LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Standout running back
Charles Williams has become the first UNLV football player in history to be voted an academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Williams, nicknamed the Chuck Wagon, returns as a Super Senior this fall and was announced Monday as one of four running backs on CoSIDA's 2020-21 Academic All-America® Division I Football Teams.
The native of Fresno, California, and graduate of Bullard High School ranks fourth on UNLV's career rushing list with 2,940 yards and needs 739 more to pass all-time leader Tim Cornett (2010-13). Williams will head into the 2021 season boasting the second-most rushing yards compiled on the FBS level among all active players.
Named in May as UNLV's Mehdi Bouras Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Williams is pursuing his master's degree in general studies after earning a bachelor's in journalism & media studies in 2020. He has earned a spot on the Mountain West Academic All-Conference Team for four consecutive years and was a member of the Dean's Honor List his last four semesters as an undergraduate.
"I am so proud of Chuck for becoming the first UNLV football player ever named Academic All-American," said UNLV head coach
Marcus Arroyo. "This is an incredible achievement. He is an example of everything we are now trying to accomplish with this program: excellence on the field, excellence in the classroom, and excellence in the community. Chuck has demonstrated leadership in all three categories. It is also important to note and credit the academic support staff here at UNLV, who all work tirelessly to make sure our players are in a position to succeed. Chuck is proof that the formula is working."
Ever since 1952, CoSIDA selects Academic All-America teams throughout the year. Players who are starters or important reserves on their teams and are at least in their second year at a school and hold at least a 3.30 career grade point average are eligible for the academic awards, which are voted on by sports information directors from across the nation. First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team ballot, which was announced today for the sport of football on the Division I level.
Williams, who last month became just the second Rebel football player to earn Academic All-District in back-to-back years, is the first UNLV student-athlete to be voted CoSIDA Academic All-America since women's soccer player Lily Sender in 2016. Overall, he becomes the 32nd such honoree from the Rebels dating back to the school's first winner, baseball pitcher Dan Fischer, in 1978.
2020-21 Academic All-America ® Football Team NCAA Division I
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
QB Mac Jones University of Alabama Gr. 4.00/4.00 Comm Studies/Sports Hospitality
RB Jake Chisholm University of Dayton Jr. 3.98 Pre-Med
RB Ezra Gray Alabama State Gr. 4.00/4.00 CIS/Applied Technologies
WR Britain Covey University of Utah Sr. 3.86 Business
WR Austin Williams Mississippi State University Gr. 4.00/4.00 Finance)/MBA
TE Charlie Kolar Iowa State University Sr. 3.99 Mechanical Engineering
OL Blaise Andries University of Minnesota Sr. 3.85 Mathematics
OL Mike Caliendo Western Michigan University Gr. 3.90/3.88 Biological Sciences
OL Harry Crider Indiana University Gr. 3.90/3.96 Criminal Justice & Public Safety
OL Landon Dickerson University of Alabama Gr. 3.68/3.72 Sports Mgmt./MBA
OL Wes Genant South Dakota State University Sr. 3.89 Biochemistry/Pre-Medicine
K Anders Carlson Auburn University Gr. 3.92 Pro Flight Management/Aviation
DL Thomas Booker Stanford University Jr. 3.88 Economics/Communication
DL Matt Henningsen University of Wisconsin Gr. 4.00 Electrical Engineering
DL Tarron Jackson Coastal Carolina University Sr. 3.43 Mathematics
DL Kingsley Jonathan Syracuse University Sr. 3.71 Information Mgt & Technology
LB Silas Kelly Coastal Carolina University Gr. 3.85/3.84 MBA
LB Rick Mottram Bucknell University Sr. 3.96 Mechanical Engineering
LB Riley Whimpey Boise State University Sr. 3.82 Business
DB Spencer DeMedal Duquesne University Sr. 3.97 Biology
DB Robby Hauck University of Montana Sr. 3.95 Management Info. Systems
DB Kekaula Kaniho Boise State University Sr. 3.96 Health Science
DB K.J. Smith University of North Alabama Gr. 4.00/4.00 Health
P John Haggerty III Western Kentucky University Gr. 4.00/4.00 Organizational Leadership
ST Tyler Gillikin Northwestern University Gr. 3.98 Biomedical Sciences/Med School
SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
QB Brock Purdy Iowa State University Jr. 3.66 Business
RB Charles Williams UNLV Gr. 3.41/3.45 Journalism/Media/Gen Studies
RB Jermar Jefferson Oregon State University Jr. 3.49 Sociology
WR Thomas Hennigan App State Sr. 3.53 Marketing & Sales
WR Tyler Page SMU Sr. 3.92 Finance
TE Logan Carter Oklahoma State University Gr. 3.72/4.00 Health Care Administration
OL Drew Dalman Stanford University Sr. 3.61 Mechanical Engineering
OL Jake Dixon Duquesne University Gr. 3.96/4.00 Accounting
OL Drew Himmelman Illinois State University Gr. 3.82/4.00 Exercise Science/Biomechanics
OL Austin Stidham Troy University Sr. 3.91 Biology/Biomedical Sciences
OL Mike Van Hoeven Eastern Michigan University Gr. 4.00/4.00 Exercise Physiology
K Jet Toner Stanford University Gr. 3.65/3.87 Science, Tech. & Society/Media
DL Marcus Cushine Alabama A&M University Jr. 3.80 Criminal Justice
DL Tyriq Harris Charlotte Sr. 3.65 Biology/Pre-Bus Admin
DL Nick Heninger Utah State University Gr. 4.00/3.40 Unmanned Aerial Systems
DL Juwuan Jones Western Kentucky University Gr. 3.75/4.00 Sport Mgt./Teaching
LB Logan Backhaus South Dakota State University Sr. 3.65 Human Biology
LB Nick Bolton University of Missouri Jr. 3.60 Parks, Recreation/Sport Mgt.
LB Ryan Greenhagen Fordham University Jr. 3.83 Business Administration
DB Bryce Cosby Ball State University Sr. 3.44 Telecommunications
DB Pat Fields University of Oklahoma Jr. 3.81 Accounting
DB Sean Mahone West Virginia University Gr. 3.60/3.69 Mgt. Info Systems/MBA
DB Jalen Pitre Baylor University Gr. 3.61/3.61 Educational Psychology
DB Noah Williams Stanford University Sr. 3.90 Product Design
P James Smith University of Cincinnati Sr. 3.84 Communication
ST Kyle Gibbs U.S. Naval Academy Sr. 3.87 Ocean Engineering
