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Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott and Richmond defensive lineman Jeremiah Grant headline the 2024 FCS Coaches’ All-America Team announced today by the American Football Coaches Association. The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions.
Mellott, the Big Sky Offensive MVP and a top three finalist for the Walter Payton Award, leads the nation in points responsible for (246) and passing efficiency (183.21). He has thrown 259 passes, completing 182 for 2,430 yards and 28 touchdowns on just two interceptions. Mellott has also rushed for 790 yards with 14 rushing touchdowns. His 8.6 yards per carry would lead the nation if he qualified for that NCAA stat.
Grant is a top three finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award after he led the nation in sacks with 13.5. He recorded 53 tackles, 38 of them solo, 19.5 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, recovered one, had eight quarterback hurries and broke up two passes. Grant finished the season second on Richmond’s all-time list for sacks in a season and fifth in career sacks with 21.5.>
| First Team-Offense | |||
| Pos. | Name | Class | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Tommy Mellott | Sr. | Montana St. |
| RB | Lan Larison | Sr. | UC Davis |
| RB | Targhee Lambson | Sr. | Southern Utah |
| WR | Efton Chism III | Sr. | Eastern Washington |
| WR | Jalen Walthall | R-Jr. | UIW |
| WR | Javonnie Gibson | R-So. | Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| TE | Chris Corbo | Jr. | Dartmouth |
| OL | Gus Miller | Sr. | South Dakota St. |
| OL | *Marcus Wehr | Sr. | Montana St. |
| OL | *Charles Grant | Sr. | William & Mary |
| OL | Grey Zabel | Sr. | North Dakota St. |
| OL | Jackson Slater | Sr. | Sacramento St. |
| First Team-Defense | |||
| Pos. | Name | Class | School |
| DL | Keyshawn James-Newby | Sr. | Idaho |
| DL | Jeremiah Grant | R-Sr. | Richmond |
| DL | Josiah Silver | Sr. | New Hampshire |
| DL | David Walker | Sr. | Central Arkansas |
| LB | Bryce Norman | Sr. | Southeast Missouri St. |
| LB | Adam Bock | Sr. | South Dakota St. |
| LB | Brandon Tucker | R-So. | East Texas A&M |
| DB | Tommy McCormick | Sr. | Idaho |
| DB | Jalen Jones | Jr. | William & Mary |
| DB | TJ Moore | Sr. | Mercer |
| DB | Mike Smith Jr. | Sr. | Eastern Kentucky |
| First Team-Special Teams | |||
| Pos. | Name | Class | School |
| P | Jeff Yurk | R-Jr. | Elon |
| PK | Gabe Panikowski | Jr. | Idaho St. |
| AP | Chandler Brayboy | R-Sr. | Elon |
| LS | Tommy Sullivan | Sr. | Montana St. |
| Second Team-Offense | |||
| Pos. | Name | Class | School |
| QB | Cam Miller | Sr. | North Dakota St. |
| RB | Travis Theis | Sr. | South Dakota |
| RB | Kayvon Britten | Sr. | Tarleton St. |
| WR | Cooper Barkate | Jr. | Harvard |
| WR | Bo Belquist | Sr. | North Dakota |
| WR | Kylon Harris | Jr. | Stephen F. Austin |
| TE | Bryzai White | Sr. | Northern Arizona |
| OL | Conner Moore | So. | Montana St. |
| OL | Brandon Casey | Sr. | Montana |
| OL | Cam Johnson | Sr. | South Carolina St. |
| OL | Evan Beerntsen | Sr. | South Dakota St. |
| OL | Carson Vinson | Sr. | Alabama A&M |
| Second Team-Defense | |||
| Pos. | Name | Class | School |
| DL | Brody Grebe | Sr. | Montana St. |
| DL | Elijah Williams | Sr. | Morgan St. |
| DL | Mi’Quise Grace | R-So. | South Dakota |
| DL | Brayden Manley | So. | Mercer |
| LB | David Meyer | R-Jr. | UC Davis |
| LB | Tye Niekamp | So. | Illinois St. |
| LB | Andrew Jones | R-Jr. | Grambling St. |
| DB | Rex Connors | Jr. | UC Davis |
| DB | Hayden McDonald | Sr. | Columbia |
| DB | Kenny Gallop Jr. | Gr. | Howard |
| DB | James Burgess | Sr. | Alabama St. |
| Second Team-Special Teams | |||
| Pos. | Name | Class | School |
| P | James Platte | Gr. | The Citadel |
| PK | Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez | Gr. | Prairie View A&M |
| AP | Michael Wortham | Sr. | Eastern Washington |
| LS | Caden Bolz | Sr. | Missouri St. |
*-2023 AFCA All-American #-2022 AFCA All-American
Team Background: The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — Division I-A and Division I-AA. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. In 2006, the Division I-A and Division I-AA teams were renamed Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), respectively. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team. The AFCA added a second team in 2016.
From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. A return specialist was added in 1997. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006. AFCA added a third wide receiver in 2024.
The Award: Members of the AFCA Coaches’ All-America First Team will receive a plaque commemorating their selection to the team, while members of the Second Team will receive a certificate.
Long Time: Defensive back Hayden McDonald is the first player from Columbia to earn AFCA All-America honors since Bill Swiacki was named an end on the 1947 AFCA All-America Team.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.