HERO Sports Honors 14 CAA Football Players Across Three All-America Squads

HERO Sports Honors 14 CAA Football Players Across Three All-America Squads

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Rob Washburn

HERO Sports FCS All-America Team
HERO Sports Sophomore All-America Team
HERO Sports Freshman All-America Team

RICHMOND, Va. (December 8, 2022) – Fourteen CAA Football players were honored across three HERO Sports FCS All-America teams that were announced on Thursday.

Monmouth sophomore running back Jaden Shirden, William & Mary senior offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal, New Hampshire junior running back/returner Dylan Laube, Delaware graduate student linebacker Johnny Buchanan and Elon senior defensive back Marcus Hillman were selected to the HERO Sports FCS All-America team.

Shirden led FCS in rushing with 1,722 yards and 13 touchdowns on 206 carries. Sorsdal was the top blocker for a W&M offense that ranked 4th nationally in rushing and averaged 35.7 points per game. Laube topped the nation with 2,332 all-purpose yards, which included 1,209 yards and 15 TD’s rushing and two TD’s on returns. Buchanan ranked second nationally with 150 tackles, including 8.5 TFL’s. Hillman filled the stat sheet with 83 tackles, 18.5 TFL’s, 8.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.

Named to the HERO Sports FCS Sophomore All-America team were Monmouth’s Shirden, William & Mary offensive lineman Charles Grant, New Hampshire defensive ends Josiah Silver and Dylan Ruiz, William & Mary linebacker John Pius and Elon punter Jeff Yurk.

Grant was part of a Tribe offensive line that led the nation with only seven quarterback sacks allowed in 12 games. Silver recorded 55 tackles, 17.5 TFL’s, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Ruiz contributed 60 tackles, 14.5 TFL’s, 12.0 sacks and two forced fumbles. Pius topped W&M with 71 tackles, 19.0 TFL’s and 11.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hurries. Yurk averaged 44.1 yards on 55 punts, including 16 of 50 or more yards and 18 inside the 20-yard line.

Making the HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-America squad were UAlbany quarterback Reese Poffenbarger, Elon running back Jalen Hampton, Towson linebacker Mason Woods and William & Mary defensive back Jalen Jones.

Poffenbarger completed 227-of-369 passes for 2,999 yards and 24 touchdowns with only four interceptions. Hampton rushed for a team-high 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns on 231 carries. Woods registered a team-best 77 tackles, 5.5 TFL’s and an interception. Jones was tied for the CAA lead with four interceptions, broke up eight passes and made 22 tackles.