NEWPORT, RI – Former ECU wide receiver Zay Jones, who wrapped up his four-year career in 2016 as the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision’s career and single-season receptions leader, has been named to the American Athletic Conference Fifth Anniversary Team the league announced Monday at its annual Media Day. The team was selected from votes by the 12-member institutions, local and national media members, and a fan ballot.
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| Photo Credit: Ted Gangi (College Press Box) |
A two-year team captain and All-AAC honoree, Jones became the owner of the FBS career record against Navy on Nov. 19, 2016 before finishing with 399 catches. In addition to his 158 receptions as a senior in 2016, he also set AAC and ECU single-season standards with 1,746 receiving yards. Jones is one of only 19 FBS receivers all-time with over 4,000 receiving yards (4,279).
Jones topped the FBS level in three categories during his senior campaign - receptions, receptions per game (13.2) and receiving yards per game (145.5). In 12 games he caught a personal-best eight touchdown passes and registered nine double-triples (catches-yards), which included a career-high 22 receptions for 190 yards at South Carolina on Sept. 17. His 22 grabs against the Gamecocks were the most by an NCAA FBS receiver in a game in 2016 and was one shy of an all-time NCAA FBS record.
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| Photo Credit: Ted Gangi (College Press Box) |
The Austin, Texas native was a finalist for the 2016 Biletnikoff Award, William V. Campbell Trophy and the Senior CLASS Award, while also earning CoSIDA Academic All-America (second-team) honors as a communications major before graduating in December with a 3.547 grade point average. He was selected to a combined 14 All-America squads for his play on the field, including first-team nods by Walter Camp, The Sporting News, ESPN.com, SB Nation, Pro Football Focus and College Sports Madness, while being formally recognized as a Heisman Trophy candidate by the Heisman Trophy Trust.
A second-round selection by the Buffalo Bills in the 2017 National Football League Draft, Jones appeared in 15 games hauling down 27 passes for 316 yards (11.7 ypr) with a pair of touchdowns during his rookie campaign. He caught his first career pass (21 yards) against the New York Jets in his professional debut (season opener) and eight weeks later scored his first touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Tyrod Taylor, which was also against the Jets.
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