University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Manny Flores
Three From UNT Earn DCTF Recognition
6/10/2020 5:33:00 PM | Football
LEWISVILLE, Texas - Three members of the Mean Green football program earned spots on Dave Campbell's Texas Football Preseason All-Texas College teams, the publication announced Wednesday. Senior wide receiver Jaelon Darden was selected to the first team, while senior defensive lineman Dion Novil and redshirt senior kick returner Deion Hair-Griffin earned second team spots.
Darden, a 2019 first team all-conference selection by the league's 14 head coaches, led the Mean Green in every major receiving category and was among the nation's most productive receivers in 2019. He finished with 76 receptions for 736 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 12 receiving scores ranked 12th in FBS (his 12 touchdowns were three more than anyone else in the conference), and he ranked 21st in the country in receptions per game (6.3). Darden tied for the most three-touchdown games by any receiver in the country with two. Darden is fourth in program history in single season receiving touchdowns and his 76 catches tied for fifth-most in a single season in program history (John Love, 1965). Darden concluded his junior season with 156 career catches, which ranks sixth in program history, and his 19 career touchdowns are seventh in program history. An explosive talent from the slot, Darden enters 2020 as the lone senior among a deep receiving corps and will look to continue to build on his fantastic career in Denton.
Novil is coming off the most productive season of his career on his way to all-conference honorable mention honors. He finished with 61 total tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks at nose tackle in 2019 for the Mean Green. Throughout his career in Denton, Novil has appeared in 29 games, posting 98 tackles, 20.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He was a major factor on the interior and over the course of his career has shown a lot of versatility, having played on the edge as well, earlier in his career. Heading into his senior season, Novil is certainly a focal point on the defensive side of the ball, as the unit adapts to new defensive coordinator Clint Bowen's style and philosophy.
Hair-Griffin was the national leader in kick return average at 40.8 yards per return in 2019 and earned second team all-conference recognition from C-USA's 14 head coaches. Hair-Griffin had one kick return for a touchdown, which was a 96-yard score in the season-opener against Abilene Christian on 8/31. That 96-yard return tied for the ninth-longest return in program history. Hair-Griffin had five returns in 2019 of 50-plus yards, four of which are of 60 or more yards (96, 71, 63, 61 and 50).
Darden, a 2019 first team all-conference selection by the league's 14 head coaches, led the Mean Green in every major receiving category and was among the nation's most productive receivers in 2019. He finished with 76 receptions for 736 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 12 receiving scores ranked 12th in FBS (his 12 touchdowns were three more than anyone else in the conference), and he ranked 21st in the country in receptions per game (6.3). Darden tied for the most three-touchdown games by any receiver in the country with two. Darden is fourth in program history in single season receiving touchdowns and his 76 catches tied for fifth-most in a single season in program history (John Love, 1965). Darden concluded his junior season with 156 career catches, which ranks sixth in program history, and his 19 career touchdowns are seventh in program history. An explosive talent from the slot, Darden enters 2020 as the lone senior among a deep receiving corps and will look to continue to build on his fantastic career in Denton.
Novil is coming off the most productive season of his career on his way to all-conference honorable mention honors. He finished with 61 total tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks at nose tackle in 2019 for the Mean Green. Throughout his career in Denton, Novil has appeared in 29 games, posting 98 tackles, 20.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He was a major factor on the interior and over the course of his career has shown a lot of versatility, having played on the edge as well, earlier in his career. Heading into his senior season, Novil is certainly a focal point on the defensive side of the ball, as the unit adapts to new defensive coordinator Clint Bowen's style and philosophy.
Hair-Griffin was the national leader in kick return average at 40.8 yards per return in 2019 and earned second team all-conference recognition from C-USA's 14 head coaches. Hair-Griffin had one kick return for a touchdown, which was a 96-yard score in the season-opener against Abilene Christian on 8/31. That 96-yard return tied for the ninth-longest return in program history. Hair-Griffin had five returns in 2019 of 50-plus yards, four of which are of 60 or more yards (96, 71, 63, 61 and 50).
Players Mentioned
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