CARBONDALE, Ill. — For the first time since 2009, Southern Illinois has landed multiple players on the first-team All-America squad. Saluki wide receiver Avante Cox and all-purpose running back Javon Williams Jr. were both featured on the first team of the Stats Perform FCS All-America Team, announced on Monday. Safety Qua Brown was named to the second team.
A junior from Rochester, Illinois, Cox led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in receiving with 66 catches for 838 yards and five touchdowns. He added 25 carries for 238 yards, averaging nearly 10 yards per rushing attempt. Cox had 100-yard receiving games against North Dakota, North Dakota State, Southeastern Louisiana and Weber State.
Williams Jr. made the All-America team under the all-purpose category. The sophomore from Centralia, Illinois rushed for 532 yards and seven touchdowns, caught eight passes for 61 yards, and completed 9-of-14 passing attempts for 237 yards and three TDs. A second-team All-American in 2019, Williams Jr. has 2,285 career rushing, receiving and passing yards combined.
Despite missing three games due to injury, Brown led the nation with four forced fumbles and was fourth on the team with 44 tackles. He had a season-high 12 stops versus South Dakota State. Brown also recorded three pass breakups.
Stats Perform is the first nationally recognized organization to announce its 2020-21 FCS All-America team.
