CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Four Austin Peay State University football athletes were named to the 2019 STATS FCS All-America Teams, Thursday. The Governors four honorees were third-most among FCS programs, trailing only North Dakota State and James Madison.
Junior defensive back Kordell Jackson nabbed his third First-Team All-America honor. Joining him as STATS FCS Second-Team All-Americans were junior wide receiver DeAngelo Wilson and senior offensive lineman Kyle Anderton. Senior quarterback JaVaughn Craig earned Third-Team All-America recognition as an all-purpose runner.
Wednesday, Kordell Jackson was named the FCS' top defensive back by the Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA). In coordination with the 13 FCS conference offices, it is the seventh year the FCS ADA has recognized the top student-athletes at 11 different positions.
The Associated Press All-America team announcement, Tuesday, named Jackson a First-Team FCS All-America selection, becoming the first Governors player to earn first team recognition at any position from the Associated Press since Jay Bailey in 2002. Anderton and Wilson also earned second team honors from the Associated Press.
Sophomore linebacker Jack McDonald picked up recognition on the HERO Sports Sophomore All-America list with an honorable mention, Tuesday. Freshman offensive lineman Bucky Williams became the second Govs offensive lineman recognized in the post season with First-Team HERO Sports Freshman All-America honors.
The first of the postseason All-America teams were announced, Monday, with four Austin Peay football players named to the HERO Sports All-America Teams.
A profile for each of the Governors postseason award winners follows. This page will be updated throughout the week as the different All-America teams are announced.
Kyle Anderton, Senior, Offensive Lineman
- Second-Team STATS FCS All-American (OL)
- Second-Team Associated Press All-American (OL)
- Third-Team HERO Sports All-American (OL)
One of the Govs offensive line stalwarts for a unit which led the OVC in scoring (34.5 ppg), total offense (419.2 ypg), third-down conversions (42.1 percent) and fourth-down conversions (62.1 percent), Anderton also anchored a line which allowed just 1.00 sacks per game, ranking eighth nationally.
- Third-Team STATS FCS All-American (All Purpose)
- First-Team HERO Sports All-American (Athlete)
When pressed into action after Jeremiah Oatsvall was lost for the regular season, the senior responded with a monster final campaign, throwing for a program-record 3,208 yards and 28 touchdowns with a 57.6 pass completion percentage, and rushing for 714 yards on 135 carries and nine TDs as a complementary threat out of the backfield. His 140.36 pass efficiency rating led the conference and ranked 30th in the NCAA, while his 14.8 points responsible for per game ranked 25th among FCS athletes. He also averaged 13.71 yards per completion, 18th in the FCS and first in the league.Â
- Walter Camp FCS All-American (DB)
- First-Team AFCA All-American (DB)
- First-Team STATS FCS All-American (DB)
- FCS ADA All-America Team (DB)
- First-Team Associated Press All-American (DB)
- First-Team HERO Sports All-American (DB)
The ball found its way into Kordell Jackson's hands often in 2019. The Birmingham, Alabama native led the OVC with seven interceptions and ultimately was responsible for 10 of the Govs 25 turnovers gained. Jackson's 159 interception return yards both led the OVC in 2019 and ranked second in program history behind only Howell Flatt's 1966 campaign. When he wasn't providing lockdown protection, Jackson could often be found in the opposing backfield, with eight of his 47 tackles resulting in lost yardage.
- Honorable Mention HERO Sports Sophomore All-American (WR)
McDonald led the Govs with 118 tackles in 2019, finishing sixth among league defenders with 7.7 tackles per game. He posted four double-digit tackle outings during the season, including back-to-back against nationally-ranked Jacksonville state and Southeast Missouri. McDonald also was third among all Govs with 9.5 tackles for loss, and had a hand in three turnovers gained by the Govs.
Bucky Williams, Freshman, Offensive Lineman
- First-Team HERO Sports Freshman All-American (OL)
One of the Govs offensive line stalwarts for a unit which led the OVC in scoring (34.5 ppg), total offense (419.2 ypg), third-down conversions (42.1 percent) and fourth-down conversions (62.1 percent), Williams helped anchored a line which allowed just 1.00 sacks per game, ranking eighth nationally.
- Second-Team STATS FCS All-American (WR)
- Second-Team Associated Press All-American (WR)
- First-Team HERO Sports All-American (WR)
Wilson put together the finest season by a receiver in program history, finishing with 89 catches for 1,564 yards and 15 touchdowns – each program records. He recorded eight 100-yard outings during the season and is the first Govs receiver to average more than 100 yards per game since Lanis Frederick in 2006. He finished the postseason with 318 yards receiving on 21 catches with three touchdowns, averaging 106 yards in the three postseason outings.
