Charlotte, N.C. – Charlotte 49ers freshmen Taylor Thompson and Colby Garfield have been named to the Conference USA all-Freshman team in a vote by the league’s coaches.
Thompson, who was named to the FWAA Freshman all-America Watch List, played in all six games and made four starts at tight end. He was third on the team with 12 catches and 190 receiving yards, averaging 15.8 yards per catch and 31.7 yards per game. He caught one touchdown pass. Six of his 12 catches were for 15 or more yards, including a 41-yarder at nationally-ranked Appalachian State, a 33-yarder vs. WKU and his 15-yard touchdown catch vs. North Texas.
Garfield was the 49ers starting longsnapper for the bulk of the 2020 season. He played in four of the 49ers’ six games, snapping on both punts and field goals. Punter Connor Bowler was fourth in C-USA with a 44.4 punting average while kicker Jonathan Cruz was a perfect 18-of-18 on PATs.
2020 C-USA Football All-Academic Team
OFFENSE
QB- Grant Wells, Marshall
RB- Frank Gore, Jr., Southern Miss
RB- Deion Hankins, UTEP
OL- Dakota White, Louisiana Tech
OL- Dorian Hinton, Middle Tennessee
OL- Steven Losoya, Middle Tennessee
OL- Jeremy Byers, UTEP
OL- Demetris Allen, UTSA
TE- Taylor Thompson, Charlotte
TE- Jake Roberts, North Texas
WR- LaJohntay Walker, Florida Atlantic
WR- Nate Jefferson, FIU
DEFENSE
DT- Immanuel Bush, Marshall
DT- Christian Clayton, UTSA
DE- Gabriel Murphy, North Texas
DE- Grayson Murphy, North Texas
LB- Maki Carabin, Louisiana Tech
LB- Tyler Grubbs, Louisiana Tech
LB- Jamal Ligon, UTSA
DB- Cedric Woods, Louisiana Tech
DB- Quincy Riley, Middle Tennessee
DB- Upton Stout, North Texas
DB- Damon Miller, UAB
DB- Ken Robinson, UTSA
SPECIAL TEAMS
K- Jacob Barnes, Louisiana Tech
P- Charlie Mendes, Rice
KR- Jaylin Lane, Middle Tennessee
PR- LaJohntay Walker, Florida Atlantic
LS- Colby Garfield, Charlotte
LS- Brody Butler, Middle Tennessee
Charlotte 49ers All-Time C-USA all-Freshman Selections
2020 Taylor Thompson TE
2020 Colby Garfield LS
2019 Lance McMillan DB
2019 Dejan Rasuo OL
2018 Rico Arnold WR
2018 Jonathan Cruz K
2018 Henry Segura LB
2018 Victor Tucker WR
2016 Tyriq Harris LB
2016 Ben DeLuca DB