• Complete 2016 Athlon Sports FCS All-American Team
Two OVC football players have been named to the 2016 Athlon Sports Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-American Team.
The selections were Jacksonville State senior center
Casey Dunn and Tennessee State senior offensive lineman
Jessamen Dunker.
Dunn earned his sixth All-American honor after previously being selected to the Walter Camp and STATS first-teams and being a second-team pick by the Associated Press, AFCA and HERO Sports. He anchored an offensive line that ranks eighth nationally in rushing offense (250.6 yards/game), 20th in total offense (434.1 yards/game) and 31st in scoring offense (30.9 points/game). He helped JSU win its third-straight OVC Championship and increase its Conference winning streak to 24 games. He helped block for two-time OVC Offensive Player of the Year Eli Jenkins who totaled 3,091 yards of total offense and 24 touchdowns in 12 games. The Gamecocks also had three of the top five rushing leaders in the OVC during the year.
Dunker earned his fourth All-American honor after being tabbed a first-team selection by the Associated Press and HERO Sports and a second-team choice by STATS. He was a first-team All-OVC selection and has been invited to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl in January. He anchored an offensive line that ranked 26th nationally in scoring (32.3 points/game), 29th nationally in total offense (415.1 yards/game), 31st nationally in passing (248.2 yards/game) and 48th in rushing offense (166.9 yards/game). Overall the team led the OVC by averaging 6.6 yards/play and quarterback Ronald Butler finished the year with 2,608 yards of total offense and 27 total touchdowns. The team was also eighth nationally in tackles-for-loss allowed (4.09/game) and 31st in sacks allowed (1.45/game).
The All-America Team, selected after all postseason play was completed, included 29 players from 28 different schools and 11 different conferences.
2016 Athlon Sports FCS All-American Team From the OVC
Casey Dunn, Jacksonville State
Jessamen Dunker, Tennessee State