Four Gamecocks Named Stats Perform FCS All-Americans
5/10/2021 12:00:00 PM | Football
JACKSONVILLE – The first FCS All-America Team of the 2021 spring season was released on Monday by Stats Perform, and four Jacksonville State student-athletes were included.
Senior tight end Trae Barry and sophomore safety Nicario Harper were honored as First Team All-Americans, while sophomore offensive lineman Tylan Grable and junior defensive end DJ Coleman were among the second-team honorees.
The honors come after the Gamecocks (10-3, 7-0 Ohio Valley Conference) had one of the nation's best improvements from 2019. JSU went 3-1 in its fall non-conference schedule and then posted a 6-1 conference record to win its sixth OVC Championship in the past seven years.
The Gamecocks advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the eighth time in the past 11 seasons and advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2015.
Barry was named First Team All-America for the first time in his career after earning Freshman All-America and Sophomore All-America in 2017 and 2018. The Summerdale, Ala., native earned his third All-OVC honor this season after hauling in 33 catches for 534 yards and a touchdown. He also became the school's career receiving yards leader among tight ends (100 catches for 1,610 yards).
Harper earned his first All-America honor after a stellar first season at JSU. The Atlanta native was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS each season, after being named the OVC's Defensive Player of the Year. In his first season after transferring to JSU, Harper led the OVC's top defense with 92 tackles and with four takeaways. He intercepted three passes and returned a fumble 64 yards for a touchdown.
Coleman earned his second All-America honor after being named a third-team selection by HERO Sports in 2019. The Atlanta native was one of the OVC's top defensive players in 2020-21, leading a defense that was atop the OVC in yards allowed and pressuring opposing quarterbacks. Coleman had 55 tackles with 12 for a loss and a team-high nine sacks. He was first in the OVC in sacks per game and second in the nation with 12.0 total sacks. He had 14 quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
Grable found his name on the Stats Perform All-America Team after being named to the All-OVC First Team. The Gordon, Ga., native started all nine games in the spring for JSU at left tackle, less than two years after moving to the offensive line from tight end. He graded out at a team-high 88 percent and recorded 32 knockdowns on the season. Grable helped pave the way for a JSU offense that was as balanced as any in the FCS, averaging 189 yards per game on the ground and 195 yards through the air.
Senior tight end Trae Barry and sophomore safety Nicario Harper were honored as First Team All-Americans, while sophomore offensive lineman Tylan Grable and junior defensive end DJ Coleman were among the second-team honorees.
The honors come after the Gamecocks (10-3, 7-0 Ohio Valley Conference) had one of the nation's best improvements from 2019. JSU went 3-1 in its fall non-conference schedule and then posted a 6-1 conference record to win its sixth OVC Championship in the past seven years.
The Gamecocks advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the eighth time in the past 11 seasons and advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2015.
Barry was named First Team All-America for the first time in his career after earning Freshman All-America and Sophomore All-America in 2017 and 2018. The Summerdale, Ala., native earned his third All-OVC honor this season after hauling in 33 catches for 534 yards and a touchdown. He also became the school's career receiving yards leader among tight ends (100 catches for 1,610 yards).
Harper earned his first All-America honor after a stellar first season at JSU. The Atlanta native was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS each season, after being named the OVC's Defensive Player of the Year. In his first season after transferring to JSU, Harper led the OVC's top defense with 92 tackles and with four takeaways. He intercepted three passes and returned a fumble 64 yards for a touchdown.
Coleman earned his second All-America honor after being named a third-team selection by HERO Sports in 2019. The Atlanta native was one of the OVC's top defensive players in 2020-21, leading a defense that was atop the OVC in yards allowed and pressuring opposing quarterbacks. Coleman had 55 tackles with 12 for a loss and a team-high nine sacks. He was first in the OVC in sacks per game and second in the nation with 12.0 total sacks. He had 14 quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
Grable found his name on the Stats Perform All-America Team after being named to the All-OVC First Team. The Gordon, Ga., native started all nine games in the spring for JSU at left tackle, less than two years after moving to the offensive line from tight end. He graded out at a team-high 88 percent and recorded 32 knockdowns on the season. Grable helped pave the way for a JSU offense that was as balanced as any in the FCS, averaging 189 yards per game on the ground and 195 yards through the air.
Players Mentioned
Friday, April 17
Saturday, December 06
Wednesday, December 03
Sunday, November 30
