DALLAS – Coastal Carolina redshirt freshman quarterback
Grayson McCall added to his postseason honors, as he was named one of seven semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander-FWAA Freshman of the Year award, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced.
McCall is the first Chanticleer to be considered for the honor that is in its third year of existence. Joining McCall on this year's list is Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams, Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr., Northwestern defensive back Brandon Joseph, Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn, and LSU defensive back Eli Ricks.
McCall was superb in his first season as the starting quarterback for the nationally-ranked Chanticleers. He finished the season among the nation's leaders with 24 passing touchdowns and just three interceptions and led the Sun Belt in passing efficiency at 184.3 on the season.
The Indian Trail, N.C. native, also led the Sun Belt in total passing yards with 2,488 on the season and was second in completion percentage at 68.8 percent (172-of-250). He was also sixth in the Sun Belt with seven rushing touchdowns and 12th in rushing with 569 rushing yards from his QB position.
McCall threw for over 200 yards in eight of the 11 games he played in this season, missing one due to an injury, which includes a career-high 338 passing yards at Troy, 322 yards in the air versus Arkansas State, and 318 yards against No. 23 Liberty in the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl. He also tallied two passing touchdowns or more in nine games this season, including a career-high four touchdown tosses against Arkansas State and at Georgia State.
A key part of the highest-scoring offense in the Sun Belt all season long, McCall guided a Chants' offense to 500-plus total yards of offense in four Sun Belt Conference games on the season and led CCU to a pair of wins over top 25 FBS programs, both of which were the first such wins in school history.
His inclusion on the Shaun Alexander-FWAA Freshman of the Year semifinalist list adds to McCall's already impressive resume. He was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and earned a spot on the All-Sun Belt first team. McCall was also named to The Athletic's 2020 College Football Freshman All-America team.
McCall is a three-time Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award's Great 8 List selection, a three-time Manning Awards "Star of the Week" honoree, a three-time Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week winner, a three-time FWAA "Fresh Four" selection, a Maxwell Award semifinalist, a Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award semifinalist, a Manning Award finalist, and was named to the FWAA Freshman All-American watch list.
A list of three finalists for the Shaun Alexander-FWAA Freshman of the Year will be released following the Jan. 2 bowl games leading up to the Jan. 11 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
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