Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley named to Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American Team

Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley named to Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American Team

Another week, another accolade for Michigan State football punter Ryan Eckley. On Tuesday, the Spartans’ punter was recognized by the Football Writers Association of America, being named to their prestigious Freshman All-American Team after a huge first season replacing MSU legend Bryce Baringer.

Eckley booted 56 punts last year for an average of 46.7 yards per punt.

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Texas A&M freshman linebacker makes FWAA’s Freshman All-America Watch List

Standout Aggies linebacker Taurean York’s productive first season earned him a spot on FWAA’s Mi-Season Freshman All-America Watch List.

Texas A&M’s (4-3, 2-2 SEC) 2023 college football season is off to an underwhelming start as we enter the midway point of the once-promising campaign.

However, outside of the offense’s identity issues coupled with poor play in the trenches, the Aggies’ elite 10th-ranked defense, which leads the country in sacks (29), has been one of the lone bright spots during the recent two-game losing streak, led by the impactful play of freshman linebacker, Taurean York.

Coming out of the 2023 recruiting class as a highly underrated three-star prospect, York, a native of Temple, Texas, Chose the Aggies after previously being committed to Baylor, knowing that his athletic gifts and noted intelligence could lead him to immediate success on an off the field with the Maroon & White.

On Wednesday, The Football Writers Association of America released their Mid-Season Freshman All-America Watch List, joining five fellow freshman linebackers; York earned a spot among each outstanding first-year backer. The rising star has already earned multiple accolades this season, including 247Sports Freshman of the Week and SEC Player of the Week.

Second on the team in tackles with 41, york is less than a week removed from his team-leading nine-tackle performance in the loss to Tennessee, his second-highest output of the season. York’s in-game responsibility as the defensive playcaller at the MIKE position is even more impressive, with less than an entire collegiate season under his belt.

With five games remaining on the Aggies schedule, York’s production will likely take another giant leap, as he could become the first freshman to end the year as the team’s leader in tackles in quite some time. Congratulations, Taurean!

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Notre Dame cornerback Morrison gets recognition after fantastic first year

No surprise here

It should come as no surprise that [autotag]Notre Dame[/autotag] cornerback [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] is getting serious love after his extremely impressive freshman season. A contributor since the season opener, the Arizona native registered 33 tackles and 6 interceptions.

The six takeaways through the air put Morrison tied for third best in the country. As a true freshman. An absolutely dominant performance had led Morrison to be named to numerous Freshman All-American teams, with the latest being the [autotag]Football Writers Association of America[/autotag].

If Morrison is able to build off his first season, he should be getting plenty of talk about being a [autotag]Jim Thorpe[/autotag] candidate after the 2023 year is completed.

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Another honor for Notre Dame’s star freshman offensive lineman

Who would have thought this would have happened before the season started

Not many of us thought that offensive tackle Joe Alt would made a contribution to the team for a few years. The converted tight end from Minnesota was looked at as more of a project, but that wasn’t how it turned out to be.

After an injury to fellow classmate Blake Fisher, Alt was thrown to the wolves, but he didn’t act like a pup. Actually, once Alt was added to the starting offensive line, the run game looked like last years and the offense took off.

Already garnering multiple Freshman All-American honors, Alt received yet another one today, as he was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American first-team.

A very bright future for Alt and the Irish offensive line over at minimum the next two seasons.

Ryan Day wins the Football Writers’ First-Year Coach of the Year

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day took home the Football Writers Association of America’s First-Year Head Coach of the Year.

So, it’s probably not the hardware Ohio State head coach Ryan Day really wanted, but it’s still a nice one to look back on one of these days. It’ll also look nice in whatever trophy case it sits in.

The Football Writers Association of America handed out some awards this week, and buried in all of the shenanigans was the fact that Day took home the FWAA’s First-Year Coach of the Year Award.

And it’s for good reason.

Day inherited a team with a first-year starter at quarterback, some key departures on the offensive line, and a defense in shambles. But more than anything, he had to replace a legend while performing in his shadows.

All Day did was guide Ohio State to an undefeated regular season that culminated in a third-straight Big Ten Championship. It resulted in a trip to the Fiesta Bowl as one of four teams in the College Football Playoff.

Obviously had Ohio State found a way to make good on some of its earlier opportunities in the red zone, and if some breaks and calls went the right way, Day may have been closer to getting more recognition for Coach of the Year.

Regardless, congrats on the award that is very well deserved. The early returns say the future is just as bright with Day at the helm as it was with Urban Meyer.