Tag: FWAA

DJ Lagway named to FWAA Freshman All America Team

The Football Writers Association of America has DJ Lagway as the top freshman quarterback of 2024 and gives the Florida signal caller an All-American nod.

Florida quarterback [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] is a Freshman All-American, according to the Football Writers Association of America’s annual team release for the 2024 season.

Lagway joins fellow SEC quarterback LaNorris Sellers out of South Carolina as one of two quarterbacks on the team. Sellers is one of five finalists for the FWAA Offensive Freshman Player of the Year after leading the Gamecocks to a 9-3 regular-season record. Lagway wasn’t the full-time starter for Florida until Graham Mertz went down with an ACL tear, whereas Sellers spent a redshirt year behind Spencer Rattler last year in Columbia.

“The SEC owns both quarterbacks in Sellers and Florida’s DJ Lagway,” reads the FWAA release. “Sellers was named to the third-team All-SEC squad and was recognized as the SEC Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches. He completed 64.9 percent of his passes (172-for-265) for 2,274 yards and 17 touchdowns and added 155 carries for 655 yards and seven scores. Lagway was the fourth Gators true freshman quarterback to start a bowl game and improved to 6-1 as a starter in Florida’s 33-8 win over Tulane. He threw for 300-plus yards twice while leading Florida to a four-game win streak to end the season.”

Lagway follows in the footsteps of receiver Eugene Wilson III and tight end Arlis Boardingham — now in the transfer portal — who made the team a year ago. Before Billy Napier brought in back-to-back classes with FWAA Freshman All-Americans, Florida had gone since 2016 without one. Lagway is the only Florida quarterback to earn the honor other than Chris Leak in 2003.

The Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers, and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA governs media access and gameday operations and presents awards and honors, including an annual All-America team.

2024 FWAA Freshman All-American Team

OFFENSE (14)
QB DJ Lagway, Florida (6-3, 239, Fr., Willis, Texas)
QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina (6-3, 242, R-Fr., Florence, S.C.)
RB Ahmad Hardy, ULM (5-10, 205, Fr., Monticello, Miss.)
RB Bryson Washington, Baylor (6-0, 203, R-Fr., Franklin, Texas)
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (6-3, 215, Fr., Miami Gardens, Fla.)
WR Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson (6-2, 180, Fr., Midlothian, Texas)
WR Ryan Williams, Alabama (6-0, 175, Fr., Mobile, Ala.)
TE Mason Williams, Ohio (6-5, 257, R-Fr., Mogadore, Ohio)
OL Aidan Banfield, North Carolina (6-3, 300, Fr., Buford, Ga.)
OL Tyler Mercer, North Texas (6-4, 290, Fr., Prosper, Texas)
OL Elijah Paige, USC (6-7, 320, R-Fr., Phoenix, Ariz.)
OL Tyson Ruffins, Nevada (6-2, 291, R-Fr., Carson, Calif.)
OL Jordan Seaton, Colorado (6-5, 285, Fr., Washington, D.C.)
OL Josiah Thompson, South Carolina (6-7, 300, Fr., Dillon, S.C.)

DEFENSE (13)
DL Jamarioius Brown, Ole Miss (6-1, 315, R-Fr., Moss Point, Miss.)
DL Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma (6-2, 312, Fr., Indianapolis, Ind.)
DL Colin Simmons, Texas (6-3, 245, Fr., Duncanville, Texas)
DL Dylan Stewart, South Carolina (6-6, 248, Fr., Washington, D.C.)
LB Sammy Brown, Clemson (6-2, 235, Fr., Commerce, Ga.)
LB Isaiah Chisom, Oregon State (6-0, 218, R-Fr., Santa Clarita, Calif.)
LB Josiah Trotter, West Virginia (6-2, 242, R-Fr., Philadelphia, Pa.)
CB OJ Frederique Jr., Miami (6-0, 180, Fr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
CB Ashton Hampton, Clemson (6-2, 200, Fr., Tallahassee, Fla.)
CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame (6-2, 191, Fr., Round Rock, Texas)
S KJ Bolden, Georgia (6-0, 185, Fr., Buford, Ga.)
S Koi Perich, Minnesota (6-1, 200, Fr., Esko, Minn.)
S Zechariah Poyser, Jax State (6-2, 190, R-Fr., Wildwood, Fla.)

SPECIALISTS (5)
K Nolan Hauser, Clemson (6-1, 190, Fr., Cornelius, N.C.)
P Rhys Dakin, Iowa (6-0, 222, Fr., Melbourne, Australia)
KR Samuel Singleton Jr., Florida State (5-11, 195, R-Fr., Charleston, S.C.)
PR Kam Shanks, UAB (5-8, 180, R-Fr., Prattville, Ala.)
AP Isaac Brown, Louisville (5-9, 190, Fr., Homestead, Fla.)

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Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren receive first-team All-American honors from FWAA

Abdul Carter is one step away from being recognized as a unanimous All-American.

Penn State’s top two players each received first-team All-American accolades on Tuesday. The Football Writers Association of America named defensive end [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] and tight end [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag] first-team All-Americans for the 2024 season.

This is the fourth All-American team to name Carter as a first-team player. Carter was named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the AFCA, and AP prior to the FWAA list. Carter is now one first-team All-American honor away from being recognzied as a unanimous All-American by the NCAA.

The Sporting News All-American list is the last team recognized by the NCAA for conensus All-Americans. If Carter is a first-team All-American according to Sporting News, Carter will be Penn State’s first consensus All-American since Carl NAssib in 2015. Carter has already clinched being known as a consensus All-American.

This is the first-team All-American honor for Warren. Warren was named a second-team All-American by the AFCA, Walter Camp Football Foundation, and AP. Warren was the winner of this year’s Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end.

Carter was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Warren was named the Big Ten’s tight end of the year as well.

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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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Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers named FWAA First Team All-Americans

Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers led one of the most prolific offenses in recent college football memory this season.

The postseason accolades continue to stack up for LSU’s offensive stars, particularly Heisman winner [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] and Biletnikoff runner-up [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag].

Both have been named First Team All-Americans by the Associated Press and now, they’ve been honored as First Teamers by the Football Writers Association of America.

Daniels had a spectacular season in which he paced the nation in most offensive stats including total offense and total touchdowns. Nabers, his favorite receiving target, led the nation in receiving yards and finished second in touchdowns behind only his LSU teammate [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], who was not included in FWAA’s First Team or Second Team.

Daniels and Nabers are off to the NFL, where they are both projected as possible top 10 picks in the 2024 draft.

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Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell named Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week

With 10 tackles and a scoop-and-score fumble recovery touchdown, Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell won the FWAA award.

The FWAA named Alabama‘s Jihaad Campbell the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Crimson Tide’s comeback victory over Tennessee.

The sophomore linebacker racked up 10 total tackles, his second-best mark of the season, and tallied his third tackle for loss of the season. He also made splash plays, including one fourth-down stop in the third quarter.

None of his earlier moments compared to his last, however, when he scooped up a fumble from Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton midway through the fourth quarter and raced all the way to the end zone to give Alabama a two-score lead. It ended up being the final score of the game.

The Crimson Tide defense shut out Tennessee in the second half after they began the third quarter trailing 20-7. Alabama remains undefeated in conference play.

For more Alabama coverage, go to Roll Tide Wire.

Penn State ranked in top 10 in preseason FWAA Super 16 Poll

Penn State lands another top 10 preseason ranking in football writers’ Super 16 poll.

Following the releases of the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and AP Top 25, Penn State has secured one more top-10 preseason ranking. The Football Writers Association of America and National Football Foundation released its preseason Super 16 Poll for the 2023 season, and Penn State was ranked at no. 7 to start the season.

Penn State’s preseason ranking in the Super 16 Poll matches the preseason rankings in the coaches and AP polls, giving Penn State a consensus no. 7 ranking to start the season. As has been the case, Georgia topped the Super 16 poll and both Michigan and Ohio State ranked higher than the Nittany Lions among Big Ten teams.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a voter in this poll and will be throughout the 2023 season. I have noted how I voted for each spot in the poll.

Texas A&M DL McKinnley Jackson named to FWAA’s 2023 Outland Trophy watchlist

Senior McKinnley Jackson was named to the 2023 Outland Trophy Watchlist, which recognizes college football’s best interior lineman on offense or defense.

With Texas A&M ready to kick off a pivotal 2023 season in about a month, a handful of returning players will prove essential to actualizing a rebound campaign. If the Maroon and White achieve their goal, it’s not a stretch to say some individual hardware could be heading to a few Aggies as a result.

In a Tuesday social media post from Aggie Football, the team shared that defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson was named to the Pro Football Writer’s Association of America’s 2023 Outland Trophy Watch List. Since 1946, the Outland Trophy has been awarded to college football’s best interior lineman on offense or defense.

This year’s preseason watchlist recognizes 91 returning standout interior linemen representing all 10 Division I FBS conferences and independents. McKinnley is just one of 17 SEC linemen named to the 2023 watchlist and one of 24 defensive tackles that the FWAA recognized.

Jackson returns for his senior season in Aggieland after appearing in eight games for the Maroon and White last season, having been named defensive MVP for the Aggies in 2022. He logged 37 total tackles, including seven for loss, to go along with two sacks and one fumble recovery. In 389 defensive snaps in 2022, he logged 219 as a run defender and 169 in pass rush situations.

He finished with a 70.1 overall defensive grade per Pro Football Focus, with a 71.8 run defense grade and a 68.9 pass rush grade.

The senior will be relied upon heavily to not only help a talented defensive front take a leap in 2023 but also to mentor the rising young talent on the line. The Aggies gave up 208.8 yards rushing per game and managed just 19 sacks in 2022, which means Jackson must lead as a force to be reckoned with if that unit hopes to realize its full potential this season.

Rising stars such as Walter Nolen, who was named the Defensive Top Newcomer last season, will depend on the likes of Jackson to lead by words and by example. Suppose the senior nose tackle consistnely bottles up opposing tailbacks or creates constant pressure on the opposing quarterback. In that case, you can be sure it will have a contagious effect on the younger players and for the better.

As Jackson prepares for the 2023 season, the official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner in Omaha on January 10, 2024.

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Abdul Carter, Nick Singleton named to FWAA Freshman All-America team

Penn State is one of three schools with multiple FWAA Freshman All-America selections

There is no doubt that freshman linebacker [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] and running back [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] each had one heck of a debut season for Penn State. And it apparently did not go unnoticed by the college football media. On Thursday, Carter and Singleton were included on the Football Writers Association of America’s 2022 Freshman All-America team.

Carter was one of four linebackers named to the FWA Freshman All-America team on the defensive side of the football. He is joined by fellow linebackers Jaishawn Barham of Maryland, Trey Moore of UTSA, and Harold Perkins of LSU. Illinois defensive e lineman Gabe Jacas was the only other Big Ten player to make the list on defense aside from Carter and Barham.

Singleton was left off the list for offense but did make the cut as an all-purpose player among the specialists. Singleton set the Penn State record for most rushing touchdowns by a freshman, including two in the Rose Bowl, and he returned a kickoff for a touchdown this past season as well.

Penn State is one of three schools with two players named to the FWAA Freshman All-America team. LSU and Georgia each landed two players on the list. Penn State had two of the five players from the Big Ten. Coincidently, Penn State also had the only two players from Pennsylvania make the list, drilling home the selling point Penn State likes to advertise that the best in the state stay in the state.

Singleton was up for the FWAA’s Freshman Player of the Year award, but North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye received that honor following a terrific season in Chapel Hill.

You can view the entire FWAA Freshman All-America roster here.

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Notre Dame makes return to FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll

Notre Dame is back in this poll for the first time since early September. A team and program on the rise…

After a 44-0 shutout victory over Boston College on senior day, Notre Dame moved to 8-3 on the 2022 season and on Sunday, returned to the FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll for the first time since early September.

What is the FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll?  It was established at the conclusion of the 2013 season by long-time partners, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the National Football Foundation (NFF). 52 voters rank the top 16 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, and the results are released every Sunday of the 2022 season; the individual votes of all members are also be made public.

Here are the complete rankings for the Super 16 Poll for November 20, 2022:

Two Wisconsin interior linemen named to Outland Trophy Watch List

Two Wisconsin interior linemen were named to the Outland Trophy Watch List earlier this week. The Badgers’ last Outland Trophy winner was OT Gabe Carimi back in 2010.

Earlier this week, the Football Writer Association of America released their initial watch list for the Outland Trophy which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football every year. Fortunately, the Wisconsin Badgers were able to land an interior lineman from offense and defense on the list.

Junior center Joe Tippman and senior nose tackle Keeanu Benton were selected for the award after having breakthrough seasons in 2021. Tippman started 10 out of the 11 games for Wisconsin and helped to create space for the Badgers’ outstanding run game last year.

On defense, Benton disrupted up the middle and is already nominated for several watch lists and preseason awards. The senior nose tackle did it all for Wisconsin in 2021 and finished with 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

The Badgers have had two Outland Trophy winners in the past with offensive tackles Gabe Carimi and Joe Thomas in 2010 and 2006.