• Complete 2024 FCS Football Central All-America Team

Nine Big South-OVC players have been named to the 2024 FCS Football Central All-America Team. That included one first-team, two second-team and six third-team selections.

The first-team pick was Southeast Missouri senior linebacker Bryce Norman, the second-team picks were UT Martin senior linebacker Jaylon Sharpe and SEMO senior kicker DC Pippin, while the third-team picks were Western Illinois senior wide receiver Matthew Henry, SEMO senior wide receiver Dorian Anderson, UT Martin senior defensive lineman Christian Dowell, UT Martin graduate linebacker Chris Hunter Jr., Tennessee State junior defensive back Boogie Trotter and TSU senior kicker returner CJ Evans.

Norman, the Big South-OVC Defensive Player of the Year, led the SEMO team in tackles for four-straight seasons, a first in program history. He finished the regular season wtih 126 tackles (10.5/game, sixth nationally), including 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He added eight quarterback hurries, five breakups and two forced fumbles. Norman had a career-high 19 tackles against Lindenwood.

Sharpe was a leader of a defense that ranked fourth nationally in passes intercepted (18), fifth in rush defense (87.6 yards/game), fifth in defensive touchdowns (4), seventh in third down conversion percentage (30.4%), 15th in turnovers gained (23) and 22nd in team passing efficiency defense (118.08). He ranked 37th nationally in tackles for loss (1.1/game) and including the team's two playoff teams he finished the year with 83 tackles (39 solo), 15.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, three quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Pippin ranked first nationally in field goals made/game (2.17), 0.37 per game more than second place. Overall he made 26 total field goals, six more than second place nationally while he also ranked 4th nationally in scoring (9.5 points/game). The senior was perfect (8-for-8) in attempts under 30 yards and 8-for-12 in attempts 40 yards of longer with a long field goal of 53 yards. Three times during the savings he made four field goals in a game, and overall made 39-of-41 PATs for a team that shared the Big South-OVC title and advanced to the FCS Playoffs.

In 12 games Henry caught 64 passes for 1,211 yards and six touchdowns. His receiving yards ranked fifth nationally as did his 100.9 yards/game average. He also ranked 39th nationally in catches/game (5.3). Henry had a season-best 15 catches for 226 yards against Lindenwood in October and in the season finale against Gardner-Webb tallied 242 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions.

Anderson caught 67 passes for 1,011 yards and a league-high 12 touchdowns for a team that shared the Big South-OVC title and earned an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs. His 12 touchdowns were tied for the seventh-most nationally. He had a season-best eight catches against each UT Martin and Southern Illinois.

In 14 contests Dowell made 29 tackles (11 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and seven quarterback hurries for a team that earned a share of the Association title and made the FCS Playoffs. He made a season-high four tackles against each Missouri State and Tennessee Tech and had three quarterback hurries in a win over North Alabama. 

Hunter tallied 79 tackles (24 solo), 7.0 tackles for loss, five interceptions, five pass breakups and five quarterback hurries in 14 games. He had a season-high 11 tackles against Missouri State, a game he added 2.0 tackles for loss. He netted six tackles and two interception in a road victory over Tennessee State.

Trotter posted 62 total tackles, including 43 solo stops, and has contributed 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack while adding three interceptions. He also added seven pass breakups, forced one and recovered three fumbles for a team that won a share of the Association title and earned a berth to the FCS Playoffs.

In 12 regular season games, Evans tallied 524 yards on 14 kick returns, averaging an impressive 37.4 yards per return. His standout performances included two touchdowns, with long returns of 99 yards against Howard and 98 yards against UT Martin. He earned Big South-OVC honors as both a kick returner and an all-purpose player.

Big South-OVC Players on 2024 FCS Football Central All-America Team
LB - Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri (1st Team)
LB - Jaylon Sharpe, UT Martin (2nd)
K - DC Pippin, Southeast Missouri (2nd)
WR - Matthew Henry, Western Illinois (3rd)
WR - Dorian Anderson, Southeast Missouri (3rd)
DL - Christian Dowell, UT Martin (3rd)
LB - Chris Hunter Jr., UT Martin (3rd)
DB - Boogie Trotter, Tennessee State (3rd)
KR - CJ Evans, Tennessee State (3rd)