Trey Taylor named first-team All-America by AFCA
12/14/2023 9:03:00 AM | Football
Air Force senior safety Trey Taylor has been named first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the organization announced today. He is the first Falcon to earn first-team honors since Reggie Rembert earned the same honor from the AFCA in 2010.
Taylor's All-American award is his second this season, as he was a third-team selection by the Associated Press. He has also won a pair of other major awards. He was named the 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The announcement was made live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN. Taylor was also named the Defender of the Nation this season for on and off the field performance and exhibiting a high standard of integrity by leading through example.
Taylor is the first-ever Thorpe Award recipient from Air Force and only the second Falcon to win a major college football award, joining Chad Hennings, 1987 Outland Trophy recipient. A first-team All-MW selection at safety, Taylor contributed 71 tackles, three interceptions, 4 PBUs and a first-career touchdown. He posted an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 82.6 and was credited with allowing just 18 receptions on 31 targets for an average of 10.1 yards per reception.
Air Force finished the regular season with an 8-4 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the Mountain West. The Falcons play #24 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 23, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Team Background: The teams now chosen for each of the AFCA's five divisions evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — Division I-A and Division I-AA. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. In 2006, the Division I-A and Division I-AA teams were renamed Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), respectively. The AFCA started selecting an NAIA All-America Team in 2006. In 2016, the AFCA added a second team All-America.
From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added, giving us the current 25-player team. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006.
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Air Force Bowl Central
Taylor's All-American award is his second this season, as he was a third-team selection by the Associated Press. He has also won a pair of other major awards. He was named the 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The announcement was made live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN. Taylor was also named the Defender of the Nation this season for on and off the field performance and exhibiting a high standard of integrity by leading through example.
Taylor is the first-ever Thorpe Award recipient from Air Force and only the second Falcon to win a major college football award, joining Chad Hennings, 1987 Outland Trophy recipient. A first-team All-MW selection at safety, Taylor contributed 71 tackles, three interceptions, 4 PBUs and a first-career touchdown. He posted an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 82.6 and was credited with allowing just 18 receptions on 31 targets for an average of 10.1 yards per reception.
Air Force finished the regular season with an 8-4 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the Mountain West. The Falcons play #24 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 23, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Team Background: The teams now chosen for each of the AFCA's five divisions evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — Division I-A and Division I-AA. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. In 2006, the Division I-A and Division I-AA teams were renamed Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), respectively. The AFCA started selecting an NAIA All-America Team in 2006. In 2016, the AFCA added a second team All-America.
From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added, giving us the current 25-player team. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006.
Air Force Tickets click here.
Air Force Bowl Central
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