WILLIAMSBURG — After establishing themselves among the nation’s best players, four William & Mary football standouts were selected to the Phil Steele FCS All-America Team.
Defensive end Nate Lynn and linebacker John Pius earned first-team honors, while offensive lineman Charles Grant and cornerback Ryan Poole garnered second and third-team distinction, respectively. The accolades mark the third postseason All-America award for Grant (Associated Press, FCS Football Central) and the second for Lynn and Pius, who were both honored by FCS Football Central.
A two-time Buchanan Award Finalist and three-time first-team All-CAA selection, Lynn posted an outstanding senior season and totaled 58 tackles. 8.0 sacks, 11.0 TFL, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Honored as an All-American multiple times by many organizations throughout his illustrious career, he ranks second in school history in sacks (28.0) and third in TFL (40.0). Additionally, his 12 career forced fumbles led the nation among all active Division I players (FCS & FBS).
One of the nation’s elite pass rushers, Pius was the only FCS player named to the 2023 Butkus Award Watch List and earned first-team All-CAA distinction for the second consecutive year. At the conclusion of the regular season, he ranked seventh nationally in sacks per game (0.86) and 14th in TFL per game (1.5), as he finished the year with 53 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 16.0 TFL, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The Arlington, Va., native ranks fourth in school history in career sacks (24.5) and second in TFL (40.5).
After emerging as one of the nation’s best offensive linemen last season, Grant was even more dominant as a junior this fall and headlined one of the nation’s top offensive lines. In addition to starting all 11 games at left tackle, the two-time first-team All-CAA selection helped W&M rank 13th nationally in rushing (196.9). Ranked as the CAA’s top tackle in pass blocking efficiency, Grant allowed just one sack on 334 pass blocking snaps and graded better than 90 percent in seven games. He finished the season grading out at 92 percent with 40 pancakes.
A three-time All-CAA selection, Poole earned first-team honors each of the last two years. In addition to ranking 14th nationally in passes defended per game (1.2) this fall, he also ranked second in the CAA in passes defended (13) and fifth in interceptions (3). Poole finished his illustrious career with 166 tackles, 45 passes defended, 7.0 TFL, five interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a block.
