Ford, O’Connell named Associated Press All-Americans
12/16/2021 1:58:00 PM | Football
Accolades continue to roll in for two of the University of Montana's most outstanding defensive players, as Justin Ford and Patrick O'Connell were both named to one of three Associated Press 2021 Football Championship Subdivision All-America teams, the AP announced Wednesday.
Ford earned a place on the AP's first-team defense, while O'Connell landed on the second-team defense. Earlier in the week, Ford and O'Connell, both juniors, were named first-team All-Americans by HERO Sports.
Ford earned All-America honors after a remarkable season where he led the nation in interceptions, at all levels of college football, with nine.
From Sept. 25 to Nov. 13, the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year went on a streak of eight-straight games with eight interceptions and added another pick against Eastern Washington in the playoffs to bring his season haul to nine. He also scored three defensive touchdowns with a pair of pick-sixes and fumble return against Montana State.
He tied Grizzly Sports Hall of Famer Karl Stein's 1970 total for the third-most interceptions in a season in UM history with nine and picked off the most passes of anyone in the Big Sky Conference since 1996. Only safeties Mick Dennehy (10) and Stein (11 in 1969) have had more INTs for the Griz, giving Ford the most of any cornerback in UM history.
O'Connell, a top-three finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award and a catalyst in Montana's stifling defense, repeats as a first-team All-American after leading the Big Sky in sacks with a season total of 14, currently the third-most in the FCS.
The native of Kalispell was one of three Grizzlies to finish the year with over 100 tackles (105), which comes in as the sixth-most in the Big Sky and puts him among the top-25 tacklers in the nation.
O'Connell will travel to Frisco, Texas, on Jan. 7 for the Stats Perform Awards Banquet to see if he will become Montana's second-consecutive Buchanan Award winner after Dante Olson won in 2019. Ford narrowly missed a trip to Frisco as well, finishing fourth in the voting for the Buchanan Award.
Associated Press FCS All-America Teams
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Cole Kelley, senior, Southeast Louisiana.
Running backs - Quay Holmes, senior, East Tennessee State; Pierre Strong, senior, South Dakota State.
Offensive Linemen - Trevor Penning, junior, Northern Iowa; P.J. Burkhalter, senior, Nicholls State; Cordell Volson, senior, North Dakota State; Lewis Kidd, senior, Montana State; Braxton Jones, senior, Southern Utah.
Tight End - Kemari Averett, senior, Bethune-Cookman.
Receivers - Xavier Gipson, junior, Stephen F. Austin; BJ Byrd, senior, Morehead State; Jalyn Witcher, freshman, Presbyterian.
All-Purpose Player - Montrell Washington, senior, Samford.
Kicker - Ethan Ratke, senior, James Madison.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Nate Lynn, senior, William & Mary; Vaughn Taylor, senior, Morehead State; Jared Brinkman, senior, Northern Iowa; Isaiah Chambers, senior, McNeese State.
Linebackers - Troy Andersen, senior, Montana State; Isaiah Land, junior, Florida A&M; Forrest Rhyne, senior, Villanova.
Defensive Backs - Justin Ford, junior, Montana; Christian Benford, senior, Villanova; Darius Joiner, senior, Western Illinois; Johnathan Edwards, senior, Austin Peay; Decobie Durant, senior, South Carolina State.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Eric Barriere, senior, Eastern Washington.
Running Backs - Geno Hess, senior, SE Missouri State; Isaiah Ifanse, junior, Montana State.
Offensive Linemen - Cody Mauch, senior, North Dakota State; Michael Corbi, senior, Villanova; Matt Waletzko, senior, North Dakota; ZeVeyon Furcron, senior, Southern Illinois; Justin Redd, senior, Norfolk State.
Tight End - Tucker Kraft, sophomore, South Dakota State.
Receivers - Taylor Grimes, senior, Incarnate Word; Tyler Hudson, junior, Central Arkansas; Christian Watson, senior, North Dakota State.
All-Purpose Player - Jacob Saylors, senior, East Tennessee State.
Kicker - Jose Pizano, sophomore, Missouri State.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Jahari Kay, senior, Sam Houston State; Devonnsha Maxwell, junior, Chattanooga; Josiah Silver, freshman, New Hampshire; Bryce Carter, senior, James Madison.
Linebackers - Patrick O'Connell, junior, Montana; Jacob Dobbs, junior, Holy Cross; James Houston, senior, Jackson State.
Defensive Backs - Jordan Jones, junior, Rhode Island; Koby Perry, senior, Austin Peay; Brandon Dowdell, senior, Chattanooga; Devin Hafford, senior, Tarleton State; Montrae Braswell, sophomore, Missouri State.
Punter - Daniel Whelan, senior, UC Davis.
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Cole Johnson, senior, James Madison.
Running backs - Ramon Jefferson, junior, Sam Houston State; Jaleel McLaughlin, junior, Youngstown State.
Offensive Linemen - Tre'Mond Shorts, senior, East Tennessee State; Colby Thomas, senior, Sam Houston State; Jaylin Hendrix, senior, Central Arkansas; Cole Strange, senior, Chattanooga; Jake Guidone, senior, Dartmouth.
Tight End - Ryan Miller, senior, Furman.
Receivers - Dai'Jean Dixon, senior, Nicholls State; Dennis Houston, senior, Western Illinois; Caleb Snead, senior, Campbell.
All-Purpose Player - Xavier Shepherd, sophomore, Kennesaw State.
Kicker - Chris Campos, redshirt freshman, Stephen F. Austin.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Brayden Thomas, senior, North Dakota State; Clay Patterson, sophomore, Yale; Brevin Allen, senior, Campbell; Josiah Erickson, senior, Sacramento State.
Linebackers - Kelechi Anyalebechi, senior, Incarnate Word; Matt Shotwell, senior, Cal Poly; David Hoage, sophomore, Northern Colorado.
Defensive Backs - Markquese Bell, senior, Florida A&M; Zy Alexander, sophomore, Southeast Louisiana; Zyon McCollum, senior, Sam Houston State; Clayborne Fields III, junior, Marist; Greg Ross, senior, James Madison.
Punter - Grant Burkett, sophomore, Missouri State.
Ford earned a place on the AP's first-team defense, while O'Connell landed on the second-team defense. Earlier in the week, Ford and O'Connell, both juniors, were named first-team All-Americans by HERO Sports.
Ford earned All-America honors after a remarkable season where he led the nation in interceptions, at all levels of college football, with nine.
From Sept. 25 to Nov. 13, the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year went on a streak of eight-straight games with eight interceptions and added another pick against Eastern Washington in the playoffs to bring his season haul to nine. He also scored three defensive touchdowns with a pair of pick-sixes and fumble return against Montana State.
He tied Grizzly Sports Hall of Famer Karl Stein's 1970 total for the third-most interceptions in a season in UM history with nine and picked off the most passes of anyone in the Big Sky Conference since 1996. Only safeties Mick Dennehy (10) and Stein (11 in 1969) have had more INTs for the Griz, giving Ford the most of any cornerback in UM history.
O'Connell, a top-three finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award and a catalyst in Montana's stifling defense, repeats as a first-team All-American after leading the Big Sky in sacks with a season total of 14, currently the third-most in the FCS.
The native of Kalispell was one of three Grizzlies to finish the year with over 100 tackles (105), which comes in as the sixth-most in the Big Sky and puts him among the top-25 tacklers in the nation.
O'Connell will travel to Frisco, Texas, on Jan. 7 for the Stats Perform Awards Banquet to see if he will become Montana's second-consecutive Buchanan Award winner after Dante Olson won in 2019. Ford narrowly missed a trip to Frisco as well, finishing fourth in the voting for the Buchanan Award.
Associated Press FCS All-America Teams
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Cole Kelley, senior, Southeast Louisiana.
Running backs - Quay Holmes, senior, East Tennessee State; Pierre Strong, senior, South Dakota State.
Offensive Linemen - Trevor Penning, junior, Northern Iowa; P.J. Burkhalter, senior, Nicholls State; Cordell Volson, senior, North Dakota State; Lewis Kidd, senior, Montana State; Braxton Jones, senior, Southern Utah.
Tight End - Kemari Averett, senior, Bethune-Cookman.
Receivers - Xavier Gipson, junior, Stephen F. Austin; BJ Byrd, senior, Morehead State; Jalyn Witcher, freshman, Presbyterian.
All-Purpose Player - Montrell Washington, senior, Samford.
Kicker - Ethan Ratke, senior, James Madison.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Nate Lynn, senior, William & Mary; Vaughn Taylor, senior, Morehead State; Jared Brinkman, senior, Northern Iowa; Isaiah Chambers, senior, McNeese State.
Linebackers - Troy Andersen, senior, Montana State; Isaiah Land, junior, Florida A&M; Forrest Rhyne, senior, Villanova.
Defensive Backs - Justin Ford, junior, Montana; Christian Benford, senior, Villanova; Darius Joiner, senior, Western Illinois; Johnathan Edwards, senior, Austin Peay; Decobie Durant, senior, South Carolina State.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Eric Barriere, senior, Eastern Washington.
Running Backs - Geno Hess, senior, SE Missouri State; Isaiah Ifanse, junior, Montana State.
Offensive Linemen - Cody Mauch, senior, North Dakota State; Michael Corbi, senior, Villanova; Matt Waletzko, senior, North Dakota; ZeVeyon Furcron, senior, Southern Illinois; Justin Redd, senior, Norfolk State.
Tight End - Tucker Kraft, sophomore, South Dakota State.
Receivers - Taylor Grimes, senior, Incarnate Word; Tyler Hudson, junior, Central Arkansas; Christian Watson, senior, North Dakota State.
All-Purpose Player - Jacob Saylors, senior, East Tennessee State.
Kicker - Jose Pizano, sophomore, Missouri State.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Jahari Kay, senior, Sam Houston State; Devonnsha Maxwell, junior, Chattanooga; Josiah Silver, freshman, New Hampshire; Bryce Carter, senior, James Madison.
Linebackers - Patrick O'Connell, junior, Montana; Jacob Dobbs, junior, Holy Cross; James Houston, senior, Jackson State.
Defensive Backs - Jordan Jones, junior, Rhode Island; Koby Perry, senior, Austin Peay; Brandon Dowdell, senior, Chattanooga; Devin Hafford, senior, Tarleton State; Montrae Braswell, sophomore, Missouri State.
Punter - Daniel Whelan, senior, UC Davis.
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Cole Johnson, senior, James Madison.
Running backs - Ramon Jefferson, junior, Sam Houston State; Jaleel McLaughlin, junior, Youngstown State.
Offensive Linemen - Tre'Mond Shorts, senior, East Tennessee State; Colby Thomas, senior, Sam Houston State; Jaylin Hendrix, senior, Central Arkansas; Cole Strange, senior, Chattanooga; Jake Guidone, senior, Dartmouth.
Tight End - Ryan Miller, senior, Furman.
Receivers - Dai'Jean Dixon, senior, Nicholls State; Dennis Houston, senior, Western Illinois; Caleb Snead, senior, Campbell.
All-Purpose Player - Xavier Shepherd, sophomore, Kennesaw State.
Kicker - Chris Campos, redshirt freshman, Stephen F. Austin.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Brayden Thomas, senior, North Dakota State; Clay Patterson, sophomore, Yale; Brevin Allen, senior, Campbell; Josiah Erickson, senior, Sacramento State.
Linebackers - Kelechi Anyalebechi, senior, Incarnate Word; Matt Shotwell, senior, Cal Poly; David Hoage, sophomore, Northern Colorado.
Defensive Backs - Markquese Bell, senior, Florida A&M; Zy Alexander, sophomore, Southeast Louisiana; Zyon McCollum, senior, Sam Houston State; Clayborne Fields III, junior, Marist; Greg Ross, senior, James Madison.
Punter - Grant Burkett, sophomore, Missouri State.
Players Mentioned
Dillon Botner Robinson Award Ceremony
Sunday, January 04
Griz Football: Name The NCAA Player
Tuesday, December 30
Griz Football: Name The Object
Tuesday, December 30
Griz Football: Name As Many
Tuesday, December 30
