for a loss of 10 yards.

Shamar Lewis, SchDarren Archie, and Michael Anderson have a single interception, and Anderson forced one fumble.

Dunkle began the scoring effort on the game’s first possession. Opening the game with several first downs, the Tigers found themselves in a 4^th and 10 situation. Dunkle came on the field and scored the first points for his team while breaking his career-long record with a 47-yard field goal.

Minutes later, West Alabama scored its first touchdown of the game. Reggie Davenport racked up 30 rushing yards for five carries in a 7-play possession, punctuated by a one-yard carry for a touchdown. Dunkle landed the PAT, giving the Tigers a 10-0 advantage over Tuskegee.

West Alabama started off the second quarter with yet another scoring possession. Being unable to get a first down in the run, Dunkle scored another field goal. This time 30-yarder to extend the West Al lead to 13-0.

Later in the quarter, with 6:02 left in the half, McDaniels completed a 43-yard touchdown pass in the possession’s first play. The point after was good for a score of 20-0.

The only points in the third quarter came off the foot of Dunkle. The Glendora, Calif. native landed his third field goal of the night to add three points to the UWA score.

Tuskegee scored its only points of the game in its first possession of the fourth quarter. After eight plays and 59 yards, Golden Tiger quarterback Bryson Williams completed a 21-yard pass to Steven Hodges for a touchdown. The point after was good to cut UWA’s lead to 23-7.

West Alabama answered on its next possession. Dunkle grabbed another piece, this time a 25-yarder.

In the game’s final minutes, Senior running back James Smith, III ran for 62 yards for a touchdown.

UWA returns to action on Thursday, Sept. 16, when they take on North American University inside of Tiger Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

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LIVINGSTON – Jack McDaniels passed for 344 yards, and four touchdowns as West Alabama opened its 2021 season with a 48-7 victory over Morehouse College on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

Graduate Student Darius Nalls had 200 receiving yards in the game with nine receptions and two touchdowns, while senior Reggie Davenport netted 111 yards on the ground.

UWA had 550 yards of total offense in its first game after the abbreviate spring season. The Tigers finished with 344 passing yards and 206 on the ground.

The West Alabama defense was firing on all cylinders Saturday evening. The Tigers held the Maroon Tigers to 131 total yards (98 passing, 33 rushing), keeping Morehouse scoreless for the first half and allowing only one touchdown in the second.

Graduate student Chris Terrel led UWA’s defense with five solo tackles. Terrance Carter, Shamar Lewis, SchDarren Archie, and Bishop Breauxhad three each, and Ricky Chatman, Undraez Lilly, and Jeremiah Boydhad tackles for losses.

“I thought we came out the first half and really established ourselves and did things that put us in a good situation especially early on,” said head coach Brett Gilliland of the victory. “The defense had several three and outs back-to-back, at least four. The offense had a couple of good drives pretty early. We just have to get better with consistency and having that same intensity regardless of what’s going on.”

West Alabama took the opening kick-off after Morehouse won the toss and deferred to the second half. UWA marched the ball down the field, and after 10 plays and 63 yards, the Tigers found themselves in a 4^thand 10 situation. A 28-yard field goal attempt was missed wide to end the drive.

Morehouse took its first possession of the game but came up hard against the D-Block. MC punted after three plays for just four yards, and UWA took control on its 31-yard line.

West Alabama took advantage of the quick turnaround, going 63-yards in six plays. A four-yard carry by James Smith, III punctuated the drive for a touchdown. Senior kicker Gabriel Dunkle added the PAT for the 7-0 lead with 7:33 left in the period.

UWA extended its lead in the second quarter, scoring three additional touchdowns and a field goal before the close of the half.

In the fifth possession of the period, the Tigers made it to the end zone in five plays for 76 yards. Closing the drive, Underwood carried for two yards for the touchdown, and Dunkle stuck the extra point.

At 6:07, West Alabama started another scoring drive that concluded with a 40-yard field goal by Dunkle to give UWA a 17-0 advantage.

Morehouse fumbled the punt return on the next drive, and senior Terrance Carter recovered for West Al on MC’s 17. After a first down incomplete pass, McDaniels connected with Darius Nalls in the endzone for his first touchdown as a member of the UWA squad. The Tigers claim the extra point for a score of 24-0.

After another Morehouse punt, the Tigers scored again. McDaniels completed a 33-yard pass to Smiley Martin for the touchdown and West Alabama closed the half up 31-0.

Early in the third quarter, West Alabama scored again. McDaniels connected with Nalls for a 30-yard touchdown pass for his second of the game. Dunkle’s PAT made it a 38-0 game.

With the new possession, Morehouse recorded its first points of the game. The Maroon Tigers found the endzone in nine plays for 84 yards to cut UWA’s lead to 38-7.

The Tigers answered with a 6-play, 26-yard drive to score. This time, McDaniels connected with wide receiver Bayley Blanchard for the 16-yard touchdown pass for the last TD of the game.

In the game’s final quarter, UWA added three points on a 39-yard field goal by Dunkle to end the game with the 48-8 victory.

Looking to their next opponent, Coach Gilliland said, “We have a lot to fix on special teams and some things to tweak on offense and defense. But these things are fun to fix after a 48-7 win.”

UWA football returns to field on Saturday, Sept. 11 when it travels to Tuskegee, Ala. to face the Tigers of Tuskegee University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football selections and Predicted Order of Finish on Tuesday during the league’s media day. The preseason all-conference teams, individual award winners, and predicted order of finish were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Alabama A&M’s Aqeel Glass was named SWAC Football Preseason Player of the Year while Southern’s Jordan Lewis was tabbed SWAC Football Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Alabama A&M’s Glass rewrote the record books this past season as he went 67-of-113 for 1,084 yards passing and 13 touchdowns during the regular season. One of 16 finalists for the prestigious Walter Payton Award as the national’s top FCS player, Glass was also twice named Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Player of the Week.

He would also add National Player of the Week honors from Stats Perform FCS and BOXTOROW. In large part due to his performance, the Bulldogs delivered the first undefeated regular season for the program since 1966, won the SWAC East Division for the first time since 2011, while also winning the league championship game with a 40-33 win over UAPB.

Southern’s Lewis proved to be a matchup nightmare for opposing offensive lines this past season with his quickness off the end leading the SWAC in sacks with 10.5 for 73 yards and tackles for loss with 15.0 for 82 yards.

He completed the Spring season with 27 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and one forced fumble. For his efforts Lewis was named the Buck Buchanan Defensive Player of the Year. The two-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Week also garnered BOXTOROW National Player of the Week and LSWA Defensive Player of the Week this past season.

The league’s 2021 Predicted Order of Finish has Alabama A&M tabbed to win the SWAC Eastern Division tallying a total of 122 points. Alcorn State (109) was picked to finish second followed by Jackson State (80), Alabama State (76), Bethune-Cookman (71), and Mississippi Valley State (25).

Alcorn State (128) was picked to finish in first place in what will be the Braves debut season in the SWAC Western Division. Southern (108) was projected to finish in second place followed by Grambling State (85), Prairie View A&M (78), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (68) and Texas Southern (37).

A complete listing of the preseason all-conference teams, individual award winners, and predicted order of finish is listed below.

SWAC Eastern Division
Alabama A&M (122)
Florida A&M (109)
Jackson State (80)
Alabama State (76)
Bethune-Cookman (71)
Mississippi Valley State (25)

SWAC Western Division
Alcorn State (128)
Southern (108)
Grambling State (85)
Prairie View A&M (78)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (68)
Texas Southern (37)

Player of the Year
Aqeel Glass- Alabama A&M

Defensive Player of the Year
Jordan Lewis- Southern

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Offense

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Defense

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Specialist

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Offense

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Defense

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Specialist

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LIVINGSTON – The University of West Alabama Athletics Department adds North American University to the 2021 football schedule. The non-conference competition extends the schedule to an 11-game season with six games at home.

The Tigers will host NAU on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. inside Tiger Stadium. The game will be streamed live on the UWA website and broadcast on SLY 104.9.

“We are very excited to get a sixth home game added to the fall schedule,” said head coach Brett Gilliland. “Thursday night games in Tiger Stadium always have a great atmosphere. We look forward to seeing our fans back in the stadium this fall.”

The midweek contest will be the first time that the two teams meet on the field. NAU is an independent program looking to join the NAIA in Fall 2022. The Stallions held a 2-5 record for the 2020-21 season, defeating CMP Prep College (LA) and Community Christian College.

UWA closed the abbreviated two-game 2021 spring season undefeated with victories over Limestone University and Savannah State University. The Tiger football season was cut short due to concerns for the Covid-19 pandemic.

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MOBILE – Historically Black College and University (HBCU) football is coming back to the Mobile area even earlier in 2021. The Gulf Coast Challenge will present the Ultimate HBCU Experience, taking place at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at 4 p.m., featuring the Savannah State University Tigers versus the University of West Alabama Tigers.

Due to the cancelation of the fall 2020 game because of the pandemic, this is the first time a game of this caliber has been held during the spring season and this highly anticipated clash of the Tigers is welcomed by both universities’ head coaches.

“We’re ecstatic to have the opportunity to play in the Gulf Coast Challenge against an elite opponent in West Alabama,” Savannah State Head Football Coach Shawn Quinn said. “The Gulf South Conference is the premier league in NCAA Division II football, and we’re excited to test our squad against such a formidable opponent in the wonderful city of Mobile. We’re excited for Tiger Nation to be able to come and be part of this awesome bowl-like atmosphere.”

“We are very excited as a program to be invited to play in the Gulf Coast Challenge. It will be a great opportunity to showcase our university in the city of Mobile and beyond,” UWA Head Football Coach Brett Gilliland said. “Most of all, we look forward to playing the game against a high-quality opponent.”

With this being the Gulf Coast Challenge’s third annual event, Executive Director Timothy Hale Jr. remains steadfast on its mission, saying “We are committed to providing quality football to the city of Mobile and surrounding communities while emphasizing the importance of achieving higher education through esteemed historically black colleges and universities.”

“As we safely move forward with our 2021 calendar, we’re excited to be hosting this unique event in Mobile – a regular season spring college football game. In 2016, the Mobile Sports Authority helped to bring HBCU football back to Mobile after a seven-year absence,” Mobile Sports Authority Executive Director Danny Corte said. “So, hosting this spring GCC game after the fall game was postponed continues that mission. The Savannah State/West Alabama matchup is intriguing since this will be the first time these two teams have met on the gridiron.”

Please go to www.thegulfcoastchallenge.com for information on ticket pricing and where/how to purchase. For any additional information please contact Tim Hale, Jr., at (251) 237-1092 or at info@thegulfcoastchallenge.com.

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DALLAS – The 2020 Football Writers Association of America All-America Team, presented in partnership with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, is headlined by five players from Alabama on the first team and more than half the first team coming from the Atlantic Coast and Southeastern Conferences. There are 19 schools represented from eight Football Bowl Subdivision conferences on the first team, including 10 players who are competing in the College Football Playoff later this week.

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is presenting the All-America Team as part of what has been a season-long campaign to promote the 77-year history of this prestigious honor. Each All-American will receive a commemorative football and the first-team selections will be presented with a custom All-America watch.

“Serving in the role of presenting sponsor of the FWAA’s prestigious All-America team is the perfect fit for the both of us,” said Bry Patton, the chairman of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association and Cotton Bowl Foundation. “The Goodyear Cotton Bowl and the nation’s writers and broadcasters have shared a lot of special moments over eight decades. We are proud of this relationship and look forward to doing our part in promoting these deserving student-athletes.”

Since 1945, the FWAA team has been among the five used in the NCAA’s selection of an annual consensus All-America team in college football. Since the 2002 season, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Associated Press, The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation have joined the FWAA as the five designated selectors by the NCAA.

Alabama has four players on the first-team offense – wide receiver DeVonta Smith, running back Najee Harris, center Landon Dickerson and Outland Trophy finalist offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood – marking the first time since the FWAA All-America team broke into specialized backfield positions in 1967 for one school to post four players on either side of the ball. Add in defensive back Patrick Surtain II, and only two other teams have ever placed five or more players on the first team as the Crimson Tide match their 2011 national title team with five, leaving the six from Oklahoma’s 2003 BCS-runner-up squad still holding the FWAA record.

The Crimson Tide’s six players on the combined first and second teams tie that 2003 Oklahoma team and Army’s 1946 team as the most for one team in one season.

Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne make their first-team debuts on the 2020 squad and the four College Football Playoff teams occupy 10 of the 27 first-team slots. Etienne was selected as the all-purpose player after earning second-team running back spots the past two seasons. Clemson’s opponent, Ohio State, has guard Wyatt Davis back on the offensive line after a second-team spot last year – Etienne and Davis are the only repeat members from the combined 2019 All-America team with no first-teamers back on the 2020 squad.

Notre Dame’s three selections are second only to national semifinal foe Alabama. Outland Trophy finalist offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg joins Butkus Award winner Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and safety Kyle Hamilton. Clemson and Notre Dame claim five of the ACC’s conference-best eight first-teamers that also has kicker Jose Borregales of Miami (Fla.) and Pressley Harvin III of Georgia Tech at punter. The other ACC spot came from Pitt defensive lineman Rashad Weaver.

The SEC commands the first-team offense with six of 11 members that includes Florida tight end Kyle Pitts and Texas A&M offensive lineman Kenyon Green added to Alabama’s players. Surtain was the SEC’s only first-team defensive selection.

Iowa State was the only program not in the College Football Playoff to place two on the first team with Breece Hall, who led the nation in rushing during the regular season, at running back along with defensive lineman JaQuan Bailey. It’s the first time for Iowa State to have two All-Americans in the same season. No one caught more touchdown passes than wide receiver Jaelon Darden, who completes the first-team offense as the first North Texas player to ever earn first-team All-America status.

Linebacker Zaven Collins, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner, headlines the defense as Tulsa’s first All-America pick since 1991. Defensive lineman Tarron Jackson is Coastal Carolina’s first selection and joins Outland Trophy finalist Daviyon Nixon of Iowa at the front of the defense. Linebacker Joseph Ossai is Texas’ first honoree since 2017, Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner is only his school’s second All-American on defense and Indiana cornerback Tiawan Mullen is the Hoosiers’ first selection to play defense and its first of any kind since 2015.

The two return specialists were Boise State’s Avery Williams on kickoffs and Houston’s Marcus Jones on punts. Williams is only the third first-teamer in Boise State history and Jones gives The American Athletic Conference three first-teamers in a single season for the first time in its history.

On the second team is quarterback Mac Jones, who completes Alabama’s tie for the FWAA’s single-season honoree record, and an Ohio State duo in wide receiver Garrett Wilson and safety Shaun Wade. BYU offensive lineman Brady Christiansen becomes the Cougars’ first All-American since 2001. Two 1,000-yard rushers earned spots – UTSA’s Sincere McCormick is the first honoree in his program’s history and Buffalo’s Jaret Patterson, along with offensive lineman Kayode Awosika are Buffalo’s first selections since 2013 and its first on offense.

The Pac-12 has two second-team honorees with Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux on the defensive line and Colorado linebacker Nate Landman. Also on the second team is defensive back Greg Newsome of Northwestern, the Wildcats’ first selection since 2012 and its first on defense since now-head coach Pat Fitzgerald was a two-time linebacker honoree in 1995-96. Patrick Johnson, the national sack leader in the regular season, is Tulane’s first All-American since 2012 and its first on defense. West Virginia was one of nine schools to have at least two honorees with its pair of defenders in lineman Darius Stills and safety Tykee Smith. Marshall linebacker Tavante Beckett is his school’s first selection since 2011 and Trevon Moehrig gives TCU a selection in the secondary in back-to-back seasons. Miami defensive lineman Jaelen Phillips gives the Hurricanes a pair of honorees on the combined team for the first time since 2003.

The combined 54-man teams represent 39 schools from all 10 FBS conferences plus one independent and hail from half the country – their hometowns are in 26 states led by nine from Texas, eight from Florida and six from California. It is heavily-laden with seniors, who occupy almost half (23) the spots, followed by 19 juniors and 12 sophomores. There are no freshmen on the combined team.

The FWAA’s All-America Committee selected this 77th annual team based on nominations from the entire membership. This is just the eighth season in the modern era (post-1950) that the FWAA has named a second team. The FWAA also selected an all-purpose player for a fourth consecutive year, which made for a 54-man full team.

2020 FWAA All-America First Team

2020 FWAA All-America Second Team

Offense
QB Mac Jones, Alabama
RB Sincere McCormick, UTSA
RB Jaret Patterson, Buffalo
WR Jonathan Adams, Arkansas State
WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
TE Hunter Long, Boston College
OL Kayode Awosika, Buffalo
OL Brady Christiansen, BYU
OL Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
OL Trey Smith, Tennessee
C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
Defense
DL Patrick Johnson, Tulane
DL Jaelan Phillips, Miami
DL Darius Stills, West Virginia
DL Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
LB Tavante Beckett, Marshall
LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
LB Nate Landman, Colorado
DB Trevon Moehrig, TCU
DB Greg Newsome, Northwestern
DB Tykee Smith, West Virginia
DB Shaun Wade, Ohio State
Specialists
K Cade York, LSU
P Jake Camarda, Georgia
KR Chris Smith, Louisiana
PR Jeremiah Haydel, Texas State
AP Dwayne Eskridge, Western Michigan.

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Alabama’s DeVonta Smith was named the Player of the Year in college football by the Associated Press. It marks the first time a wide receiver has received that honor.

He picked up 114 points (26 first-place votes) in the tally, a good distance ahead of Mac Jones, his teammate with the Crimson Tide, who has been making sure passes came his direction this season. Jones received 67 points (nine first-place votes).

The dynamic pair of Smith and Jones finished No. 1 and No. 2 in the voting, followed by Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask.

Here are the complete results:

DeVonta Smith, Alabama – 114 (26 first-place votes)
Mac Jones, Alabama – 67 (9)
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson – 49 (9)
Kyle Trask, Florida – 44 (3)
Kyle Pitts, Florida – 5
Travis Etienne, Clemson – 3 (1)
Javonte Williams, North Carolina – 3 (1)
Zach Wilson, BYU – 3
Najee Harris, Alabama – 2
Ian Book, Notre Dame – 2
Zaven Collins, Tulsa – 1
Breece Hall, Iowa State – 1

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