By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Continuing the theme of a record-setting season, Morehead State football landed a program-record 10 Eagles on the Academic All-PFL Teams, the most of any league school this fall.Senior wide receiver BJ Byrd, junior offensive lineman Cam Marriott, freshman offensive lineman Jaxsen Spears, senior linebacker Cameron Barrett, senior defensive lineman Vaughn Taylor, Jr., grad student kicker/punter Andrew Foster and freshman linebacker Preston Toner all earned First-Team nods. The seven first-team honorees are also the most for any PFL program this year.
Second-Team members included sophomore defensive lineman Jahleel Holmes, senior linebacker Vincent Winey and freshman long snapper Brady McKnight.
Pioneer Football League athletic directors established the Academic All-PFL squads in 1993 as a way to recognize the league's outstanding student-athletes. To be eligible for Academic All-PFL consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, reached his second season academically and played at least one full season at his current institution.
Byrd, a strategic communication major, ended the regular season as the FCS' top receiver. The PFL Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All PFL, he led the subdivision with 1,313 receiving yards, 90 receptions, and 8.2 receptions per game in 2021. Byrd's yardage total, catches and his 13 touchdowns are all MSU single-season records. He also set the single-game record with four TDs against Stetson. Byrd ranked second along all FCS players in touchdown receptions and receiving yards per game (119.4 ypg) during the season. He had an FCS-best eight 100-yard receiving performances in 11 games, including his 223-yard, four-touchdown day against Stetson. Byrd is one of 25 finalists for the Stats Perform FCS Walter Payton Award. He also finished his two-year career ranked among the best receivers in program history. In just 18 games (seven spring games after transferring from Jacksonville), Byrd compiled 1,780 yards, 21 touchdowns, averaging 98.9 yards per game.
Marriott, who hails from Redlands, Calif., is a political science major and has now earned Academic All-PFL in three consecutive seasons. He has been a four-year starter on the offensive line, where this season he helped the Eagles average 434 yards per game and rank among the FCS's top 20 in fewest sacks allowed. He has consistently graded as one the Eagles' most consistent linemen.
At center, the Plainfield, Ind, product and accounting major Spears helped the Eagles average 434 yards per game and rank among the FCS's top 20 in fewest sacks allowed. Spears was tabbed Honorable Mention All-PFL
Barrett, from Dayton, Ky., and a marketing major, finished fifth on the squad with 61 total stops in 2021 and also had three interceptions. Two of his pick-offs came in a win over Stetson, and he had 3.5 tackles for loss this season. He was also named CoSIDA Academic All-District for the second time in his career this fall and has now been a three-time First-Team Academic All-PFL award winner. He was also an Honorable Mention All-PFL pick.
Taylor, from Washington, D.C., and a sports management major, led all PFL defenders with 23 tackles for loss and his 2.09 tackles for loss per game, ranking second among all FCS athletes in 2021. The PFL Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-PFL honoree also finished the season with 10 sacks and was 14th in the PFL with 71 total tackles, ranking in the top 20 among FCS players in sacks per game. He recorded a sack in eight of 11 games in 2021, including all five games in October, and had a tackle for loss in all 11 games. Taylor is one of 25 finalists for the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award. Taylor, Jr., became the Morehead State career record holder in tackles for loss during the year and wrapped up his career with 60 TFLs. He also had 190 career total tackles.
Foster, a Knoxville, Tenn., native, has already earned his bachelor's degree in business and is working toward a master's degree in sports management. He ranked among the FCS leaders and set the PFL single-season record for punting average at 45.7. He also became the first Eagle punter in program history to average 40+ yards four consecutive seasons, coming up just 0.4 short of the career average record for the Eagles. He also made 12 field goals and was 40-of-42 on PATs, setting the record for consecutive extra point kicks during the year. Foster was named All-PFL as a punter and kicker.
Toner is from Murrieta, Calif., and is an exercise science major. He compiled 17 tackles, including a tackle for loss in his first full season in college.
Holmes came to MSU from Moreno Valley, Calif., and is a biology major. He had 36 total stops in 2021, including 1.5 in the backfield.
Winey, a native of Lindenhurst , N.Y., is majoring in English education. A First-Team All-PFL pick for the second straight season, he led the PFL in total tackles this season and became the first Eagle with 100+ stops since 2016. He finished with 106 total stops, including 51 solo tackles, to go along with 12.5 tackles for loss. He also had three sacks, five pass break ups and an interception returned for a touchdown that was MSU's final score of the 2021 season at Valparaiso. Winey concluded his MSU career with 236 tackles, including 26 for losses.
McKnight, from Stephens City, Va., is a agriculture science major. The First-Team All-PFL selection helped the Eagles lead the PFL in punting in 2021 with no bad snaps. His efforts helped punter Andrew Foster set a PFL record for punting average and also set and re-set the program record for consecutive PATs made.
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December 02, 2021 at 02:18AM
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Program-Record 10 Eagles Earn Academic All-PFL Accolades - Morehead State University Athletics - MSU Eagles
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