BOCA RATON, Fla. – Conference USA announced its 2021 All-Conference football teams on Tuesday, and a total of seven members of the Florida Atlantic University squad were recognized as honorable mention. Voting was done by the league’s 14 head coaches.
The group of Owls acknowledged Tuesday are running back Johnny Ford, defensive lineman Evan Anderson, the defensive back trio of Zyon Gilbert, Jordan Helm and Teja Young, punter Matt Hayball and long snapper Nicholas Marino. Here is more about each honoree:
#5 Johnny Ford, R-So. Running Back
Led the Owls with 831 rushing yards, at 6.3 per carry … Tallied a season-high 138 yards versus Marshall, among three total 100+-yard rushing games … Added to the squad’s receiving corps with 18 receptions, including 91 yards versus FIU, a game he had 102 rushing yards as well … Finished with a total of seven scores on the year.
#8 Evan Anderson, Fr. (2nd yr.) Nose Tackle
Totaled 40 tackles, with a team-high eight for loss (for 27 yards) … Had one sack, three quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery … Started all 12 games, and in 10 outings, had three stops or more … Season high of five came against Old Dominion, including two for loss, one sack, and the fumble recovery.
#24 Zyon Gilbert, Sr. (5th yr.) Cornerback
True program builder finished career with 60 games played, nearly 24% of the program’s games all-time … Record 51 tackles, two interceptions and a team-best 10 pass breakups this season … Season high of 12 tackles came at WKU, which included nine solo stops … Finished career with 248 career tackles, 5.5 for a loss of 17 yards, five interceptions and among FAU’s all-time leaders with 31 passes defended.
#35 Jordan Helm, Gr. (6th yr.) Safety
Led the team with 96 total tackles, 52 solo and 44 assists, and came up with three tackles for loss … Had four games with 10 or more stops, reaching 15 twice (vs. Air Force and Old Dominion) … Recorded six pass breakups this season, along with a team-high four fumble recoveries (including one that he returned for 52 yards, the second longest in program history) … Added an interception with a 25-yard return versus UTEP… Ranked No. 2 nationally and No. 1 in C-USA with 0.3 FR.
#4 Teja Young, R-So. Safety
Third on the squad with 59 tackles, and tied for the team lead with three picks, ranking No. 40 nationally with 0.3 interceptions per game … Tabulated 84 yards cumulative off of those three interceptions … Recorded a season-high 11 tackles at ODU and had 10 at Florida…. Already has played in 38 career games with a total of 112 total tackles, five interceptions and 12 passes defended.
#15 Matt Hayball, R-So. Punter
Consummate professional on and off the field, with a 3.92 GPA and back-to-back C-USA All-Academic Team honors … Ranked No. 19 nationally with a 45.7 yard-per-punt average …. Weason-high nine punts vs. UTEP (avg. 51.11) … Booted a 68-yarder at UAB … Has a career average of 44.4 per punt, and holds three of the top five program single-season high averages (1. 2021, 4. 2020, 5. 2019).
#45 Nicholas Marino, R-Fr. Long Snapper
Realized the need for a long snapper his freshman year and volunteered for the job … Focused his attention toward that goal by changing his body, has returned following two summer injuries and remained dedicated … Provided every long snap the last two seasons … Body transformation has allowed him to become a defender after the snap with four tackles on the year, two coming at UF in the season opener … Has seen just one PAT blocked in two years.
