SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA), in coordination with the 15 FCS conference offices, announced its All-America team Thursday, with ETSU running back Quay Holmes and Samford return specialist Montrell Washington honored as the top players at their positions this season.
 
Holmes finished the season with a program-record 1,553 rushing yards to go along with 17 touchdowns. The Powder Springs, Georgia, native is one of the top three finalist for the Walter Payton Award and is now ETSU’s all-time leading rusher (4,264), scorer (306 points) and touchdowns leader (51). The reigning Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year capped off the season with a team-best 1,884 all-purpose yards.

This is the third All-American honor this fall for Holmes and the eighth in his distinguished career. This is the first time being recognized by the FCS ADA.

This is also the third All-America team Washington has been named to since the conclusion of the 2021 season, as he was previously named to the teams for Hero Sports and the Associated Press. He was also named first-team All-SoCon as both a wide receiver and return specialist. He was selected for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, which will take place Jan. 29, 2022, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
 
Washington led the nation this season in all-purpose yards per game, with an average of 176.2 yards per contest. He also led the Southern Conference in scoring at 9.8 points per game and in punt return average at 17.4 yards per return. He ranked second in the league in receiving yards per game at 73.9 and third in the SoCon in receptions per game at 5.5. Washington caught 60 passes for 813 yards and nine touchdowns. He finished the season with 1,938 all-purpose yards.
 
The ninth annual award recognizes the top student-athletes from FCS institutions across 11 different positions. The 2021 class includes student-athletes from 10 different institutions, representing seven different conferences. Voting was conducted by a national panel, consisting of media and sports information directors.
 
From the 11 All-America Team honorees, an Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year will be announced on Jan. 6, 2022, in advance of the FCS National Championship Game. The Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year recipients will be recognized at the FCS national championship contest in Frisco, Texas, during an on-field presentation.
 
The following student-athletes earned 2021 All-America laurels from the FCS ADA, as the top players from each of their positions:
 
Position, Name, Institution (Conference)
QB, Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington (Big Sky Conference)
RB, Quay Holmes, ETSU (Southern Conference)
WR, Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin (Western Athletic Conference)
TE, Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
OL, Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
PK, Ethan Ratke, James Madison (Colonial Athletic Association)
DL, Isaiah Chambers, McNeese (Southland Conference)
LB, Troy Andersen, Montana State (Big Sky Conference)
DB, Justin Ford, Montana (Big Sky Conference)
RS, Montrell Washington, Samford (Southern Conference)
P, Brian Buschini, Montana (Big Sky Conference)
 
Of the 11 student-athletes, eight participated in the 2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship Playoff bracket, and two will play in the semifinals this weekend.