• Complete HERO Sports Freshman All-American Team
Three OVC football players have been named to the 2019 HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American Team. Austin Peay offensive lineman
Bucky Williams was a first-team selection while UT Martin quarterback
John Bachus III and defensive lineman
Jamarius Landers were named honorable mention selections.
Williams was the lone freshman on a veteran offensive line that included two seniors and a junior. He played helped Austin Peay claim its first OVC Championship since 1977 and advance to the FCS Playoffs for the first time where APSU won twice to advance to the quarterfinals. Williams started every game and helped the team break program’s single-season record for total offense (6,288 yards) despite losing starting quarterback in second game of the season. The team led the OVC and ranked 19th nationally in scoring offense (34.5 points/game), which scoring 40 or more points seven times. Austin Peay ranked 30th nationally in total offense (419.2 yards/game). The team also ranked 32nd nationally in third down conversion (42.1%).
Bachus, who finished ninth in balloting for the Jerry Rice Award, took over a team that was 2-9 overall (2-6 OVC) last year and started all 12 games in 2019 in helping UT Martin improve to 7-5 overall and 6-2 in the OVC (third place). Among freshmen quarterbacks nationally, Bachus ranked second in total passing yards (2,549 – 40th among all players), fourth in passing yards/completion (13.56 – 24th among all players) and fifth in total passing touchdowns (18 – 48th among all players).
Landers played in 12 games in 2019, tallying 17 tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, two pass breakups and seven quarterback hurries.
HERO Sports Freshman All-Americans From the OVC
OL - Bucky Williams, Austin Peay (1st Team)
QB - John Bachus III, UT Martin (Honorable Mention)
DL - Jamarius Landers, UT Martin (HM)