WACO, Texas – Three Friends University Falcons have earned AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America recognition, the American Football Coaches Association announced today (Dec. 11).
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions.
Kyree Watkins is a first-team selection, with K'Vonte Baker receiving second-team honors and Braelyn Jay a second-team pick as a long snapper.
In receiving his second straight first-team AFCA NAIA All-America nod, Watkins was a steady force for an offensive line that paved the way for the Falcons to break their own NAIA single-season rushing record with 5,979 rushing yards. The KCAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, Watkins was a key component in the Falcons leading the NAIA with 79 rushing touchdowns on the season.
Baker, now a three-time KCAC Player of the Year, broke his own modern-era single-season record with 30 rushing touchdowns along with a team-leading 1,181 rushing yards. The Wichita product also finished with 3,645 career rushing yards to eclipse Jesse Rogers' modern era rushing record set back in 2016.
As a long-snapper, Jay served as a critical part of a solid special teams unit for the Falcons that featured Truitt Bosher hitting 10-of-11 field goals and a school modern-era record 92 extra points. Jay also missed no snaps in 95 field-goal/PAT attempts and 17 punt snaps.
* A third-team AFCA NAIA All-American team was later released by the NAIA, with Kenyon Vigil (OL) and Truitt Bosher (K) earning this honor. Vigil teamed with Watkins to serve as centerpieces for the Falcons historic offensive line and Bosher nailed 10-of-11 field goals and drilled a school modern-era record 92 extra points.
The Falcons completed a season that will live forever in the history books. Under head coach Terry Harrison, Friends won a program record 12 games and advanced to the NAIA FCS quarterfinals for the first time in school history.
