University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Manny Flores
Novil, Mooney Named to Athlon's First Team
6/15/2020 5:13:00 PM | Football
DENTON - A pair of Mean Green players were selected to Athlon's Preseason Conference USA First Team, while four others earned spots on their other teams. Senior defensive lineman Dion Novil and junior kicker Ethan Mooney represent North Texas on the first team, while senior receiver Jaelon Darden and redshirt senior kick returner Deion-Hair Griffin were selected to the second team, redshirt junior running back Tre Siggers and senior linebacker Tyreke Davis were named to the publication's third team. Darden also earned a fourth team nod as a punt returner.
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.
Mooney earned all-conference honorable mention status following his sophomore season, his first as the Mean Green's kicker. He finished the season 16-20 on field goals and converted on 43-44 extra points during the 2019 season. Mooney kicked a career-long 51-yard field goal and also hit three field goals of 40 or more yards. Mooney also was the primary kickoff specialist as well, averaging 52.0 yards per kickoff with 10 touchbacks.
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. The junior 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.
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).
Siggers burst onto the scene in 2019 following his transition from safety. He paced the Mean Green ground attack with 152 carries for 853 yards and six touchdowns in 10 appearances. Siggers averaged a team-best 5.6 yards per carry. With his lower center of gravity, Siggers packs quite a punch with his very physical running style. He surpassed 100-yards on three occasions during his first season as the primary ball-carrier for the Mean Green. Siggers was an all-conference honorable mention selection by the league's 14 head coaches.
Davis made the switch from nickel to mike linebacker and made a big impact defensively for the Mean Green. Davis finished as the team's second-leading tackler with 80 total stops with a team-high 14.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass-breakup. Davis started 11 of the 12 games he appeared in 2019. The Denton native has 147 career tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and a pair of pass break-ups in his three seasons at UNT. Davis earned all-conference honorable mention status in 2019.
Full list from Athlon available here.
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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.
Mooney earned all-conference honorable mention status following his sophomore season, his first as the Mean Green's kicker. He finished the season 16-20 on field goals and converted on 43-44 extra points during the 2019 season. Mooney kicked a career-long 51-yard field goal and also hit three field goals of 40 or more yards. Mooney also was the primary kickoff specialist as well, averaging 52.0 yards per kickoff with 10 touchbacks.
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. The junior 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.
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).
Siggers burst onto the scene in 2019 following his transition from safety. He paced the Mean Green ground attack with 152 carries for 853 yards and six touchdowns in 10 appearances. Siggers averaged a team-best 5.6 yards per carry. With his lower center of gravity, Siggers packs quite a punch with his very physical running style. He surpassed 100-yards on three occasions during his first season as the primary ball-carrier for the Mean Green. Siggers was an all-conference honorable mention selection by the league's 14 head coaches.
Davis made the switch from nickel to mike linebacker and made a big impact defensively for the Mean Green. Davis finished as the team's second-leading tackler with 80 total stops with a team-high 14.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass-breakup. Davis started 11 of the 12 games he appeared in 2019. The Denton native has 147 career tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and a pair of pass break-ups in his three seasons at UNT. Davis earned all-conference honorable mention status in 2019.
Full list from Athlon available here.
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