HAMMOND, La. –  Walter Payton Award winner Cole Kelley added to his list of postseason honors on Tuesday, as the Southeastern Louisiana senior quarterback was named to the Athlon Sports Spring 2021 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America Team on Tuesday.
 
Tuesday's honor marks the third All-America team to include the Lafayette, Louisiana native who received the Payton Award – the FCS version of the Heisman – on Saturday as the best offensive player in the country. Kelley was named to the Stats Perform (first team) and Associated Press (second team) All-America teams last week.
 
Kelley also has earned Southland Conference and Louisiana Offensive Player of the Year awards after his tremendous season. In his first season starting under center for SLU, Kelley threw for 2,662 yards and accounted for 27 touchdowns (18 passing, seven rushing and two receiving). A consistent producer, Kelley threw for 300 or more yards in every game and topped 400 yards through the air on three occasions.
 
Kelley was one of four Southland Conference performers to earn a spot on the 29-person Athlon Sports All-America Team. Joining Kelley were Nicholls senior offensive lineman P.J. Burkhalter, as well as senior defensive lineman Jahari Kay and graduate all-purpose player Jequez Ezzard of national champion Sam Houston.
 
Kelley will return for the fall 2021 season to lead a talented SLU squad. The Lions will open the 2021 season on Sept. 4, hosting North Alabama in Strawberry Stadium.
 
Spring 2021 Athlon Sports FCS All-America Team
 
Offense
Pos. – Name – School – Ht. – Wt. – Cl.
QB – Cole Kelley – Southeastern Louisiana - 6-7 – 260 – Sr.
RB – Julius Chestnut – Sacred Heart – 6-1 – 215 – Jr.
RB – Otis Weah – North Dakota – 5-9 – 195 – So.
WR – Avante Cox – Southern Illinois – 5-10 – 170 – Sr.
WR – Jakob Herres – VMI – 6-4 – 211 – Jr.
TE – Trae Berry – Jacksonville State – 6-7 – 245 – Sr.
OL – P.J. Burkhalter – Nicholls – 6-3 – 330 – Sr.
OL – Garrett Greenfield – South Dakota State – 6-6 – 295 – So.
OL – David Kroll – Delaware – 6-7 – 315 – Sr.
OL – Cordell Volson – North Dakota State – 6-7 – 310 – Sr.
OL – Ty Whitworth – Weber State – 6-4 – 300 – Sr.
 
Defense
Pos. – Name – School – Ht. – Wt. – Cl.
DL – Jared Brinkman – Northern Iowa – 6-2 – 290 – Sr.
DL – Mike Greene – James Madison – 6-3 – 285 – Sr.
DL – Jahari Kay – Sam Houston – 6-2 – 255 – Sr.
DL – Jordan Lewis – Southern – 6-3 – 195 – Jr.
LB – Logan Backhaus – South Dakota State – 6-4 – 205 – Sr.
LB – Colby Campbell – Presbyterian – 6-0 – 230 – Sr.
LB – Conner Mortensen – Weber State – 6-0 – 215 – Sr.
LB – Stone Snyder – VMI – 6-3 – 225 – So.
DB – Chris Edmonds – Samford – 6-2 – 205 – So.
DB – Nicario Harper – Jacksonville State – 6-1 – 205 – So.
DB – Kordell Jackson – Austin Peay – 5-9 – 188 – Sr.
DB – Kedrick Whitehead – Delaware – 5-11 – 195 – Jr.
 
Special Teams
Pos. – Name – School – Ht. – Wt. – Cl.
PK – Ethan Ratke – James Madison – 5-10 – 185 – Sr.
P – Garrett Wegner – North Dakota State – 6-0 – 197 – Sr.
LS – Kyle Davis – James Madison – 5-11 – 210 – Jr.
KR – Christian Watson – North Dakota State – 6-4 – 200 – Jr.
PR – Devron Harper – Gardner-Webb – 5-10 – 165 – Jr.
AP – Jequez Ezzard – Sam Houston – 5-9 – 190 – Gr.
 
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