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KENNESAW – Kennesaw State's redshirt freshman LB Bryson Armstrong and junior PK Justin Thompson headlined the 2017 AFCA FCS Coaches' All-America First Team selections for the Owls, which were announced on Wednesday (Dec. 20) morning.

Armstrong, a Marietta, Ga., native, has garnered his fifth prestigious postseason award following a record-breaking campaign with KSU. The redshirt freshman earned Big South All-Conference, Big South Co-Freshman of the Year, STATS FCS All-America recognition and won the prominent Jerry Rice Award (National Freshman of the Year) in addition to the AFCA Coaches' First Team ballot.  

Armstrong was a three-time Big South Conference Freshman of the Week winner, a Big South Defensive Player of the Week, a STATS FCS National Player of the Week, and two-time STATS FCS National Player of the Week Honorable Mention.

He finished the 2017 campaign with 114 total tackles (85 solo), 12.5 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, three interceptions, seven pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, four recovered fumbles, three forced fumbles and one blocked kick.

Thompson, an Evans, Ga., native, was the fourth Owl to be named to an All-America Team this postseason. The junior place kicker garnered Big South Special Teams Player of the Year and league all-conference honors.

He hit 17-of-21 field goal attempts with a long of 42 yards on the season, while going a perfect 52-of-52 PAT attempts. Thompson ranked first in the Big South in field goal percentage (81%), field goals made (17), PAT kicking percentage (100%), PATS kicked made (52), and in attempts (21).

"I'm thrilled for Bryson and Justin to be named on the AFCA Coaches' All-America First Team," said head coach Brian Bohannon. Their hard work during the offseason and training camp carried over into a memorable season, and both are well deserving of this honor."

Kennesaw State finished the season with a program-record 12-2 overall campaign and became the first program to advance to the quarterfinals in just its third year of existence. The 12 wins tied a Big South Conference single-season record and its appearance in the FCS Playoffs quarterfinals marked the farthest a KSU team has advanced in the NCAA postseason since moving to the Division I level in 2005-06.

Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the signature athletics landmark on the Kennesaw State University campus, is a world-class facility that has been recognized as one of the premier multi-use outdoor athletics venues in the country. In the fall of 2015, it become the official home of Owls football team and is home to Owls soccer and lacrosse as well.
 
Keep up with Kennesaw State Athletics by following KSU on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook. You also can follow Kennesaw State football at @KennesawSTFB and The Owls fund on Twitter at @TheOwlsFund.

 
--#GoKSUOwls--
 
 

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