Demopolis alum James makes The Sports Network FCS All-America
Jacksonville State’s DaMarcus James and Griffin Thomas have both been named to The Sports Network FCS All-America Teams, which was released by the organization on Wednesday.
Both players were named second-team All-American by the leader in FCS football coverage, and it marks the second All-America honor the teammates have received after both were named to the Beyond Sports Network teams last week. The duo become the 50th and 51st players in Jacksonville State’s history to earn All-America honors.
“I’m extremely proud for DaMarcus and Griffin for being named to The Sports Network All-America teams and I feel like both players are certainly deserving of the honor,” said first-year head coach Bill Clark. “They both had outstanding seasons on the field, and I’m very proud of how they represented this football team and University all season.”
James had a record-breaking season, where he has rushed for 1,477 yards on 292 carries to set the school’s single-season rushing record. The junior running back also set the OVC record with 29 rushing touchdowns to finish second in the nation, and he scored a rushing touchdown in the final 12 games of the season to extend his school record.
The Demopolis, Ala., native now has 35 career rushing touchdowns, which is the third most in school history, and his 13 career 100-yard rushing games is also the second most in school history.
Thomas finished as one of the top kickers in the country after setting numerous Ohio Valley Conference and school records during the 2013 season and was a first-team All-OVC selection.
The Snellville, Ga., native set the OVC records for made field goals (24) field goal attempts (32) and points scored by kicking (134), and he also finished 62-of-63 on extra points this season, which were also both school records.
Jacksonville State finished its most successful season in the school’s Division I history by posting an 11-4 record and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA playoffs under Clark.