[BAYLOR FOOTBALL] Baylor Football Duo Garners FWAA All-America Honors

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Dec. 10, 2021


Baylor Football Duo Garners FWAA All-America Honors
Pitre named first-team DB, Gall named second-team OL
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

DALLAS – Baylor football seniors Jalen Pitre and Jacob Gall have been named 2021 All-Americans by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), as announced Friday afternoon.

Pitre, a first-team defensive back selection, garners his second All-America honor in as many days, while Gall, a second-team offensive lineman, picks up the first All-America recognition of his career.

Pitre led the Big 12 with 17.5 tackles for loss as part of his 70 total tackles on the year. He also added three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and seven pass breakups. A Jim Thorpe Award finalist, Pitre is the nation’s only player to record at least three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and two interceptions in 2021.

The Stafford, Texas, native ranked among the nation’s best in fumble recoveries (3, t-3rd) and TFL’s (17.5, 7th), while placing 25th in the Big 12 with 5.4 tackles per game. He was one of just 21 Big 12 players with at least two INT’s in 2021. The senior has excelled in Dave Aranda’s STAR position, a hybrid safety/linebacker with freedom to disrupt plays in the backfield, collecting a tackle for loss in 12 of 13 games this season and 22 of his last 25 career games.

A grad transfer from Buffalo, Gall started all 13 games at center in his first season at Baylor and led BU’s O-Line unit that was named a Joe Moore Award Semifinalist. He helped revitalize BU’s rushing attack, springing the Bears to a Big 12-best 214.7 rushing yards per game. By doing so, Gall assisted BU in increasing its rushing output by 138% from last season, up from 90.3 yards per game.

Gall and the Baylor O-Line placed third in the Big 12 and ranked 23rd nationally with just 18 sacks allowed. Baylor’s 5.26 yards per rush ranked 16th in the nation. Additionally, BU placed 29th nationally with 6.37 yards per play.

Pitre and Gall are two of the Big 12’s five FWAA All-Americans, joining Iowa State’s Will McDonald (first-team, DL) and Breece Hall (second-team, RB) and Oklahoma State’s Malcolm Rodriguez (second-team, LB).

These honors move Baylor’s all-time total to 23 FWAA All-America selections, 21 of which have been first-team. Pitre joins Gary Green (1976) as the only DB’s to be recognized by the FWAA in program history. Gall adds to BU’s list of offensive lineman honorees, joining Bill Glass (1965), Aubrey Schulz (1974), Jason Smith (2008), Cyril Richardson (2013) and Spencer Drango (2014, 2015).

For the latest news on the Baylor football team all season long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.

2021 BAYLOR FOOTBALL POSTSEASON HONORS
Dave Aranda, Head Coach
Big 12 Coach of the Year (AP)
DCTF All-Texas Second Team Head Coach
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Finalist

Terrel Bernard, LB
All-Big 12 First Team (AP, Coaches)
DCTF Best Linebacker
DCTF All-Texas First Team
Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Semifinalist
Reese’s Senior Bowl All-America

Gerry Bohanon, QB
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches)

Dillon Doyle, LB
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches)
DCTF All-Texas Second Team

Trestan Ebner, RB
Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year (Coaches)
All-Big 12 First Team (All-Purpose, AP; KR/PR, Coaches)

TJ Franklin, DL
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches)

Jacob Gall, OL
All-America Second Team (FWAA)
All-Big 12 Second Team (AP)
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches)
DCTF All-Texas Second Team

Connor Galvin, OL
Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year (Coaches)
All-Big 12 First Team (AP, Coaches)
DCTF All-Texas First Team

Jeff Grimes, Offensive Coordinator
Broyles Award Finalist

Siaki Ika, DL
Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year (Coaches)
All-Big 12 First Team (AP)
All-Big 12 Second Team (Coaches)
DCTF All-Texas First Team

Cole Maxwell, DL
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches)
Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year nominee

Christian Morgan, S
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches)

Xavier Newman-Johnson, OL
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches)

Offensive Line – Unit
Joe Moore Award Semifinalists

Jalen Pitre, S
All-America First Team (ESPN, FWAA, Walter Camp)
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (AP, Coaches)
All-Big 12 First Team (AP, Coaches)
DCTF Defensive Player of the Year
DCTF Best Safety
Reese’s Senior Bowl All-America
Jim Thorpe Award Finalist

Ben Sims, TE
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches)

Abram Smith, RB
All-Big 12 Second Team (AP, Coaches)
DCTF All-Texas First Team
Doak Walker Award Semifinalist

R.J. Sneed, WR
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches)

Tyquan Thornton, WR
All-Big 12 Second Team (AP, Coaches)

JT Woods, S
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches)
DCTF All-Texas Second Team



-BaylorBears.com-



__________________________________

Max Calderone | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (BSB, FB, EQ)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-265-1639

[signature_1116537192]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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