Three more Griz earn All-America accolades
12/22/2021 2:31:00 PM | Football
Postseason honors continued to roll in for the Montana Grizzlies Wednesday, with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Athlon Sports announcing All-American teams.
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Cornerback Justin Ford and linebacker Patrick O'Connell earned a place on both lists, while long snapper Matthew O'Donoghue was named to the AFCA first teams for specialists.
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With each now considered to be consensus All-Americans, Ford has earned a place on six All-America teams, with O'Connell landing on five and O'Donoghue on three.
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Ford has earned All-America honors from HERO Sports, the Associated Press, Stats Perform, the FCS Athletic Directors Association, and now adds the AFCA first team and Athlon Sports to the list.
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The junior from Concord, N.C., led all divisions of college football in interceptions in 2021 with a total of nine. Over the course of eight games, he tallied a pick in each to go on one of football's most unprobeable streaks. He brought his season total to nine with a pick-six against Eastern Washington, one of his three defensive scores on the year with a pair of interception returns and a fumble return against Montana State.
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He's finished the year tied for the third-most single-season INTs in UM history and the most-ever by a Grizzly cornerback. He was Montana's eighth-leading tackler in 2021 with 41 total stops and registered a pair of TFLs, one sack, 11 pass breakups, 20 pass deflections, and a forced fumble. He was also one of three defenders to be named Defensive team MVP by the UM coaches at the conclusion of the season.
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O'Connell was named to the AFCA second-team All-America list in addition to the Athlon Sports team. The junior has also been honored by HERO Sports, the AP, and Stats Perform, following a dominant season leading the Big Sky in sacks with a total of 14.
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The native of Kalispell finished the year with Big Sky-best 14 sacks and 105 tackles - the sixth-most in the league and among the top-25 tacklers in the nation.
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In addition to being a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award for FCS Defensive Player of the Year, he was voted as UM's Steve Carlson MVP by his teammates at the end of the season and was named one of two recipients of the Doug Betters Golden Helmet Award, given to the team's hardest hitter, in November.
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O'Donoghue is now a consensus All-American for the second time in his career after landing on the AFCA first team this season. He's also been recognized by Stats Perform and HERO Sports following his senior campaign.
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He never missed a game for the Grizzlies after taking over as UM's long and short snapper in 2017, making 50 appearances and becoming a fan favorite on special teams.
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In that time, he never once registered a bad snap, totaling 539 punt, field goal, and PAT attempts in his career without a miss. He also scored on a pair of two-point conversions, recovered a fumble in 2018, and got in on six tackles in his career.
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At the Montana team awards banquet in November, O'Donoghue was one of three players to be named the co-Hauck Family Special Teams Player of the Year.Â
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*-2021 Spring AFCA All-American
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Athlon Sports FCS All-America Team
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Offense
QB — Eric Barriere (6-1, 210, Sr.) Eastern Washington
QB — Cole Kelley (6-7, 260, Sr.) Southeastern Louisiana
RB — Quay Holmes (6-1, 220, Jr.) ETSU
RB — Pierre Strong Jr. (5-11, 205, Sr.) South Dakota State
WR — Xavier Gipson (5-9, 170, Jr.) Stephen F. Austin
WR — Tyler Hudson (6-2, 195, So.) Central Arkansas
TE — Tucker Kraft (6-5, 255, So.) South Dakota State
OL — P.J. Burkhalter (6-3, 330, Sr.) Nicholls
OL — Trevor Penning (6-7, 321, R-Jr.) Northern Iowa
OL — Cole Strange (6-6, 301, R-Sr.) Chattanooga
OL — Cordell Volson (6-7, 313, Sr.) North Dakota State
OL — Nick Zakelj (6-5, 325, R-Sr.) Fordham
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Defense
DL — Jared Brinkman (6-2, 290, R-Sr.) Northern Iowa
DL — Isaiah Chambers (6-5, 251, Grad) McNeese
DL — James Houston (6-1, 225, Sr.) Jackson State
DL — Isaiah Land (6-4, 215, R-Jr.) Florida A&M
LB — Troy Andersen (6-4, 235, Sr.) Montana State
LB — Patrick O'Connell (6-2, 225, R-Jr.) Montana
LB — Forrest Rhyne (6-1, 235, Grad) Villanova
LB — Stone Snyder (6-3, 240, Jr.) VMI
DB — Markquese Bell (6-3, 205, R-Sr.) Florida A&M
DB — Christian Benford (6-1, 205, Sr.) Villanova
DB — Justin Ford (6-2, 190, R-Jr.) Montana
DB — Darius Joiner (6-2, 200, Sr.) Western Illinois
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Special Teams
PK — Ethan Ratke (5-10, 186, R-Sr.) James Madison
LS — Kyle Davis (6-0, 219, R-Jr.) James Madison
KR — Rashid Shaheed (6-0, 180, Sr.) Weber State
PR — Warren Newman (5-8, 175, Sr.) Jackson State
AP — Montrell Washington (5-10, 170, Sr.) Samford
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Cornerback Justin Ford and linebacker Patrick O'Connell earned a place on both lists, while long snapper Matthew O'Donoghue was named to the AFCA first teams for specialists.
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With each now considered to be consensus All-Americans, Ford has earned a place on six All-America teams, with O'Connell landing on five and O'Donoghue on three.
Â
Ford has earned All-America honors from HERO Sports, the Associated Press, Stats Perform, the FCS Athletic Directors Association, and now adds the AFCA first team and Athlon Sports to the list.
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The junior from Concord, N.C., led all divisions of college football in interceptions in 2021 with a total of nine. Over the course of eight games, he tallied a pick in each to go on one of football's most unprobeable streaks. He brought his season total to nine with a pick-six against Eastern Washington, one of his three defensive scores on the year with a pair of interception returns and a fumble return against Montana State.
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He's finished the year tied for the third-most single-season INTs in UM history and the most-ever by a Grizzly cornerback. He was Montana's eighth-leading tackler in 2021 with 41 total stops and registered a pair of TFLs, one sack, 11 pass breakups, 20 pass deflections, and a forced fumble. He was also one of three defenders to be named Defensive team MVP by the UM coaches at the conclusion of the season.
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O'Connell was named to the AFCA second-team All-America list in addition to the Athlon Sports team. The junior has also been honored by HERO Sports, the AP, and Stats Perform, following a dominant season leading the Big Sky in sacks with a total of 14.
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The native of Kalispell finished the year with Big Sky-best 14 sacks and 105 tackles - the sixth-most in the league and among the top-25 tacklers in the nation.
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In addition to being a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award for FCS Defensive Player of the Year, he was voted as UM's Steve Carlson MVP by his teammates at the end of the season and was named one of two recipients of the Doug Betters Golden Helmet Award, given to the team's hardest hitter, in November.
Â
O'Donoghue is now a consensus All-American for the second time in his career after landing on the AFCA first team this season. He's also been recognized by Stats Perform and HERO Sports following his senior campaign.
Â
He never missed a game for the Grizzlies after taking over as UM's long and short snapper in 2017, making 50 appearances and becoming a fan favorite on special teams.
Â
In that time, he never once registered a bad snap, totaling 539 punt, field goal, and PAT attempts in his career without a miss. He also scored on a pair of two-point conversions, recovered a fumble in 2018, and got in on six tackles in his career.
Â
At the Montana team awards banquet in November, O'Donoghue was one of three players to be named the co-Hauck Family Special Teams Player of the Year.Â
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| 2021 AFCA Football Championship Subdivision Coaches' All-America Team - First Team | |||||
| Offense | |||||
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School |
| QB | Cole Kelley | 6-7 | 260 | Sr. | Southeastern Louisiana |
| RB | Quay Holmes | 6-1 | 220 | R-Jr. | East Tennessee St. |
| RB | *Pierre Strong, Jr. | 5-11 | 205 | Sr. | South Dakota St. |
| WR | Xavier Gipson | 5-9 | 170 | So. | Stephen F. Austin |
| WR | BJ Byrd | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. | Morehead St. |
| TE | Kemari Averett | 6-6 | 260 | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman |
| OL | Lewis Kidd | 6-6 | 311 | Sr. | Montana St. |
| OL | P.J. Burkhalter | 6-3 | 330 | Sr. | Nicholls |
| OL | Cole Strange | 6-6 | 301 | Sr. | Chattanooga |
| OL | Cordell Volson | 6-7 | 313 | Sr. | North Dakota St. |
| OL | Trevor Penning | 6-7 | 321 | R-Jr. | Northern Iowa |
| Defense | |||||
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School |
| DL | James Houston | 6-1 | 225 | Sr. | Jackson St. |
| DL | *Isaiah Chambers | 6-5 | 251 | Gr. | McNeese |
| DL | Vaughn Taylor, Jr. | 6-3 | 252 | Sr. | Morehead St. |
| DL | *Jared Brinkman | 6-2 | 290 | R-Sr. | Northern Iowa |
| LB | Isaiah Land | 6-4 | 215 | R-Jr. | Florida A&M |
| LB | Troy Andersen | 6-4 | 235 | Sr. | Montana St. |
| LB | Forrest Rhyne | 6-1 | 235 | Gr. | Villanova |
| DB | Devin Hafford | 6-1 | 210 | Sr. | Tarleton |
| DB | Justin Ford | 6-2 | 190 | R-Jr. | Montana |
| DB | Koby Perry | 6-0 | 174 | Gr. | Austin Peay |
| DB | *Decobie Durant | 5-11 | 180 | Gr. | South Carolina St. |
| Specialists | |||||
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School |
| PK | *Ethan Ratke | 5-10 | 186 | R-Sr. | James Madison |
| AP | Montrell Washington | 5-10 | 170 | Sr. | Samford |
| LS | Matthew O'Donoghue | 6-1 | 260 | R-Sr. | Montana |
| 2021 AFCA Football Championship Subdivision Coaches' All-America Team - Second Team | |||||
| Offense | |||||
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School |
| QB | *Eric Barriere | 6-1 | 210 | R-Sr. | Eastern Washington |
| RB | Ramon Jefferson | 5-10 | 215 | R-Jr. | Sam Houston |
| RB | Isaiah Ifanse | 5-10 | 202 | Jr. | Montana St. |
| WR | Dai'Jean Dixon | 6-4 | 200 | Sr. | Nicholls |
| WR | Tyler Hudson | 6-2 | 195 | So. | Central Arkansas |
| TE | Marshel Martin | 6-2 | 209 | So. | Sacramento St. |
| OL | *Tristen Taylor | 6-6 | 320 | Sr. | Eastern Washington |
| OL | Colby Thomas | 6-2 | 300 | Sr. | Sam Houston |
| OL | Braxton Jones | 6-7 | 310 | R-Jr. | Southern Utah |
| OL | Hunter Nourzad | 6-4 | 298 | Sr. | Cornell |
| OL | Matt Waletzko | 6-7 | 305 | Sr. | North Dakota |
| Defense | |||||
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School |
| DL | Daniel Hardy | 6-3 | 240 | Sr. | Montana St. |
| DL | Bryce Carter | 6-1 | 252 | R-Sr. | James Madison |
| DL | Brevin Allen | 6-4 | 265 | Sr. | Campbell |
| DL | *Devonnsha Maxwell | 6-2 | 296 | Jr. | Chattanooga |
| LB | Jacob Dobbs | 6-0 | 232 | Jr. | Holy Cross |
| LB | Patrick O'Connell | 6-2 | 225 | R-Jr. | Montana |
| LB | Stone Snyder | 6-3 | 240 | Jr. | VMI |
| DB | *Zyon McCollum | 6-4 | 200 | Sr. | Sam Houston |
| DB | Markquese Bell | 6-3 | 205 | R-Sr. | Florida A&M |
| DB | Greg Ross | 6-1 | 186 | R-Sr. | James Madison |
| DB | Davion Ross | 5-10 | 165 | Jr. | Eastern Kentucky |
| Specialists | |||||
| Pos | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School |
| P | Grant Burkett | 6-0 | 180 | R-Fr. | Missouri St. |
| PK | Matthew Cook | 5-11 | 180 | So. | Northern Iowa |
| AP | Rashid Shaheed | 6-0 | 180 | Sr. | Weber St. |
| LS | Robert Soderholm | 6-1 | 230 | Sr. | VMI |
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Athlon Sports FCS All-America Team
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Offense
QB — Eric Barriere (6-1, 210, Sr.) Eastern Washington
QB — Cole Kelley (6-7, 260, Sr.) Southeastern Louisiana
RB — Quay Holmes (6-1, 220, Jr.) ETSU
RB — Pierre Strong Jr. (5-11, 205, Sr.) South Dakota State
WR — Xavier Gipson (5-9, 170, Jr.) Stephen F. Austin
WR — Tyler Hudson (6-2, 195, So.) Central Arkansas
TE — Tucker Kraft (6-5, 255, So.) South Dakota State
OL — P.J. Burkhalter (6-3, 330, Sr.) Nicholls
OL — Trevor Penning (6-7, 321, R-Jr.) Northern Iowa
OL — Cole Strange (6-6, 301, R-Sr.) Chattanooga
OL — Cordell Volson (6-7, 313, Sr.) North Dakota State
OL — Nick Zakelj (6-5, 325, R-Sr.) Fordham
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Defense
DL — Jared Brinkman (6-2, 290, R-Sr.) Northern Iowa
DL — Isaiah Chambers (6-5, 251, Grad) McNeese
DL — James Houston (6-1, 225, Sr.) Jackson State
DL — Isaiah Land (6-4, 215, R-Jr.) Florida A&M
LB — Troy Andersen (6-4, 235, Sr.) Montana State
LB — Patrick O'Connell (6-2, 225, R-Jr.) Montana
LB — Forrest Rhyne (6-1, 235, Grad) Villanova
LB — Stone Snyder (6-3, 240, Jr.) VMI
DB — Markquese Bell (6-3, 205, R-Sr.) Florida A&M
DB — Christian Benford (6-1, 205, Sr.) Villanova
DB — Justin Ford (6-2, 190, R-Jr.) Montana
DB — Darius Joiner (6-2, 200, Sr.) Western Illinois
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Special Teams
PK — Ethan Ratke (5-10, 186, R-Sr.) James Madison
LS — Kyle Davis (6-0, 219, R-Jr.) James Madison
KR — Rashid Shaheed (6-0, 180, Sr.) Weber State
PR — Warren Newman (5-8, 175, Sr.) Jackson State
AP — Montrell Washington (5-10, 170, Sr.) Samford
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Players Mentioned
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