Troy University Athletics
Marcus Jones Named to FWAA Freshman All-America Team
1/8/2018 9:55:00 AM | Football
TROY, Alabama --Â Troy true freshman Marcus Jones has landed on his third All-America team of the year as the Football Writers Association of America named him to its Freshman All-America Team. The team was announced Monday morning at the annual FWAA awards breakfast prior to the CFP National Championship Game.
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Jones was named to the prestigious FWAA Freshman All-America Team as a kickoff returner after averaging 30.31 yards per kickoff return this season with a school record three returned for a touchdown.
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The native of Enterprise, Ala., finished eighth nationally and first among freshman with his 30.31 per-return average, which also ranked as the fourth-best in Troy and Sun Belt Conference history.
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Jones tied an NCAA record when he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in Troy's victory at Coastal Carolina; he became just the 24th player in FBS history to accomplish the feat. He is one of just six players nationally with four all-purpose plays of 80 or more yards this season and one of six players with three plays of 90 or more yards.
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Also a key part of Troy's top-rated defense, Jones intercepted a pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown in the Trojans' Sun Belt title clinching victory at Arkansas State. The Sun Belt Freshman of the Year opened the scoring for Troy in the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
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Jones was earlier named to the ESPN Freshman All-America Team and the Phil Steele All-America Third Team. He became just the second Troy player in the school's FBS history to be named to a full All-America Team – Leodis McKelvin was named to the Rivals, Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly All-America teams in 2007.
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Troy finished the season 11-2 with a record sixth Sun Belt Conference championship in addition to a New Orleans Bowl title. The Trojans have won 22 of their last 27 games dating back to the 2015 season and will enter the 2018 season with the nation's fourth-longest active winning streak at seven games.
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Jones was named to the prestigious FWAA Freshman All-America Team as a kickoff returner after averaging 30.31 yards per kickoff return this season with a school record three returned for a touchdown.
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The native of Enterprise, Ala., finished eighth nationally and first among freshman with his 30.31 per-return average, which also ranked as the fourth-best in Troy and Sun Belt Conference history.
Â
Jones tied an NCAA record when he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in Troy's victory at Coastal Carolina; he became just the 24th player in FBS history to accomplish the feat. He is one of just six players nationally with four all-purpose plays of 80 or more yards this season and one of six players with three plays of 90 or more yards.
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Also a key part of Troy's top-rated defense, Jones intercepted a pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown in the Trojans' Sun Belt title clinching victory at Arkansas State. The Sun Belt Freshman of the Year opened the scoring for Troy in the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
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Jones was earlier named to the ESPN Freshman All-America Team and the Phil Steele All-America Third Team. He became just the second Troy player in the school's FBS history to be named to a full All-America Team – Leodis McKelvin was named to the Rivals, Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly All-America teams in 2007.
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Troy finished the season 11-2 with a record sixth Sun Belt Conference championship in addition to a New Orleans Bowl title. The Trojans have won 22 of their last 27 games dating back to the 2015 season and will enter the 2018 season with the nation's fourth-longest active winning streak at seven games.
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