Gumms and Nwaiwu Named Freshman All-Americans
12/6/2022 9:00:00 AM | Football
UNT the lone C-USA program with multiple Freshman All-America selections
DENTON – After having stellar performances on the field this season, North Texas freshmen Var'Keyes Gumms and Febechi Nwaiwu both were named second team Freshmen All-Americans by The Athletic and College Football News, the outlets announced this week.
Gumms, who set a record for the most single-season yards by a tight end in program history, was a Second Team selection while Nwaiwu, who started 12 of 13 games for the Mean Green this season, landed on the Third Team.
The duo are the first North Texas players to earn Freshman All-America honors since Giovanni Vizza and Craig Robertson were honorable mention picks in 2007.
One of the top tight ends in the country, regardless of classification, Gumms finished the season with 33 catches for 451 yards and five touchdowns. His five touchdowns are the second-most by any TE in UNT history and is tied for 13th among all FBS TEs.
Among FBS TEs who had at least 50 targets on the year, Gumms' 13.7 yards per reception ranks second in FBS, only behind Georgia's Brock Bowers who was recently named a finalist for the 2022 John Mackey Award given to the best tight end in college football.
Nwaiwu, meanwhile, had a strong 2022 campaign after redshirting a season ago. A 12-game starter at guard for UNT, Nwaiwu blocked for a Mean Green offense that ranked inside the top-30 in FBS in total offense, rushing offense and scoring offense.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) Nwaiwu is the highest graded freshman offensive lineman in Conference USA and ranks among the top-20 among all lineman in the league. In 391 pressure opportunities, Nwaiwu has not allowed a sack and has given up just 11 total pressures this season.
Both Gumms and Nwaiwu return to action with the Mean Green on Saturday, Dec. 17 when they play in the Frisco Bowl at 8:15 pm inside Toyota Stadium against Boise State.
Gumms, who set a record for the most single-season yards by a tight end in program history, was a Second Team selection while Nwaiwu, who started 12 of 13 games for the Mean Green this season, landed on the Third Team.
The duo are the first North Texas players to earn Freshman All-America honors since Giovanni Vizza and Craig Robertson were honorable mention picks in 2007.
One of the top tight ends in the country, regardless of classification, Gumms finished the season with 33 catches for 451 yards and five touchdowns. His five touchdowns are the second-most by any TE in UNT history and is tied for 13th among all FBS TEs.
Among FBS TEs who had at least 50 targets on the year, Gumms' 13.7 yards per reception ranks second in FBS, only behind Georgia's Brock Bowers who was recently named a finalist for the 2022 John Mackey Award given to the best tight end in college football.
Nwaiwu, meanwhile, had a strong 2022 campaign after redshirting a season ago. A 12-game starter at guard for UNT, Nwaiwu blocked for a Mean Green offense that ranked inside the top-30 in FBS in total offense, rushing offense and scoring offense.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) Nwaiwu is the highest graded freshman offensive lineman in Conference USA and ranks among the top-20 among all lineman in the league. In 391 pressure opportunities, Nwaiwu has not allowed a sack and has given up just 11 total pressures this season.
Both Gumms and Nwaiwu return to action with the Mean Green on Saturday, Dec. 17 when they play in the Frisco Bowl at 8:15 pm inside Toyota Stadium against Boise State.
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