Football Places 16 on Phil Steele’s American Athletic All-Conference Teams
Dec 16, 2022 | Football
Tyjae Spears Named an Honorable Mention All-American
Cleveland, Ohio – The No. 14 AP / No. 16 CFP / No. 17 AFCA USA Today Coaches Poll ranked Tulane football team (11-2, 7-1 AAC) continued to rack up the post-season awards on Friday. The team saw 16 players named to Phil Steele's American Athletic All-Conference Teams with Tyjae Spears also being recognized individually as an Honorable Mention All-American selection.
Spears led the selections for Tulane by being named to the First Team and securing a place as an Honorable Mention All-American. In November, the junior for Ponchatoula was named the AAC's Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-AAC. Spears was named the AAC's Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 28 after running for 181 yards on thirty-five carries to help led the program and end Cincinnati's then 32-game home winning streak. On the season, he leads the conference in rushing yards (1,378) and is 13th in the nation in the same category. His rushing total places him second all-time at Tulane in a single season and makes him just one of six players at Tulane to ever top 1,000 yards rushing in a single season. The junior leads the league in touchdowns scored with 17 (15 rushing and two receiving). He is second in the league and 18th nationally in rushing at 105.8 yards per game. The average ranks him fifth in yards per game in a single season in the Tulane record books. Spears is placed second in the conference in total points scored (102) and 23rd nationally. His average of 6.49 per carry places him third nationally and 13th in the country. The average is the best-ever for a Tulane running back. The 15 rushing touchdowns from Spears this season is the second-most ever in a single season for a Tulane player. Spears has topped 100-yards in eight games this year including seven straight games before the bowl game. He is also one of seven players on the team with 20 or more receptions this year.
Joining Spears as Phil Steele's 2022 First Team American Athletic All-Conference selections for Tulane was center Sincere Haynesworth, linebacker Dorian Williams, cornerback Jarius Monroe, safety Macon Clark and punt returner Jha'Quan Jackson.
Haynesworth has helped paved the way for a Tulane offense that is averaging 35.2 points a game. The offense is putting up 197.1 yards rushing and 236.8 passing yards a contest. Tulane has topped the 20-point barrier in 12 of the team's 13 games with a high of 59 points against SMU. He also previously was a 2022 First Team All-AAC selection by the conference.
Williams leads the team with his 115 tackles and 8.5 stops for loss. He is tied for the team lead with his five sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and seven pass breakups. He was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 7. He also previously was a 2022 First Team All-AAC selection by the conference.
Monroe is tied for the team lead with his seven pass breakups and two interceptions. He ranks tied for fifth on the squad with his 42 tackles while playing in all 13 games. He also previously was a 2022 First Team All-AAC selection by the conference.
Clark is tied for the team lead with his two interceptions, is placed second on the team with his eight tackles for loss and fourth on the club with 63 tackles. He was named the AAC's Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5 and Oct. 10. He also previously was a 2022 First Team All-AAC selection by the conference.
Jackson was chosen as a return specialist as he is averaging 10.4 yards a punt return to lead the conference and place 11th nationally. Jackson has returned 21 punts for 213 yards with a long of 90 yards against Memphis. His 90-yard touchdown return against the Tigers was the second longest return in school and league history. Jackson also second on the team with his 32 catches and is third on the club with his 467 receiving yards. He also previously was a 2022 Second Team All-AAC selection by the conference.
Tulane players on Phil Steele's Second Team American Athletic All-Conference Team were offensive guard Prince Pines, offensive tackle Joey Claybrook, defensive lineman Patrick Jenkins, linebacker Nick Anderson, punter Casey Glover and long snapper Ethan Hudak.
Pines and Claybrook have helped paved the way for a Tulane offense that is averaging 35.2 points a game. The offense is putting up 197.1 yards rushing and 236.8 passing yards a contest. Tulane has topped the 20-point barrier in 12 of the team's 13 games with a high of 59 points against SMU. Pine also previously was a 2022 First Team All-AAC selection by the conference, while Claybrook was a 2022 Second Team All-AAC.
This season Jenkins has 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble. He is third on the team in tackles for loss from his interior defensive line position. He also previously was a 2022 First Team All-AAC selection by the conference.
Anderson is tied for the team lead with his two forced fumbles. He is second on the club with his 108 tackles and ranks fifth on the squad with 6.0 tackles for loss. He played and started all 13 games this season. He reached double figures in tackles in five games. He led the team or tied for the team lead in tackles in four games. Anderson was the AAC Defensive Player of the Week on both Sept. 18 and Oct. 3. He also previously was a 2022 Second Team All-AAC selection by the conference.
Glover has punted 43 times for 1,793 yards. He is averaging 41.7 yards a kick with a long of 65. He has seen 18 of his punts downed inside the 20 and has seven 50+ punts this season. He also handles kickoffs for Tulane and has kicked off 81 times for 5,027 yards with an average of 62.1 yards a kick. He also previously was a 2022 Second Team All-AAC selection by the conference.
Hudak played in all 13 games and has handled all punting and field goal long snapping situations. The team's punters have combined to punt 45 times for 1,826 yards for an average of 40.6 per kick. The team's field goal kickers have gone 13-for-17 on the year with a long of 47 yards.
Tulane members on Phil Steele's Third Team American Athletic All-Conference Team were quarterback Michael Pratt, tight end Tyrick James, joker Darius Hodges and safety Larry Brooks
Pratt has been one of the two focal points of the offense this year. He has completed 207 of 321 passes for 2,775 yards and a 25-5 touchdown to interception ratio. He is also the second leading rusher on the squad with his 395 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. Pratt leads the conference in passing efficiency (159.7) and is third in passing touchdowns, sixth in passing yards and is eighth in passing yards per game (231.2). He was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 21. Pratt's 2,775 passing yards is the seventh most in a single season in the Tulane record books. His completion percentage this season (64.5) places him third in a single season at Tulane. His 25 touchdown passes are the third-most ever in a single campaign for a Tulane quarterback. Pratt's 10 rushing touchdowns are the 11th-most in a single season for any player at Tulane and the second-most recorded by a quarterback at the school. He also previously was a 2022 Second Team All-AAC selection by the conference.
James ranks third on the team in touchdown catches with four. He is fifth on the team in receiving yards (284) and fifth on the squad with his 25 catches. He also previously was a 2022 Honorable Mention All-AAC selection by the conference.
Hodges has totaled 35 tackles, seven tackles for loss and five sacks this season. He is tied for the team lead in sacks and ranks third on the club in tackles for loss. He also previously was a 2022 Second Team All-AAC selection by the conference.
Brooks is third on the team with his 83 tackles and is tied for the team lead with his two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He also previously was a 2022 Second Team All-AAC selection by the conference.
Tulane's football team will take on the University of Southern California in the 87th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 2 in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium at noon. If you still need tickets to the game, please log onto tulanetix.com to order.
Phil Steele's 2022 American Athletic All-Conference Teams – Tulane selections
All-Conference First Team (6)
Pos. Player
C Sincere Haynesworth
RB Tyjae Spears
LB Dorian Williams
CB Jarius Monroe
S Macon Clark
PR Jha'Quan Jackson
All-Conference Second Team (6)
Pos. Player
G Prince Pines
OT Joey Claybrook
DL Patrick Jenkins
LB Nick Anderson
P Casey Glover
LS Ethan Hudak
All-Conference Third Team (4)
Pos. Player
QB Michael Pratt
TE Tyrick James
DL Darius Hodges
S Larry Brooks
Tickets for the 2022 season for football, men's and women's basketball and baseball can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
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