Wide receiver set program records for receiving yards and catches in a season
TAMPA, Nov. 29, 2023 – Record-breaking receiver Sean Atkins’ (Viera) selection to the American All-Conference Second Team led five Bulls that earned postseason recognition from conference coaches Wednesday when the American Athletic Conference announced postseason award winners for football.
Atkins was joined by All-AAC Honorable-mention selections in offensive guard Zane Herring (Madison), cornerback Aamaris Brown-Bunkley (Tampa), defensive tackle Rashad Cheney (Atlanta) and linebacker Jhalyn Shuler (Abbeville, S.C.).
Defending conference champion Tulane had three individual award winners as quarterback Michael Pratt was named as The American’s Offensive Player of the Year, running back Makhi Hughes was chosen as Rookie of the Year and head coach Willie Fritz was tabbed as Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. UTSA linebacker Trey Moore was the choice of the head coaches as Defensive Player of the Year.
Atkins, a former walk-on who was a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, shattered USF season receptions and receiving yards records as he logged 86 catches for 961 yards and five touchdowns through the Bulls’ 12 regular season games. Atkins ranked No. 2 in the AAC (No. 7 nationally) in receptions per game (7.2) and No. 6 in the AAC (28th nationally) in receiving yards per game (80.1). He also went 3-of-3 on pass attempts for 128 yards and a 62-yard touchdown, picked up 37 yards rushing and returned 16 punts for a 4.4 return average. He had two 100-yard receiving games, led by a 169-yard day vs. Temple, and his 88-yard touchdown reception at Navy was the second-longest in the AAC on the year.
Brown-Bunkley ranked eighth on the Bulls with 37 tackles and added two interceptions, three pass break-ups, two tackles for loss and a sack while starting all 12 games.
Cheney led all Bulls defensive linemen and was seventh overall for USF posting 39 tackles and added seven tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and a half sack as he started 11 games.
Shuler led all Bulls with 85 tackles on the year and ranked No. 11 in the AAC posting 7.08 tackles per game. He led USF in tackles in five games and added seven tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble. He also scooped up a fumbled snap on a PAT attempt at Navy and ran 80 yards for two points that maintained a 23-20 USF lead in an eventual victory.
The Bulls (6-6; 4-4 AAC) will await their bowl destination, which will be officially announced on Dec. 3.
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ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 27th regular season in 2023 by earning the program’s 11th bowl bid, entering a new $22 million Indoor Performance Facility and receiving Board of Trustees approval for construction of a $340-million on-campus stadium. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 16 All-America selections, including a 2021 consensus All-American kick returner, and had 32 first-team all-conference selections. USF has had 30 players selected in the NFL Draft and has made 10 bowl game appearances (going 6-4 in those games), posting a program-record six straight appearances from 2005-2010 and most recently making four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18. The Bulls posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
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