It has begun. The first preseason All-America list is out with little surprise as Jay Person claimed his spot on the Athlon Sports FCS squad. Person, who plays the edge position on the outside of the defensive line, was a first team pick in Athlon’s 2022 postseason list.
The Cleveland, Tenn., native tied teammate Devonnsha Maxwell, a defensive tackle, for the Southern Conference lead with 8.0 sacks, while pacing the league in tackles for loss (17.5). He was a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, finishing tied for eighth in the final voting with the award recognizing the FCS Defensive Player of the Year.
“Jay is one of the top defensive players in the nation,” Coach Rusty Wright shared. “It’s right there on his tape. The impact he has on the field for our team put him at the top of the class last year.
“He makes the rest of our defensive front better. His ability to get to the passer makes the secondary better. He affects every level of our defense.”
Person is joined by two other Southern Conference performers: QB Michael Hiers (Samford) and WR Devron Harper (Mercer). Person and Harper are two of eight returning All-Americans from 2022.
He was one of four first team All-America student-athletes for the Mocs in 2022. Maxwell, offensive lineman McClendon Curtis and defensive back Kameron Brown each claimed at least one first team mention. Chattanooga’s four was eclipsed only by national champion South Dakota State’s five. The Mocs 2023 schedule includes five home games along with visits from Kennesaw State, The Citadel, Western Carolina, ETSU and Furman.