University of Richmond Athletics
Wheeler & Dressler Lead Eight Spiders With Postseason CAA Honors
11/26/2019 | Football
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond football team placed eight members on the postseason All-Colonial Athletic Association Team the league office announced Tuesday, as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches. Freshman linebacker Tristan Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa.) led the way being named the CAA's Defensive Rookie of the Year while junior linebacker Tyler Dressler (Covington, Va.) was the Spiders' lone representative on the All-CAA First Team.
Senior defensive lineman Maurice Jackson (Levittown, Pa.), senior safety Daniel Jones (Williamsburg, Va.) and redshirt junior offensive lineman Tim Coleman (Stone Mountain, Ga.) were all named Second Team All-CAA. Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Kobie Turner (Clifton, Va.), Wheeler, graduate wide receiver Keyston Fuller (Griffin, Ga.) and redshirt freshman kickoff returner Aaron Dykes (Knoxville, Tenn.) all picked up Third Team All-CAA accolades rounding out the award winners.
Wheeler was named the league's Defensive Rookie of the Year, marking the first time a Spider has won the award since 2007 when Eric McBride picked up the honor. He was just named one of the 20 finalists for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top freshman in NCAA FCS by STATS, Inc. He finished his rookie campaign tied for the team lead and leading all freshmen in the country in tackles this year with 104, despite not starting until the fourth game of the year. He becomes the first freshman in the NCAA FCS to reach the 100-tackle mark in a season since 2017 when Bryson Armstrong of Kennesaw State accomplished the task on his way to winning the Jerry Rice Award.
Wheeler becomes the first true freshman in Colonial Athletic Association history to reach the 100-tackle mark in a single season and the first freshman of any kind since Gage Steele (redshirt freshman) of James Madison in 2013. He recorded six games with double-digit tackles this season, starting his career with a bang with a 12-tackle showing against Jacksonville. Wheeler was also named Third Team All-CAA, one of just three freshman on any of the three All-Conference teams, joining Dykes and Will Knight of Delaware. Wheeler was the only true freshman honored on any All-Conference team this year.
Dressler was named First Team All-CAA, earning his first postseason accolade of his career. He becomes the first Spider linebacker to earn First Team honors since Omar Howard in 2016. Dressler was tied for the team lead with 104 tackles and led the CAA in tackles per game at 9.5, a half of a tackle more than any other player. He currently ranks 25th in the nation in tackles per game. He combined with Wheeler to become the first Spider duo to each record 100 tackles in a season since Eric McBride and Collin McConaghy in 2007.
Dressler posted four games of 10 or more tackles this season, none more impressive than a career-high 20-tackle performance in the Spiders' win at No. 18 Maine. His 20 tackles are the most for any player in the NCAA FCS this season and the most for a CAA player in a single game since 2017 (Nate Hatalsky, UAlbany, 21). Additionally, his 20 tackles are the most for a Spider in a single game since Darius McMillan recorded 20 against William & Mary in 2011.
Jackson was named Second Team All-CAA, his second postseason accolade from the conference. The preseason CAA Defensive Player of the Year, finished fifth all-time in Richmond football history in career sacks with 20.5, becoming just the ninth player in program history with 20 or more sacks.
Jackson, a team captain, led the team and ranked fifth in the CAA this season with 8.0 sacks. His. 8.0 sacks are tied for ninth-most in a single season in Spider history. He was second on the team with 14.0 tackles for loss and finished with 54 total tackles. He forced two fumbles, posted an interception and led the team with eight quarterback hurries. He was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week earlier this year for a 3.0-sack performance against UAlbany.
Jones was named Second Team All-CAA, picking up his first-ever career honor. He finished third on the team with 84 tackles, including a team-high 52 solo tackles. His 7.0 tackles per game ranks 16th in the CAA this season while his 52 solo tackles ranks fourth in the conference.
Jones recorded two interceptions and five pass breakups on the year. He tallied the game-clinching interception at the goal line in the closing seconds of the Spiders' win at No. 18 Maine and had an interception of CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year Jeff Undercuffler of UAlbany. He also added 3.0 tackles for loss on the year and finished his career starting the last 23 games of his career.
Coleman was named Second Team All-CAA this season, also picking up his first career CAA postseason accolade and the first Spider offensive player honored. Coleman anchored the Spiders offensive line at left tackle, starting all 12 games this year and starting the last 23 games for Richmond since coming over as a transfer from Furman.
Coleman becomes the first Spider tackle to earn All-Conference honors since Nick Richter picked up First Team accolades in 2015. It also marks the ninth-straight year that a Spider offensive lineman has earned All-Conference accolades. Coleman's play helped the Spiders finish fourth in the CAA allowing 25 sacks against.
Turner was named Third Team All-Conference in his first year as a full-time starter. Taking over for perennial All-Conference selection Andrew Clyde, Turner didn't miss a beat as a disruptive force at defensive tackle. He led all CAA defensive lineman with 71 total tackles on the year, averaging 5.9 tackles per game ranking 33rd in the conference.
Turner was second on the team and ranked sixth in the CAA overall with 7.0 sacks, including six solo sacks. He led the team and finished sixth in the CAA with 14.5 tackles for loss. He had six games with more than 1.0 tackle for loss and posted a career-high 12 tackles against No. 2 James Madison. He recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks against UAlbany this season.
Fuller was named Third Team All-CAA in his first year with the Spiders after coming in as a graduate transfer. He made an immediate impact on the team, leading the squad with 962 yards receiving on 53 catches. His 962 yards receiving ranks 11th all-time in Richmond single-season history and he finished the year sixth in the CAA.
Fuller also led the team and ranked fifth in the conference with 10 receiving touchdowns. His 10 receiving touchdowns ranks third all-time in Spider single-season history, just one off the all-time record held by Brian Brown (2016) and Walker Gillette (1969). Fuller was a big-play threat all year long, posting 12 receptions over 25 yards and six receptions of 60 yards or more.
Dykes rounds out the Spiders' all-conference selections, earning Third Team All-CAA honors as a kickoff returner in his redshirt freshman year. He is one of three freshmen honored on the All-Conference teams. He becomes the first Spider returner to earn All-Conference honors since Justin Grant picked up second team accolades in 2012.
Dykes finished second in the CAA and eighth in NCAA FCS averaging 27.1 yards per kickoff return this year. He also was tied for the CAA and national lead with two kickoff returns for touchdown this year. He was named the CAA Special Teams and National Special Teams Player of the Week earlier this year when he became the first Spider in program history to have to kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same game against Delaware.
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Senior defensive lineman Maurice Jackson (Levittown, Pa.), senior safety Daniel Jones (Williamsburg, Va.) and redshirt junior offensive lineman Tim Coleman (Stone Mountain, Ga.) were all named Second Team All-CAA. Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Kobie Turner (Clifton, Va.), Wheeler, graduate wide receiver Keyston Fuller (Griffin, Ga.) and redshirt freshman kickoff returner Aaron Dykes (Knoxville, Tenn.) all picked up Third Team All-CAA accolades rounding out the award winners.
Wheeler was named the league's Defensive Rookie of the Year, marking the first time a Spider has won the award since 2007 when Eric McBride picked up the honor. He was just named one of the 20 finalists for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top freshman in NCAA FCS by STATS, Inc. He finished his rookie campaign tied for the team lead and leading all freshmen in the country in tackles this year with 104, despite not starting until the fourth game of the year. He becomes the first freshman in the NCAA FCS to reach the 100-tackle mark in a season since 2017 when Bryson Armstrong of Kennesaw State accomplished the task on his way to winning the Jerry Rice Award.
Wheeler becomes the first true freshman in Colonial Athletic Association history to reach the 100-tackle mark in a single season and the first freshman of any kind since Gage Steele (redshirt freshman) of James Madison in 2013. He recorded six games with double-digit tackles this season, starting his career with a bang with a 12-tackle showing against Jacksonville. Wheeler was also named Third Team All-CAA, one of just three freshman on any of the three All-Conference teams, joining Dykes and Will Knight of Delaware. Wheeler was the only true freshman honored on any All-Conference team this year.
Dressler was named First Team All-CAA, earning his first postseason accolade of his career. He becomes the first Spider linebacker to earn First Team honors since Omar Howard in 2016. Dressler was tied for the team lead with 104 tackles and led the CAA in tackles per game at 9.5, a half of a tackle more than any other player. He currently ranks 25th in the nation in tackles per game. He combined with Wheeler to become the first Spider duo to each record 100 tackles in a season since Eric McBride and Collin McConaghy in 2007.
Dressler posted four games of 10 or more tackles this season, none more impressive than a career-high 20-tackle performance in the Spiders' win at No. 18 Maine. His 20 tackles are the most for any player in the NCAA FCS this season and the most for a CAA player in a single game since 2017 (Nate Hatalsky, UAlbany, 21). Additionally, his 20 tackles are the most for a Spider in a single game since Darius McMillan recorded 20 against William & Mary in 2011.
Jackson was named Second Team All-CAA, his second postseason accolade from the conference. The preseason CAA Defensive Player of the Year, finished fifth all-time in Richmond football history in career sacks with 20.5, becoming just the ninth player in program history with 20 or more sacks.
Jackson, a team captain, led the team and ranked fifth in the CAA this season with 8.0 sacks. His. 8.0 sacks are tied for ninth-most in a single season in Spider history. He was second on the team with 14.0 tackles for loss and finished with 54 total tackles. He forced two fumbles, posted an interception and led the team with eight quarterback hurries. He was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week earlier this year for a 3.0-sack performance against UAlbany.
Jones was named Second Team All-CAA, picking up his first-ever career honor. He finished third on the team with 84 tackles, including a team-high 52 solo tackles. His 7.0 tackles per game ranks 16th in the CAA this season while his 52 solo tackles ranks fourth in the conference.
Jones recorded two interceptions and five pass breakups on the year. He tallied the game-clinching interception at the goal line in the closing seconds of the Spiders' win at No. 18 Maine and had an interception of CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year Jeff Undercuffler of UAlbany. He also added 3.0 tackles for loss on the year and finished his career starting the last 23 games of his career.
Coleman was named Second Team All-CAA this season, also picking up his first career CAA postseason accolade and the first Spider offensive player honored. Coleman anchored the Spiders offensive line at left tackle, starting all 12 games this year and starting the last 23 games for Richmond since coming over as a transfer from Furman.
Coleman becomes the first Spider tackle to earn All-Conference honors since Nick Richter picked up First Team accolades in 2015. It also marks the ninth-straight year that a Spider offensive lineman has earned All-Conference accolades. Coleman's play helped the Spiders finish fourth in the CAA allowing 25 sacks against.
Turner was named Third Team All-Conference in his first year as a full-time starter. Taking over for perennial All-Conference selection Andrew Clyde, Turner didn't miss a beat as a disruptive force at defensive tackle. He led all CAA defensive lineman with 71 total tackles on the year, averaging 5.9 tackles per game ranking 33rd in the conference.
Turner was second on the team and ranked sixth in the CAA overall with 7.0 sacks, including six solo sacks. He led the team and finished sixth in the CAA with 14.5 tackles for loss. He had six games with more than 1.0 tackle for loss and posted a career-high 12 tackles against No. 2 James Madison. He recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks against UAlbany this season.
Fuller was named Third Team All-CAA in his first year with the Spiders after coming in as a graduate transfer. He made an immediate impact on the team, leading the squad with 962 yards receiving on 53 catches. His 962 yards receiving ranks 11th all-time in Richmond single-season history and he finished the year sixth in the CAA.
Fuller also led the team and ranked fifth in the conference with 10 receiving touchdowns. His 10 receiving touchdowns ranks third all-time in Spider single-season history, just one off the all-time record held by Brian Brown (2016) and Walker Gillette (1969). Fuller was a big-play threat all year long, posting 12 receptions over 25 yards and six receptions of 60 yards or more.
Dykes rounds out the Spiders' all-conference selections, earning Third Team All-CAA honors as a kickoff returner in his redshirt freshman year. He is one of three freshmen honored on the All-Conference teams. He becomes the first Spider returner to earn All-Conference honors since Justin Grant picked up second team accolades in 2012.
Dykes finished second in the CAA and eighth in NCAA FCS averaging 27.1 yards per kickoff return this year. He also was tied for the CAA and national lead with two kickoff returns for touchdown this year. He was named the CAA Special Teams and National Special Teams Player of the Week earlier this year when he became the first Spider in program history to have to kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same game against Delaware.
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