WACO, Texas – Friends University senior offensive lineman Kyree Watkins has been selected as a 2024 AFCA NAIA Coaches' first-team All-America performer, announced today (Dec. 11) by the American Football Coaches Association.
Watkins joined the Falcons for the 2022 season in head coach Terry Harrison's first year at the helm and has served as a major facilitator in the team's upward trajectory.
"Kyree was the anchor of our offensive line this season," said Harrison. "He led the offensive line unit that set a single season rushing record."
As Harrison noted, Watkins was the lynchpin of an offensive line unit that paved the way for the top rushing team in NAIA history at 5,351 yards this season. The Falcons averaged 411.6 rushing yards per game, nearly 100 yards ahead of the next closest team (Taylor, 311.7).
The Atlanta, Ga. native also helped the Falcons rush for a nation-leading 58 touchdowns on the season.
Watkins and the Falcons finished the year 11-2 for the program's most wins in the modern era.
Friends also advanced to the NAIA FCS second round for the first time in school history, finishing just five yards shy of the NAIA single-game playoff record after rumbling for 526 yards in a 47-35 first-round victory over OUAZ (Nov. 23) at Adair-Austin Stadium.
