Monday, December 19, 2016

Six SWAC Standouts Garner AFCA All-America Honors

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Southern running back Lenard Tillery and wide receiver Willie Quinn, Texas Southern kicker Eric Medina, Jackson State defensive end/linebacker Javancy Jones, Grambling State wide receiver Chad Williams and Alabama State linebacker Kourtney Berry have been named to the American Football Coaches Association 2016 Coaches' FCS All-America team.

The announcement was made earlier today. Medina is the AFCA first-team pick at kicker, and Tillery, Quinn, Jones, Berry and Williams all received second-team consideration at their respective positions except for Quinn, who was a second-team choice as an all-purpose player.

Each player was also a first-team All-SWAC choice at their respective positions, with Quinn doubling up first-team All-SWAC nods at wide receiver and return specialist and Jones taking first team all-league honors at defensive end and second team honors at linebacker. Medina also earned first-team All-SWAC honors in multiple positions this year (kicker and punter).

Tilley rushed for a league-leading 1,665 yards and 13 scores on his way to becoming the all-time leading rusher in SWAC history. He led the conference in rushing by more than 400 yards.

Williams hit the SWAC triple crown in receiving as he led all players in catches (90), yards (1337) and touchdowns (11). He was the only player to crack 1,000 receiving yards and average 100 yards or better per contest.

Quinn tied Williams for the league lead in touchdown grabs, catching 63 balls for 955 yards. Quinn added another 697 yards in the return game as he accounted for 1682 total yards of offense, good for No. 4 in the conference.

Medina was 15-of-16 in field goals, and scored 72 points. The LaPorte, Texas native also averaged 42.1 yards per punt on his 36 attempts.

Jones, who was a second-team AFCA All-American at defensive end, posted 82 tackles (fourth-highest in the league) and four sacks with 19.5 tackles for loss. The latter figure was second in the conference.

Berry, a three-time All-SWAC first-teamer, made 66 total stops in his last hurrah for Alabama State, which put him in the top 10 ranks for tackles.
SWAC Football.

FULL AFCA COACHES FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM


COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

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