BOONE, N.C. — The College Football Network's All-America Teams for 2023 include recognition for special teams standouts
Michael Hughes and
Jackson Greene.
Hughes, who has excelled as both a place kicker and kickoff specialist, was named the overall FBS Special Teamer of the Year and a second-team All-American as a place kicker by CFN. He received All-America honorable mention as a kickoff specialist.
CFN named Greene a third-team All-American as a special teamer, and true freshman outside linebacker
Nate Johnson was honorable mention for CFN's Freshman All-America team.
Hughes, who was named both the Sun Belt's top kicker and kickoff specialist by CFN, has made 17 of 20 field-goal attempts and all 53 extra-point attempts for a total of 104 points scored through 13 games. He made a deficit-erasing, 54-yard field goal as time expired in the 41-40 win at ULM and has converted two other kicks of at least 46 yards this season.
Hughes has made his last nine field goals, and removing a blocked kick that didn't have an opportunity to reach the uprights, he hasn't had a field goal sail wide over his last 16 attempts. On kickoffs, Hughes has 33 touchbacks this season, along with lots of directional kicks that yielded short returns.
Greene has totaled 247 special teams snaps with 83 on kickoff coverage, 69 on kickoff returns, 51 on punt coverage and 39 on punt returns. He is tied for fourth place nationally with a league-best nine special teams tackles, including two stops apiece against Southern Miss, James Madison and Georgia Southern late in the regular season.
Johnson has recorded 7.5 sacks in his first FBS season.
Tyrek Funderburk joined Hughes in receiving first-team All-Sun Belt recognition as a cornerback. Funderburk has intercepted four passes this season, with two resulting in pick-six touchdown returns,
Second-team All-Sun Belt honors went to QB
Joey Aguilar, WR
Kaedin Robinson and LB
Andrew Parker Jr.
The third-team honorees were RB
Nate Noel, OG
Bucky Williams, OT
Jack Murphy and DT
Santana Hopper, while SAF
Jordan Favors received honorable mention.
