Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina landed two players on the HERO Sports Freshman All-America team as the online publication released its three FCS All-America teams for freshman, sophomore, and all classes on Tuesday. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Raphael Williams and return specialist Calvin Jones were both honored following their respective 2021 seasonal performances.
 
WCU's duo was among seven players selected from Southern Conference schools on the freshman squad. The two are the fourth and fifth Catamounts, respectively, to earn FCS All-America plaudits from HERO Sports since 2016. Williams and Jones join current Catamount teammates DB Ronald Kent Jr. (2018) and OL Tyler Smith as former Freshman All-America selections by HERO Sports.
 
Also this week, WCU freshman Andreas Keaton finished tied for 17th in the national panel vote for the Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award that is given annually over the past 11 seasons to the nation's top freshman. Keaton just missed earning All-America plaudits from HERO Sports amidst a very talented class in the defensive secondary in 2021.
 
Williams led the Southern Conference in receiving in 2021 including a league-best 6.6 receptions per game for an average of 87.2 receiving yards per outing, ranking tied for ninth and 19th, respectively, in the NCAA FCS. His 73 seasonal receptions rank tied for third in WCU's single-season record books while his 959 yards are the 10th-most by a receiver in a season in program history. With nine touchdown receptions on the year, he finished tied for seventh in the school ledgers for receiving scores in a season, recording scores through the air in seven of WCU's 11 games.
 
A product of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Williams tallied both eight-or-more catches and eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark five times during the season, posting three double-digit reception games. He caught 12 passes for 112 yards and a score at Gardner-Webb while catching 12 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown in the road win at The Citadel. Williams set a school record with a career-high 16 catches for his personal career-high of 177 yards and two TDs in WCU's victory at Wofford.
 
Jones, also a wide receiver on offense, earned recognition for his work on special teams. The Forest City, N.C., native led the SoCon in kickoff return average at 31.1 yards per game, returning 19 kickoffs for 590 total yards. His 31.1 yard per return average ranked him second nationally in the NCAA FCS. Jones took the opening kickoff back 87 yards at Chattanooga to lead to an opening-possession score before eclipsing that with a career-long 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against eventual SoCon champion ETSU, amassing a career-high 305 all-purpose yards against the Buccaneers.
 
Adding 38 receptions for 636 yards and four receiving TDs with 13 total rushing yards, Jones led the Catamounts in all-purpose yards on the season with 1,239, averaging a team-best 112.64 all-purpose yards per game, fifth in the conference and 25th overall in the NCAA FCS.
 
Tuesday's release of the HERO Sports All-America teams comes on the eve of the early National Signing Day period which is scheduled for Dec. 15-17, 2021, ahead of the traditional signing day on Feb. 2, 2022.
 
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Western Carolina on HERO Sports Freshman All-America Team:
2021: WR Raphael Williams, RS Calvin Jones
2019: OL Tyler Smith
2018: DB Ronald Kent Jr.
2016: QB Tyrie Adams