Football Places Seven On CAA All-Conference Teams

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond football program placed seven members on the Colonial Athletic Association Football postseason All-Conference teams, the league announced Tuesday afternoon. The Spiders placed five on the First Team while also having one Second Team and one Third Team selection. Richmond finished the season with a 6-5 overall record after winning four-straight games to end the year.

Earning First Team All-CAA honors for the Spiders were offensive lineman Clayton McConnell (Foley, Ala.), defensive tackle Kobie Turner (Clifton, Va.), linebacker Tyler Dressler (Covington, Va.), linebacker Tristan Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa.) and kickoff returner Aaron Dykes (Knoxville, Tenn.). Defensive end Darius Reynolds (York, Va.) was named Second Team All-CAA while offensive lineman Tim Coleman (Stone Mountain, Ga.) was named Third Team All-CAA.

McConnell earns his second-straight First Team All-CAA honor after picking up the award in the spring season. He has been the anchor in the middle, starting 32-straight games for the Spiders at center, including all 11 games this season. His play helped the Spiders average 24.1 points per game this season and rank fifth in the CAA in rushing offense at 146.1 yards per game. He has played in 37 career games for the Spiders, making 36 starts in his career.

Richmond had three First Team honors as defense, tied for the most in the conference with James Madison. The Spiders' defense ranked third in the CAA this season, holding opponents to only 20.0 points per game and just 114.3 yards rushing per game on the year.

Turner was named First Team All-CAA, marking the second-straight season he has earned First Team honors and his third-straight year being honored on the postseason teams. Turner ranked fifth on the team in total tackles with 54, including 10.5 tackles for loss. He recorded three sacks on the year from his interior defensive line position, recording nine quarterback hurries and forcing a fumble. Turner also recovered two fumbles this season, both resulting in touchdowns for the Spiders. He has played in 37 games in his Spider career, including 27-straight starts on the Spiders' defense.

Dressler earns his third-straight First Team All-CAA honor as one of the most dominant linebackers in the conference. He ranked fourth in the conference, averaging 9.2 tackles per game and finishing the year with 92 tackles, despite missing one game due to an injury. He recorded 11.0 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks while also forcing a fumble. He led the Spiders with three interceptions, returning one against Towson for a touchdown. He finishes his Spider career with 249 career tackles, including 196 in his last two full seasons (2019, 2021). He has played in 43 games in his career, making 25 starts.

Wheeler earns his third CAA postseason honor in as many seasons. The 2019 CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year is now a two-time First Team All-Conference selection in the spring season and the fall. Wheeler led the entire CAA in tackles this year and ranked eighth in the nation with 114 tackles, averaging 10.4 tackles per game. He added six tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions in the Spiders' final three games on the year. All Wheeler has done since stepping on campus is make plays as he has 256 tackles in 27 career games. He has started 24-straight games and has posted 228 tackles in his last two full season (2019, 2021).

Dykes earns his second postseason All-CAA honor of his career and this year marks the first time he has been named First Team All-CAA as a kickoff returner. Dykes averaged 27.3 yards per kickoff this year, ranking second all-time in program history in a single season trailing only Justin Rogers' 30.4 yard average in 2004. Dykes returned his third career kickoff for a score against nationally ranked Villanova, posted a CAA-best 98-yard return in the game. He also puts up stats on offense, finishing the year with 11 total touchdowns – six rushing, four receiving and one kickoff return.

Reynolds garners Second Team All-CAA honors for the second-straight season, despite ranking third in the CAA in sacks with 9.5 on the year. His 9.5 sacks ranks seventh most in a single season in Spider history, including a program-record 4.5 sacks against Towson. Reynolds led the team with 13.0 tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hurries. He also added 28 tackles and forced one fumble. He has played in a team-best 45 games in his Spider career, making 27 starts at defensive end. He 20.0 career sacks are tied for fifth-best in Spider history.

Coleman earns his third postseason CAA honor, picking up Third Team All-CAA accolades this season after earning Second Team honors in both 2019 and the spring season. He has started all 37 games he has played as a Spider, only missing one game in his career at Richmond. Including his freshman season at Furman, Coleman has been one of the most durable and reliable offensive tackles in the FCS, starting all 48 games he has played in college.

2021 CAA Football All-Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Cole Johnson, James Madison
Defensive Player of the Year: Forrest Rhyne, Villanova
Special Teams Player of the Year: Ethan Ratke, James Madison
Coach of the Year: Mark Ferrante, Villanova
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Darius Wilson, William & Mary
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
Chuck Boone Leadership Award: Davis Cheek, Elon

First Team – Offense
QB – Cole Johnson, James Madison
RB – Ty Son Lawton, Stony Brook
RB – Karl Mofor, UAlbany
FB – Joe Kenny, Rhode Island
WR – Jackson Parham, Elon
WR – Kris Thornton, James Madison
WR – Antwane Wells, Jr., James Madison
TE – Caleb Warren, Rhode Island
OL – Michael Corbi, Villanova
OL – Nick Kidwell, James Madison
OL – David Kroll, Delaware
OL – Clayton McConnell, Richmond
OL – Andrew Trainer, William & Mary
PK – Ethan Ratke, James Madison
KR – Aaron Dykes, Richmond
PR – Coby Tippett, Rhode Island

First Team – Defense

DL – Bryce Carter, James Madison
DL – Nate Lynn, William & Mary
DL – Jared Verse, UAlbany
DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
DL – Kobie Turner, Richmond
LB – Tyler Dressler, Richmond
LB – Forrest Rhyne, Villanova
LB – Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, James Madison
LB – Tristan Wheeler, Richmond
CB – Christian Benford, Villanova
CB – Greg Ross, James Madison
S – Cole Coleman, Elon
S – Kedrick Whitehead, Delaware
P – Tyler Pastula, Delaware
SPEC – Kyle Davis, James Madison

Second Team – Offense

QB – Davis Cheek, Elon
RB - Justin Covington, Villanova
RB – Dejoun Lee, Delaware
FB – Luke Hamilton, Towson
WR – Andre Miller, Maine
WR – Thyrick Pitts, Delaware
WR – Rayjoun Pringle, Villanova
TE – Todd Summers, Villanova
OL – Nick Correia, Rhode Island
OL – Colin Gamroth, Villanova
OL – Mike Gerace, Maine
OL – Aaron Grzymkowski, Towson
OL – Kyle Nunez, Stony Brook
PK – Cole Bunce, Villanova
KR – Devin Young, Maine
PR – Jourdan Townsend, Delaware

Second Team – Defense

DL – Malik Fisher, Villanova
DL – Mike Greene, James Madison
DL – Darius Reynolds, Richmond
DL – Isaac Ukwu, James Madison
LB – Johnny Buchanan, Delaware
LB – Tyler King, Stony Brook
LB – L.B. Mack III, Rhode Island
LB – Ray Miller, Maine
CB – Nijuel Hill, Delaware
CB – Jordan Jones, Rhode Island
S – SJ Brown, Towson
S – Noah Plack, Delaware
P – Shane McDonough, Towson
SPEC – Bryce Colee, Maine

Third Team – Offense

QB – Daniel Smith, Villanova
RB – Jerry Howard, Jr., Towson
RB – Bronson Yoder, William & Mary
FB – Steve Petrick, Maine
WR – Jaaron Hayek, Villanova
WR – Caleb Smith, Towson
WR – Devin Young, Maine
TE – Shawn Bowman, Maine
OL – PJ Barr, Maine
OL – Tim Coleman, Richmond
OL – Patrick Flynn, New Hampshire
OL – Evan Lovell, Rhode Island
OL – Colby Sorsdal, William & Mary
PK – Ryan Coe, Delaware
KR – Solomon Vanhorse, James Madison
PR – D'Ago Hunter, Towson

Third Team – Defense

DL – Gunner Gibson, New Hampshire
DL – Artis Hemmingway, Delaware
DL – Will Kiely, William & Mary
DL – Chase McGowan, Delaware
LB – Jackson Ambush, UAlbany
LB – Kelvin Azanama, James Madison
LB – Amin Black, Villanova
LB – Christian Dixon, Towson
LB – Colby Reeder, Delaware
CB – Tre'Von Jones, Elon
CB – Ryan Poole, William & Mary
S – Evan Horn, New Hampshire
S – Coby Tippett, Rhode Island
P – Harry O'Kelly, James Madison
SPEC – TD Ayo-Durojaiye,

--UR—

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Players Mentioned

Tim Coleman

Tyler Dressler

Aaron Dykes

Clayton McConnell

Darius Reynolds

Kobie Turner

Tristan Wheeler

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