University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Manny Flores
Five Earn Preseason All-Conference Honors
8/25/2020 11:01:00 AM | Football
DALLAS - North Texas placed five players on the Conference USA preseason all-conference list, which tied for the most selections in the league. Seniors Jaelon Darden, Dion Novil, Deion Hair-Griffin and Jason Pirtle and junior kicker Ethan Mooney represent the Mean Green as preseason all-conference selections, as chosen by the league's 14 head coaches.
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. 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 one of two seniors 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).
Pirtle entered last season as the backup tight end after transitioning from wide receiver and turned in an all-conference honorable mention performance in 2019. He posted 17 catches for 263 yards and five touchdowns during the 2019 season. Pirtle is a big-play threat from the tight end spot, and averaged 15.5 yards per reception, which ranked second on the team. He's continued to build out his frame in the offseason and is up to 232 pounds entering his senior season as the Mean Green's starting tight end.
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.
North Texas opens its season on Saturday, Sept. 5, from Apogee Stadium against Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist.
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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. 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 one of two seniors 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).
Pirtle entered last season as the backup tight end after transitioning from wide receiver and turned in an all-conference honorable mention performance in 2019. He posted 17 catches for 263 yards and five touchdowns during the 2019 season. Pirtle is a big-play threat from the tight end spot, and averaged 15.5 yards per reception, which ranked second on the team. He's continued to build out his frame in the offseason and is up to 232 pounds entering his senior season as the Mean Green's starting tight end.
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.
North Texas opens its season on Saturday, Sept. 5, from Apogee Stadium against Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist.
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