University of North Texas Athletics
Darden Named Second Team All-America By AFCA
12/31/2020 10:00:00 AM | Football
WACO, Texas - Senior wide receiver Jaelon Darden was named a Second Team All-America selection by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) on Thursday, continuing to add to his 2020 national accolades.
Darden is among the nation's leaders in all of the major receiving categories. The Houston native finished with 74 receptions for 1,190 yards and a single-season program record 19 touchdowns in just nine games. His 19 receiving scores lead the Football Bowl Subdivision and has two more than Alabama's DeVonta Smith, who has the second-most nationally. Darden ranks seventh in the country in receptions per game (8.2). Darden led the nation in games with three or more receiving touchdowns, with four, and also tied for the most receiving scores in a single game in the country with four. Darden ranks third nationally in receiving yards per game (132.2) and receiving yards (1,190) and fourth in receptions (74). Darden concluded his time in Denton as the program's career record-holder in receptions (230), receiving yards (2,782) and receiving touchdowns (38).
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
Darden is a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, was named the Conference USA MVP, a Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) First Team All-American, Pro Football Focus First Team All-American (and the PFF Conference USA Player of the Year), an ESPN All-America selection, a Bleacher Report All-America selection, and a Second Team All-America selection by the Associated Press, The Athletic and the Sporting News. Darden also narrowly missed a spot as one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award (was a semifinalist).
Darden is among the nation's leaders in all of the major receiving categories. The Houston native finished with 74 receptions for 1,190 yards and a single-season program record 19 touchdowns in just nine games. His 19 receiving scores lead the Football Bowl Subdivision and has two more than Alabama's DeVonta Smith, who has the second-most nationally. Darden ranks seventh in the country in receptions per game (8.2). Darden led the nation in games with three or more receiving touchdowns, with four, and also tied for the most receiving scores in a single game in the country with four. Darden ranks third nationally in receiving yards per game (132.2) and receiving yards (1,190) and fourth in receptions (74). Darden concluded his time in Denton as the program's career record-holder in receptions (230), receiving yards (2,782) and receiving touchdowns (38).
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
Darden is a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, was named the Conference USA MVP, a Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) First Team All-American, Pro Football Focus First Team All-American (and the PFF Conference USA Player of the Year), an ESPN All-America selection, a Bleacher Report All-America selection, and a Second Team All-America selection by the Associated Press, The Athletic and the Sporting News. Darden also narrowly missed a spot as one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award (was a semifinalist).
Players Mentioned
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