RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University football player Devin Borders was recently named to the third-annual College Sports Journal Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-Freshman team. Borders was one of just six Ohio Valley Conference players to make the 62-player list.
Borders, who was earlier named the OVC Freshman of the Year, proved to be the top wide receiver on a young Eastern Kentucky team while also making a major impact on special teams. The native of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., caught a team-best 34 passes for 509 yards and six touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. He also ranked among the top-10 in the OVC in receiving yards per game at 42.4.
Borders had his best offensive game of the season in a win at Morehead State on Sept. 21 as he hauled in nine catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two touchdown passes, both coming in the first half, as Eastern shutout No. 23 Tennessee State on Nov. 2. But his biggest impact came on special teams where he blocked five kicks, helping EKU rank first nationally as a team in that category with nine total blocks. Borders’ five blocks were the most by an FCS player this season and more than 102 FCS teams in 2013.
Borders was named to the FCS All-Freshman second team. Also making the list from the OVC were Jacksonville State’s Josh Barge and Eli Jenkins, Southeast Missouri’s Austin Black, Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Lowery and Tennessee State’s Jessamen Dunker. Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp was named the FCS Freshman of the Year.
2013 College Sports Journal Football Championship Subdivision All-Freshman Team
Freshman of the Year
Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington, Wide Receiver
First-Year Coach of the Year
Dale Lindsay, San Diego
First-Team Offense
Eli Jenkins, Jacksonville State, Quarterback
R. J. Noel, Sacred Heart, Quarterback
Marcus Cox, Running Back, Appalachian State
Martin Ruiz, Running Back, Youngstown State
Darius Victor, All-Purpose Back, Towson
Drew Potter, Fullback, South Dakota
Riley Donovan, Wide Receiver, South Dakota
Karel Hamilton, Wide Receiver, Samford
Barrett Burns, Tight End, Appalachian State
Jimmy Lowery, Tackle, Eastern Illinois
Anton Wahrby, Tackle, Wofford
Matt Fisher, Guard Cal Poly
Jacob Julian, Guard, Northern Arizona
Tad McNeely, Center, New Hampshire
First-Team Defense
Javancy Jones, Defensive End, Jackson State
JeMarcus Marshall, Defensive End, Northwestern State
Austin Black, Defensive Tackle, Southeast Missouri State
Robert Torgerson, Defensive Tackle, Southern Utah
John Law, Linebacker, Appalachian State
Christophe Mulumba, Linebacker, Maine
James Rentz, Linebacker, Sacred Heart
Gage Steele, Linebacker, James Madison
Michael Jones, Cornerback, North Carolina Central
Foyesade Oluokun, Cornerback, Yale
Trey Robinson, Safety, Furman
Jameel Smith, Safety, Youngstown State
First-Team Special Teams
Anthony Prevost, Place Kicker, Hampton
Bentley Critcher, Punter, Appalachian State
Jatavious Wilson, Kickoff Returner, Central Arkansas
Anthony Warrum, Punt Returner, Illinois State
Chandler Dowell, Long Snapper, Southern Utah
Second-Team Offense
Drew Reed, Quarterback, Lafayette
John Russ, Quarterback, Mercer
Tarik Cohen, Running Back, North Carolina A&T
C.J. Williams, Running Back, Bucknell
Kade Harrington, All-Purpose Back, Lamar
Josh Barge, Wide Receiver, Jacksonville State
Devin Borders, Wide Receiver, Eastern Kentucky
Andre Dessenberg, Wide Receiver, Towson
Eric Saubert, Tight End, Drake
JP Flynn, Tackle, Montana State
Javarius Leamon, Tackle, South Carolina State
Jessamen Dunker, Guard, Tennessee State
Corey Levin, Guard, Chattanooga
Aubrey Beal, Bryant, Center
Second-Team Defense
Boston Bryant, Defensive End, Wofford
Samson Ebukam, Defensive End, Eastern Washington
Winston Craig, Defensive Tackle, Richmond
Patrick Richard, Defensive Tackle, Maine
Kourtney Berry, Linebacker, Alabama State
Aaron Reed, Linebacker, Duquesne
Marquis Smith, Linebacker, Savannah State
