University of Richmond Athletics
Photo by: Amanda Coll
Traynor Collects Defensive Rookie of the Year, 11 Others Claim All-CAA Spots
11/26/2024 | Football
Richmond, Va. – The University of Richmond football team earned 12 spots on the All-Coastal Athletic Association teams, as announced by the conference on Tuesday. Of those, two players were named to the first team, four to the second team, and four to the third team, while two received honorable mentions. Redshirt freshman Matthew Traynor was also honored with one of the conference's major awards, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year following a standout 2024 regular season.
Richmond is making its third consecutive trip to the FCS Playoffs in 2024, having secured back-to-back conference championships—only the second time in program history. The Spiders finished the regular season with 10 wins, marking their best regular-season record since 2009.
The 2024 team completed an undefeated 8-0 conference season, the second such accomplishment in program history and the first since a 6-0 record in the Southern Conference in 1968. This year's squad became just the seventh team in CAA history to finish conference play unbeaten.
The Spiders also posted dominant victories over FBS-transitioning Delaware and rival William & Mary, and reached as high as No. 7 in the coaches poll—its highest ranking since 2017.
First Team
Tom Elia – Offensive Line – Graduate Student – Pittsburgh, Pa.
Elia, a team captain, has started 37 consecutive games for the Spiders and has led the offense to average 28.08 points per game as well as 383.3 yards per game. Elia, who has played nearly every offensive snap this season, along with the rest of the offensive line, have protected Richmond's quarterbacks, allowing just 16 sacks all year. Elia's offensive line has blocked for running back Zach Palmer-Smith, allowing him to become Richmond's first 1,000 yard rusher since 2015.
Jeremiah Grant – Defensive Line – Redshirt Senior – South Orange, N.J.
Grant earns his third consecutive All-CAA honor and the first as a member of the First Team after a standout season where he's recorded 45 tackles (31 solo), 16.5 tackles for loss (108 yards), a nation-leading 12.5 sacks (98 sack yards), a pair of forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, six quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. Grant, who ranks fifth all-time at Richmond with 20.5 career sacks, needs just one 1.5 more to tie and 2.0 to break Richmond's all-time single-season sack record. He recorded three sacks on two separate occasions this year (at Delaware State and home against Towson).
Second Team
Zach Palmer-Smith – Running Back – Junior – Delran, N.J.
Palmer-Smith earns his first All-CAA honor after the Wagner transfer turned in five games with 100+ rushing yards this season, the most for any Spider since 2015. Palmer-Smith became the first Spider to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season since 2015. His 1,275 yards so far this season rank sixth all-time in a single season for the Spiders, his 13 rushing touchdowns are fourth and his 14 total touchdowns are tied for seventh all-time at UR. He rushed for over 150 yards in three consecutive games to become the first Spider to pull off the feat since 2015 and was the first Spider to rush for over 200 yards in a single game since 2015 as well. His 25 carries needed to do so were the least for any Spider since 1987. Palmer-Smith ranked second in the CAA this season in rushing yards.
Camden Byrd – Defensive Line – Redshirt Sophomore – Ashland, Va.
Byrd has recorded 42 tackles including 27 solo and nine tackles for loss en route to his first All-CAA honor. The defensive end has totaled 7.5 sacks (62 yards) this year and has come up with a forced fumble, fumble recovery, four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
Carter Glassmyer – Linebacker – Redshirt Sophomore – Central York, Pa.
Glassmyer leads the Spiders with 80 tackles including 47 solo, seven tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, three pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He recorded a season-high 15 tackles and a sack in the win over Hampton to help Richmond earn a share of its second-consecutive CAA title and earn the conference's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.
Aaron Trusler – Punter – Graduate Student – Melbourne, Australia
Trusler has helped Richmond reach third in the country and first in the CAA in net punting with 42.28 yards a kick. Trusler and the rest of the Spiders punt coverage unit are ninth in the country and first in the CAA with 42 opponent punt return yards allowed all season. Against North Carolina A&T, he recorded a 75-yard punt, the second-longest of his career, just one yard short of his career best. Trusler is responsible for three of the 10 longest punts in program history with kicks of 76, 75 and 74 yards under his belt. This is his second All-CAA honor.
Third Team
Camden Coleman – Quarterback – Sophomore – Clemmons, N.C.
Coleman has played in 10 games this season, making nine starts. He's completed 138 passes for 1,832 yards and has accounted for 12 passing touchdowns as well as six on the ground. Coleman recorded a single-game career-high two rushing touchdowns in the Capital Cup victory over William & Mary and rushed for a career-high 79 yards in the win over Delaware. Against Bryant, Coleman went 15-of-16 for 278 yards and four touchdown passes and rushed in a touchdown on his own. This is Coleman's first All-CAA honor.
Nick DeGennaro – Wide Receiver – Redshirt Senior – Old Bridge, N.C.
In just nine games started in and played, DeGennaro earns his second All-CAA honor after hauling in 40 catches for 576 yards and four touchdowns. He recorded a career-high 162 yards on seven catches in the win at Bryant and averaged 4.44 receptions and 64 receiving yards a game.
Wayne Galloway – Linebacker – Redshirt Senior – Thibodaux, La.
Another Spider team captain, Galloway earns his first All-CAA honor after a final season that saw him post 71 tackles (second most for Richmond) including 37 solo, 6.5 tackles for loss (36 yards), 3.0 sacks, four quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, an interception and a safety.
Matthew Traynor – Safety – Redshirt Freshman – Marietta, Ga.
Traynor earns the Third-Team honor as well as Defensive Rookie of the Year accolades after a standout 2024 season where he has totaled 64 tackles (third on team) including a Richmond-leading 48 solo tackles. He's also tallied 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three pass breakups.
Honorable Mention
Cade Salyers – Offensive Line – Graduate Student – Kingsport, Tenn.
Lining up right next to Elia, Salyers has helped lead the Spiders offense to average 28.08 points per game and 383.3 yards per game. Salyers and the rest of Richmond's offensive line have protected Richmond's quarterbacks, allowing just 16 sacks all year. Salyers and the offensive line have blocked for running back Zach Palmer-Smith, allowing him to become Richmond's first 1,000 yard rusher since 2015.
Jabril Hayes – Safety – Redshirt Senior – Stephens City, Va.
Hayes earns his second All-CAA recognition after the team captain totaled 58 tackles (fourth most for Richmond) including 45 solo stops (third most for Richmond). Hayes has posted three interceptions including a pair of pick-sixes, a pass breakup, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble.
Richmond is making its third consecutive trip to the FCS Playoffs in 2024, having secured back-to-back conference championships—only the second time in program history. The Spiders finished the regular season with 10 wins, marking their best regular-season record since 2009.
The 2024 team completed an undefeated 8-0 conference season, the second such accomplishment in program history and the first since a 6-0 record in the Southern Conference in 1968. This year's squad became just the seventh team in CAA history to finish conference play unbeaten.
The Spiders also posted dominant victories over FBS-transitioning Delaware and rival William & Mary, and reached as high as No. 7 in the coaches poll—its highest ranking since 2017.
First Team
Tom Elia – Offensive Line – Graduate Student – Pittsburgh, Pa.
Elia, a team captain, has started 37 consecutive games for the Spiders and has led the offense to average 28.08 points per game as well as 383.3 yards per game. Elia, who has played nearly every offensive snap this season, along with the rest of the offensive line, have protected Richmond's quarterbacks, allowing just 16 sacks all year. Elia's offensive line has blocked for running back Zach Palmer-Smith, allowing him to become Richmond's first 1,000 yard rusher since 2015.
Jeremiah Grant – Defensive Line – Redshirt Senior – South Orange, N.J.
Grant earns his third consecutive All-CAA honor and the first as a member of the First Team after a standout season where he's recorded 45 tackles (31 solo), 16.5 tackles for loss (108 yards), a nation-leading 12.5 sacks (98 sack yards), a pair of forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, six quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. Grant, who ranks fifth all-time at Richmond with 20.5 career sacks, needs just one 1.5 more to tie and 2.0 to break Richmond's all-time single-season sack record. He recorded three sacks on two separate occasions this year (at Delaware State and home against Towson).
Second Team
Zach Palmer-Smith – Running Back – Junior – Delran, N.J.
Palmer-Smith earns his first All-CAA honor after the Wagner transfer turned in five games with 100+ rushing yards this season, the most for any Spider since 2015. Palmer-Smith became the first Spider to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season since 2015. His 1,275 yards so far this season rank sixth all-time in a single season for the Spiders, his 13 rushing touchdowns are fourth and his 14 total touchdowns are tied for seventh all-time at UR. He rushed for over 150 yards in three consecutive games to become the first Spider to pull off the feat since 2015 and was the first Spider to rush for over 200 yards in a single game since 2015 as well. His 25 carries needed to do so were the least for any Spider since 1987. Palmer-Smith ranked second in the CAA this season in rushing yards.
Camden Byrd – Defensive Line – Redshirt Sophomore – Ashland, Va.
Byrd has recorded 42 tackles including 27 solo and nine tackles for loss en route to his first All-CAA honor. The defensive end has totaled 7.5 sacks (62 yards) this year and has come up with a forced fumble, fumble recovery, four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
Carter Glassmyer – Linebacker – Redshirt Sophomore – Central York, Pa.
Glassmyer leads the Spiders with 80 tackles including 47 solo, seven tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, three pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He recorded a season-high 15 tackles and a sack in the win over Hampton to help Richmond earn a share of its second-consecutive CAA title and earn the conference's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.
Aaron Trusler – Punter – Graduate Student – Melbourne, Australia
Trusler has helped Richmond reach third in the country and first in the CAA in net punting with 42.28 yards a kick. Trusler and the rest of the Spiders punt coverage unit are ninth in the country and first in the CAA with 42 opponent punt return yards allowed all season. Against North Carolina A&T, he recorded a 75-yard punt, the second-longest of his career, just one yard short of his career best. Trusler is responsible for three of the 10 longest punts in program history with kicks of 76, 75 and 74 yards under his belt. This is his second All-CAA honor.
Third Team
Camden Coleman – Quarterback – Sophomore – Clemmons, N.C.
Coleman has played in 10 games this season, making nine starts. He's completed 138 passes for 1,832 yards and has accounted for 12 passing touchdowns as well as six on the ground. Coleman recorded a single-game career-high two rushing touchdowns in the Capital Cup victory over William & Mary and rushed for a career-high 79 yards in the win over Delaware. Against Bryant, Coleman went 15-of-16 for 278 yards and four touchdown passes and rushed in a touchdown on his own. This is Coleman's first All-CAA honor.
Nick DeGennaro – Wide Receiver – Redshirt Senior – Old Bridge, N.C.
In just nine games started in and played, DeGennaro earns his second All-CAA honor after hauling in 40 catches for 576 yards and four touchdowns. He recorded a career-high 162 yards on seven catches in the win at Bryant and averaged 4.44 receptions and 64 receiving yards a game.
Wayne Galloway – Linebacker – Redshirt Senior – Thibodaux, La.
Another Spider team captain, Galloway earns his first All-CAA honor after a final season that saw him post 71 tackles (second most for Richmond) including 37 solo, 6.5 tackles for loss (36 yards), 3.0 sacks, four quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, an interception and a safety.
Matthew Traynor – Safety – Redshirt Freshman – Marietta, Ga.
Traynor earns the Third-Team honor as well as Defensive Rookie of the Year accolades after a standout 2024 season where he has totaled 64 tackles (third on team) including a Richmond-leading 48 solo tackles. He's also tallied 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three pass breakups.
Honorable Mention
Cade Salyers – Offensive Line – Graduate Student – Kingsport, Tenn.
Lining up right next to Elia, Salyers has helped lead the Spiders offense to average 28.08 points per game and 383.3 yards per game. Salyers and the rest of Richmond's offensive line have protected Richmond's quarterbacks, allowing just 16 sacks all year. Salyers and the offensive line have blocked for running back Zach Palmer-Smith, allowing him to become Richmond's first 1,000 yard rusher since 2015.
Jabril Hayes – Safety – Redshirt Senior – Stephens City, Va.
Hayes earns his second All-CAA recognition after the team captain totaled 58 tackles (fourth most for Richmond) including 45 solo stops (third most for Richmond). Hayes has posted three interceptions including a pair of pick-sixes, a pass breakup, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble.
Players Mentioned
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