title image Tennessee State Athletics
Courtesy of Stephen Featherston, Assistant Director of Communications
The Tennessee State football program had two players named to the 2023 FCS Football Central Freshman All-American Team. Jordan Gant was selected on the offensive side as a running back, while Eriq George got the nod as a defensive lineman.
George, recently named the Big South-OVC Defensive Freshman of the Year, was one of six defensive linemen named to the All-American team. Playing in nine games a true freshman, the son of head coach Eddie George finished the season with 25 tackles (13 solo, 12 assists), 6.0 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks.
He recorded five tackles, 2.0 TFLS, and one sack in the win over Kennesaw State, and tackled Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman for no gain to start his career.
Gant had one of the better seasons by a TSU running back in recent years as he became the first back to finish with double-digit rushing touchdowns in a season since Trabis Ward logged 15 in 2012. The redshirt freshman finished the season with 553 rushing yards on 144 carries and 10 rushing scores, all of which led the team.
The Florida native rushed for a career-high 105 yards and two scores in a road win over Kennesaw State. Gant scored four rushing touchdowns on 12 carries for 83 yards in a win over Lincoln.
George and Gant become the first freshman All-Americans since Devon Starling earned HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American honors in the spring of 2021.
