Elon, N.C. – College football expert Phil Steele has announced his FCS All-American and All-Conference teams today.
Chandler Brayboy highlighted the list with two first team All-American nods and recognition as the FCS Special Teams Player of the Year.
Brayboy was named first team All-American at both kick returner and at the all-purpose position along with his national player of the year recognition. He ranked second in the country in kick return average at 35.3 yards per return and took two kick returns to the house in a win at UAlbany. He ranks sixth nationally in all-purpose yards (151.4 per game) and was third in the CAA in receiving yards per game at 89.0.
Caleb Curtain was named first team All-American as a defensive back after leading Elon with 75 tackles, 11 passes defended and two interceptions. He had an interception against Duke and another critical one in a win over Maine. Curtain added four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks on the season.
Jeff Yurk was named second team All-American as a punter after leading the country at 47.9 yards per punt. That average ranks third across all levels of the NCAA. A total of 26 of his 60 punts traveled at least 50 yards, including a career-long 72-yarder. He had 19 punts inside the 20 and just four touchbacks. PFF ranks him as the No. 3 punter in FCS and No. 5 in net punting.
It is the first time since 2018 in which Phil Steele named three Elon players to his All-American teams and the first time since 2022 to have a pair of first team honorees.
Defensive lineman
Kahmari Brown and running back
TJ Thomas Jr. were named to Phil Steele's Freshman All-American teams.
Brown was a first team selection after finishing the season with 33 tackles, 9.0 for loss and 4.5 sacks. He had a season-high six tackles at Hampton with 2.5 tackles for loss. He also had 2.5 tackles for loss against Western Carolina, totaling a season-best 2.0 sacks, and a forced fumble.
Thomas was named Third Team Freshman All-American after bursting onto the scene as the starting running back for Elon. Although his season was cut short after eight games due to injury, Thomas had three 100-yard rushing games, including 163 yards and a touchdown, on just 11 carries, at North Carolina Central. He finished the year with 588 yards rushing, five touchdowns and 13 receptions for 108 yards and another TD. Thomas also returned 12 kickoffs for 245 yards.
Across Phil Steele's five All-CAA teams, Elon had ten players recognized. Brayboy was named first team all-conference at wide receiver, kick returner and the all-purpose position, while earning CAA Special Teams Player of the Year recognition. Curtain and Yurk also made the first team, along with offensive lineman
Kevin Burkett.
Burkett started all 12 games for Elon between center and left tackle and was named first team All-CAA in the coach voting. He was ranked as the top pass protecting offensive lineman in FCS Football by Pro Football Focus (PFF) and was a cornerstone of an offense that passed for 2,575 yards and rushed for 1,556 yards. Elon had two running backs rush for at least 500 yards for the first time since 2018.
Cazeem Moore earned second team honors on the defensive line and
Dylan Magazu was named third team tight end. Offensive lineman
Jabril Williams and defensive lineman
Josh Johnson were both slotted as fourth team all-conference, while running backs
Rushawn Baker and Thomas earned fifth team status.
Moore was a dominant force on the defensive line and earned second team All-CAA honors for his efforts. He led Elon with 12.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 quarterback sacks, as well as three forced fumbles. He ranks in the top 10 in the CAA in all three of those categories. Moore added a career-best 51 tackles on the season.
Magazu was a consistent presence in the tight end role for the Phoenix. He had 10 catches for 72 yards and caught a touchdown against Campbell. Magazu added four tackles on the season as well. In that game against Campbell, he had a career-best four receptions. He also had two catches against Duke to open the 2024 season.
Williams started all 12 games for the Phoenix, beginning the year at right guard and then moving to center after injuries along the offensive line. He was a consistent force, guiding the Phoenix running backs to 1,556 yards on the ground. It was the first time Elon had two backs rush for at least 500 yards since 2018. Through the air, the Elon offense generated 2,575 yards on the season.
Johnson posted 35 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 3.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries. His two fumble recoveries were third in the CAA. He twice had five tackles in a game and had 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble against New Hampshire. He was a menace against Western Carolina with three quarterback hurries.
Baker rushed for 859 yards and a 4.7 yard per carry average in 2024. Over the final four games of the season, once Thomas had gone down with injury, he totaled 583 yards, going over 100 yards in each of those contests and over 150 yards three times. He carried the ball at least 22 times in each of those games and his 5.4 yards per carry average in CAA play was the highest among backs with at least 130 carries.
The Elon Football team closed the 2024 season on a four-game win streak to finish 6-6 overall and 5-3 in CAA Football play. The Phoenix has now recorded at least six regular season wins and five conference victories in four consecutive years. Elon is the only program in the CAA to finish 5-3 or better in league play in each of the past four years.
-- ELON --