Cullowhee, N.C. – Postseason accolades continued for Western Carolina second-year freshman Calvin Jones this week as the wide receiver and return specialist was named fourth-team All-America as a kickoff returner by Phil Steele.
 
Jones adds the national plaudit that accompanies being dubbed an FCS Freshman All-American by HERO Sports back in mid-December, and second-team All-Southern Conference as a return specialist by the voting members of the SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA). He was also dubbed a third-team Freshman All-America selection while redshirt freshman wide receiver Raphael Williams earned a first-team FCS Freshman All-America honor from Phil Steele.
 
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 26th overall in the NCAA FCS.
 
Jones was among 13 selections from the SoCon on the 2021 Phil Steele FCS All-America teams that included four first-team selections, three on the second, four on the third, and two honorees on the fourth team. ETSU had four players recognized with two apiece from Chattanooga, Samford, and VMI. In addition to WCU, Furman, and Mercer also had one player honored by the publication.
 
Also this week, Phil Steele selected 17 Catamounts to its All-Southern Conference team, headlined by Williams on the first team at wide receiver while also collecting the publication's nod for Southern Conference Freshman of the Year. Jones joined Williams as a first-team selection at kickoff returner.
 
Graduate transfer quarterback Rogan Wells highlighted five WCU players on the Phil Steele All-SoCon second team, joined by Jones at wide receiver, OL Tyler Smith, PK Richard McCollum, and Daquan Patten as a punt returner. Also recognized were linebackers Ivan Hogans and Kareem Taylor, DL K.J. Milner, and DB Ronald Kent Jr., on the third team with offensive linemen Michael Harper and Samari Saddler joined by DE Micah nelson, LB Ty Harris, DB Andreas Keaton, and Jones again listed as an all-purpose back on the fourth team.
 
After signing 10 high school freshmen in December's early signing period, Western Carolina turns its attention to Wed., Feb. 2 for the traditional National Signing Day as head coach Kerwin Bell and his staff look to fill out the incoming class for the fall of 2022. Spring practice is tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-March and culminate in early April for the Catamounts.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts).
 
Related Link: https://philsteele.com/2022/01/10/2021-phil-steele-postseason-fcs-all-american-and-all-conf-teams/
 
Phil Steele FCS All-America
KR – Calvin Jones, 4th team
 
Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-America
WR – Raphael Williams, 1st team
KR – Calvin Jones, 1st team
WR – Calvin Jones, 3rd team
 
Phil Steele – 2021 All-Southern Conference
Raphael Williams – SoCon Freshman of the Year
WR – Raphael Williams, 1st team
KR – Calvin Jones, 1st team
QB – Rogan Wells, 2nd team
WR – Calvin Jones, 2nd team
OL – Tyler Smith, 2nd team
K – Richard McCollum, 2nd team
PR – Daquan Patten, 2nd team
DL – K.J. Milner, 3rd team
LB – Kareem Taylor, 3rd team
LB – Ivan Hogans, 3rd team
DB – Ronald Kent Jr., 3rd team
OL – Michael Harper, 4th team
OL – Samari Saddler, 4th team
DE – Micah Nelson, 4th team
LB – Ty Harris, 4th team
DB – Andreas Keaton, 4th team
AP – Calvin Jones, 4th team