BOCA RATON, Fla. – In voting cast by Conference USA coaches and released by the league on Monday, nine members of the Montgomery Bowl-bound Florida Atlantic University football team have been recognized as postseason award honorees.
Redshirt senior defensive end Leighton McCarthy is an All-C-USA Second Team member, while LaJohntay Wester earned two separate slots on the All-Freshman Team, at both wide receiver and punt returner.
Additionally, six of McCarthy’s fellow defenders – defensive tackle Jaylen Joyner, linebackers Caliph Brice and Ahman Ross, and defensive backs Zyon Gilbert, Jordan Helm and Teja Young – were tabbed as Honorable Mention, as was redshirt sophomore punter Matt Hayball.
Leighton McCarthy – Redshirt Senior Defensive End/Linebacker – Apopka, Florida
McCarthy ranks No. 1 in C-USA, and tied for fourth nationally in all of FBS, with 9.0 sacks, and also leads C-USA with 12.5 tackles for loss (16th nationally). He actually played game one at a new position, outside linebacker, and earned C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors with a career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 of which went for loss, and 3.0 sacks (both of those latter numbers second highest by a league player in a game). Since, he has played a hybrid role, mostly on the line, but hasn’t missed a beat, with at least one TFL in every game but one. That included four consecutive games with sacks, including 2.5 in a Shula Bowl win over rival FIU.
LaJohntay Wester – Freshman Wide Receiver/Return Specialist – Palmetto, Florida
Wester, a true freshman, has been a jack-of-all-trades for Owls, as successful rusher, receiver and returner, and he leads the team with 478 all-purpose yards on the season. He’s caught 14 passes (fourth on the team) for 95 yards, rushed for 34 more, and has done a ton of damage in the return game. On the punt return side, he’s returned 10 for 89 yards, with a long of 27 against UTSA; on kickoffs, he averages 21.7 per, 12 for 260, with gains of 37 against Marshall and 32 at FIU. He’s fourth in the league in kick return average, and second in punt return average.
In two days, Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Eastern, the Owls take on Memphis in the 2020 Montgomery Bowl. Tune in on ESPN, or listen live on Fox South Florida 640 AM.
