FB: App State’s Staton, Jackson Join Jones in Receiving All-America Accolades

BOONE, N.C. — Chandler Staton and D’Marco Jackson have joined Steven Jones Jr. in being named All-Americans, as all three App State standouts were honored by the Pro Football Network.

Staton was named PFN’s first-team kicker, and Jones received more first-team recognition as a cornerback. Jackson made the PFN second-team defense at linebacker to go along with an All-America honorable mention listing from PFF College.

A Groza Award semifinalist this year, Staton has made 19 of 20 field-goal attempts and scored 109 points this season. He hit a go-ahead field goal in the one-point win against Marshall and the game-winning field goal as time expired against Coastal Carolina.

With a school and Sun Belt record 456 career points, he’s the leading active scorer among FBS players and the No. 6 all-time scorer among FBS kickers. Staton already has clinched Sun Belt career records in two categories and App State career records in five categories, including his 63 made field goals and a streak of 18 straight made field goals.

Jackson, a Reese’s Senior Bowl selection who was voted Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, has 114 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, 12 QB hurries, one interception and six passes defended this year. He’s one of only two FBS players since 2000 (along with Tulsa’s Alain Karatepeyan in 2007) with at least 110 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and six passes defended in a single season and is the only FBS player with at least 200 tackles and 25.0 tackles for loss in the last two years.

While defenders on struggling teams often amass large tackle numbers, Jackson has the third-most tackles among FBS players from teams with at least 10 wins this season.

Jones tied for the FBS lead with five interceptions during the regular season and is currently one behind the national lead. He leads the country with three pick-six interception returns for touchdowns, is in the top 15 nationally with 13 passes defended (counting eight breakups) and enters the bowl season with 48 tackles (39 solo) this season.

He has been named a first-team All-American by the FWAA and a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

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