EAST GREENSBORO – The Big South Conference recognized three North Carolina A&T football players Wednesday after the Aggies completed their first season in the league.
The conference released its first-and-second-team all-conference performers as well as its All-Academic team.
Sophomore linebacker Jacob Roberts (Charlotte, N.C.) and junior center Dacquari Wilson (Greensboro, N.C.) secured second-team all-conference accolades. In addition, long snapper John Davis (Elgin, Ill.) was named to the All-Academic team.
"It is well deserved for all those men," said A&T coach Sam Washington. "All three of these young men have a tremendously high football IQ, and that is part of the reason why the league head coaches recognized them. We are used to having more guys on the postseason team, so that is what we are going to strive to get back to."
The Aggies, who finished 5-6 this season, failed to have a first-team all-conference performer for the first time since 2011, which is also the last time they had a losing season.
Roberts contributed to the Aggies defense staying up to standard. He ranked 71st in the nation and sixth in the conference in tackles per game (7.6). He totaled a team-leading 84 on the season. Roberts also ranked seventh in the conference tackles for loss per game (1.1) and sacks (0.45).
Roberts totaled a team-leading 12.0 tackles for loss, and he led the team in sacks with five.
Another significant contribution for Roberts was his blocked kicks. He led the nation with four with two of his blocked kicks leading to Jazir Staton touchdowns. He had two blocked kicks in the Aggies season finale against Gardner-Webb.
"Football players make football plays, and that young man is a football player," said Washington. "I'm super happy he chose to play at North Carolina A&T because I would hate to play against him."
Wilson is the Aggies leader along the offensive line, playing numerous snaps during the 2021 season and posting impressive grades week in and week out. Three running backs combined to run for 1,133 yards and 11 touchdowns behind Wilson's O-Line. He was called for minimal penalties this season and missed only a few assignments.
"He is the man we rely on to lead this offensive line," said Washington. "His kind of talent translates to great play no matter what league you're playing in. He is a highly-intelligent young man who has a bright future in this game if he keeps after it."
On the academic side, Davis, the Aggies longtime snapper on punts, field goals and extra points, played his final game at Truist Stadium last Saturday. Davis has played in more games – 46 – than any other player on the Aggies roster.
He will come away from A&T with three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships, three Celebration Bowl wins and three HBCU national championships. He graduated from A&T with a 3.60 grade-point average and is seeking his master's in business administration.
"John and has been reliable and available to this football team for a long time," said Washington. "I'm looking forward to what he is going to contribute to society. He is that smart. He is that gifted."
