CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The first All-America teams for the 2022 season were announced Thursday with three Austin Peay State University football players earning recognition from HERO Sports.
Wide receiver Drae McCray and linebacker Antoine Williams earned HERO Sports Sophomore All-America honors and offensive lineman Chandler Kirton earned HERO Sports Freshman All-America recognition.
McCray and Williams are the seventh and eighth Sophomore All-Americans in program history and mark the fourth-straight season that the Governors have had a player receive this recognition. Kirton is the sixth Freshman All-American in Austin Peay history.
The HERO Sports Awards kick off a slate of All-America honors at the FCS level with the FCS Athletics Directors Association, Stats Perform, Associated Press, Walter Camp, and American Football Coaches Association each to name their FCS All-America Teams in the upcoming days.
Check back right here to keep up with all the Governors All-America honors for the 2022 season. You can also follow the Austin Peay football team on Twitter (@GovsFB) and Instagram (@GovsFootball) for all offseason news and updates.
Governors’ 2022 All-America Honorees
- 2022 HERO Sports Freshman All-America
A 2022 All-ASUN Conference selection on the offensive line, Kirton started and played in all 11 games for Austin Peay at right guard, recording 33 knockdowns. A consistent presence on the offensive line, Kirton helped the Governors average 31.5 points per game, which ranked 32nd in the FCS during the regular season.
An Atlantic Beach, Florida product, Kirton blocked for an offense that passed for 2,580 yards and rushed for 2,082 yards. Austin Peay’s offense was one of two in the ASUN that accumulated 2,000-plus rushing and passing yards this season.
- 2022 HERO Sports Sophomore All-America
A 2021 HERO Sports Freshman All-America and 2022 All-ASUN Conference selection, McCray became the fourth 1,000-yard receiver in Austin Peay history and the first – and only – in ASUN Conference history during his sophomore season.
McCray led the conference and ranked 10th in the FCS with 1,021 receiving yards this season, he finished the regular season with 313 more receiving yards than the next closest receiver in the ASUN. McCray also caught a league-leading nine touchdowns, which ranked 17th in the FCS.
McCray had 76 receptions – 23 more than the next closest ASUN receiver – and averaged 6.9 receptions per game – 2.1 more than the next closest ASUN receiver. McCray’s 6.9 receptions per game ranked 11th in the FCS and his 76 receptions ranked eighth in the country.
The Tallahassee, Florida native recorded three games with 10 receptions and four games with 100-plus yards – the Govs were 4-0 when he topped the 100-yard mark. McCray was the Govs’ leading receiver in nine of 11 games. He also added 12 rushes for 54 yards and three kick returns for 54 yards.
- 2022 HERO Sports Sophomore All-America
A finalist for the 2022 Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award and an All-ASUN Conference selection, Williams ranked second in the ASUN with 91 total tackles and third in the conference with 12.5 tackles for loss during the regular season – he was the only player in the conference that ranked in the top three in both categories.
Williams also recorded 8.3 tackles per game, which ranked second in the conference, and four sacks, which was tied for seventh in the ASUN. The Birmingham, Alabama native also recorded 42 solo tackles, which was tied for fourth in the ASUN.
Williams also added a forced fumble, a fumble recovery that he returned 60 yards for a touchdown, a pass breakup, three quarterback hurries, and a blocked punt in 2022. He led Austin Peay in tackles, tackles for loss, and defensive touchdowns and ranked second on the team in sacks.
Williams recorded a career-best 14 tackles in the season opener and then proceeded to lead the Governors with three double-digit tackle games in 2022. Williams added 10 tackles against Alabama, marking his second double-digit tackle performance against an FBS program. He was named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Week after posting a career-high 4.0 tackles for loss against Murray State, which was the best single-game total by a Gov since 2002.