RICHMOND — After establishing themselves among the top players in the CAA, 12 William & Mary football standouts earned postseason all-conference honors on Tuesday.
Highlighting the Tribe’s honorees are three first-team selections – senior offensive lineman Charles Grant, junior cornerback Jalen Jones and sophomore punt returner Carson Jenkins.
Senior running back Bronson Yoder and senior safety Marcus Barnes earned second-team distinction, while junior fullback Trey McDonald and senior linebacker Alex Washington garnered third-team honors.
Senior quarterback Darius Wilson, sophomore tight end Sean McElwain, senior offensive lineman Ryan McKenna, junior defensive lineman Davin Dzidzienyo and senior specialist John Kearney were chosen honorable mention.
All-CAA First Team
Charles Grant, OL – Three-time All-CAA First Team selection (2022, 2023, 2004) … First player to earn an accept an invitation to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl … Payton Award Watch List Finalist (only offensive lineman) … Earned 41 career starts … Allowed just one sack in 2024 and just two sacks the last three seasons … Helped W&M rank fourth nationally in rushing (232.8) and 25th in total offense (413.2).
Jalen Jones, CB – Buck Buchanan Award Finalist … Led the nation in passes defended (22), pass breakups (20) and passes defended per game (1.8) … Also totaled 48 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery … Ranks fourth in school history with 45 passes defended (6 INT / 39 PBU) … Former CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year (2022) who finished eighth in voting for the 2022 Jerry Rice Award for FCS national freshman of the year.
Carson Jenkins, PR – Led the CAA in punt return yards (159) … Averaged 26.5 yards per return … Honored as the CAA Special Teams Player of the Week following the win against Bryant when he returner a punt 90 yards for a touchdown, which was the longest punt return in the FCS this season.
All-CAA Second Team
Bronson Yoder, RB – Three-time All-CAA selection (2021, 2022, 2004) … Ranked fourth in the CAA in rushing yards (1,115), as he eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the second time during his career … Ranked fifth in the CAA in rushing yards per game (92.9) and rushing touchdowns (10) … Ranked sixth in the CAA in all-purpose yards per game (111.0) … Finished his career ranked second in all-purpose yards (5,654) and rushing yards (3,775) … Ranks fourth at W&M in career touchdown runs (35).
Marcus Barnes, S – Two-time All-CAA selection (2023, 2024) … Tied for first in the CAA and seventh nationally in interceptions (4) … Tied for third in the CAA in passes defended (11) … Also finished the season with 69 tackles, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles … Ranks 11 in career passes defended at W&M (33) … His nine career interceptions also ranks just outside the program’s all-time top-10 list.
All-CAA Third Team
Alex Washington, LB – Led W&M in tackles (85) and solo stops (46) … Also finished the season with 5.5 TFL, a sack and two pass breakups … Recorded a career-high 11 tackles at Stony Brook … Posted 2.0 TFL in the win at Wofford … Career stats include 190 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two blocks and three passes defended.
Trey McDonald, FB – Recorded 10 receptions for 130 yards … Posted multiple catches in three contests … Helped W&M rank fourth nationally in rushing (232.8) and 25th in total offense (413.2) … Career stats include 20 receptions for 253 yards and a touchdown.
All-CAA Honorable Mention
Darius Wilson, QB – Ranked fifth in the CAA in total offense (214.9) … Led the CAA in rushing yards among quarterbacks (613) … Posted 22 touchdowns (12 passing / 9 rushing / 1 receiving) … Completed 153-of-246 passes for 1,966 yards … Averaged 43.2 rushing yards per game and 4.7 yards per carry … W&M career record holder for starts by a quarterback (44) … One of just two players in school history to throw for more than 5,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards … Ranks second all-time at W&M in total offense (8,918), sixth in passing yards (6,991) and tied for seventh in touchdown passes (43).
Sean McElwain, TE – Led the team in touchdown catches (5) … Ranked second on the squad in receiving yards (361) and third in catches (20) … Posted five receptions for 97 yards in the win against Hampton … Recorded three catches for 96 yards with a touchdown in the victory at North Carolina A&T … Totaled 43 receptions for 673 yards during the last two seasons.
Ryan McKenna, OL – Two-time All-CAA selection (2023, 2024) … Campbell Trophy Semifinalist … Three-year starter … Helped W&M rank fourth nationally in rushing (232.8) and 25th in total offense (413.2).
Davin Dzidzienyo, DL – Recorded 50 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … Totaled six tackles with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the win against Furman … Posted a sack in the victory against Hampton … Tallied a career-high seven tackles at Stony Brook.
John Kearney, SPEC – Appeared in all 12 games and totaled nine tackles … Also blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown in the win against VMI … Returned a punt 37 yards.
