RIO GRANDE VALLEY – Stats Perform announced on Wednesday that wide receiver Tony Diaz and linebacker Jaiden Haygood of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) football team are Freshman All-Americans.
 
This is the second Freshman All-American honor for each, as Diaz and Haygood were also earned the honor from FCS Football Central. Both were also finalists for the Jerry Rice Award, which honors the FCS freshman of the year.
 
Diaz and Haygood represent two of the five freshmen selected from the Southland Conference along with running back Xai'Shaun Edwards and defensive back Tyran Chappell of Houston Christian University and punter Lachie Pozzobon of Stephen F. Austin.
 
Tony Diaz
The Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and an all-conference first team selection, Diaz finished seventh in the Jerry Rice Award voting.
 
A two-time National Freshman of the Week Honorable Mention (Oct. 27 and Nov. 17) and the Nov. 17 Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, Diaz led the Vaqueros with 11 touchdowns among his 68 receptions for 875 yards, an average of 12.9 yards per reception and 72.9 yards per game.
 
Diaz ranks sixth in the FCS and first in the Southland in receiving touchdowns (11), 14^th in the FCS and third in the Southland in receptions per game (5.67), 31^st in the FCS and second in the Southland in receiving yards (875), 35^th in the FCS and third in the Southland in receiving yards per game (72.9), 44^th in the FCS and second in the Southland in total touchdowns (11), 102^nd in the FCS and eighth in the Southland in total points scored (66), 103^rd in the FCS and eighth in the Southland in scoring (5.5), 146^th in the FCS and 10^th in the Southland in all-purpose yards per game (72.83), and 179^th in the FCS and ninth in the Southland in yards per receptions (12.87).
 
Diaz posted four games of 100+ receiving yards, including a career-high 172 vs. UIW on 17 receptions, the third-most in Southland history (10/25). He scored touchdowns in nine games, including a career-high three in a win at McNeese (11/15). He also made several one-handed catches, including for big gains and touchdowns.
 
Jaiden Haygood
Haygood, who finished 11^th in the Jerry Rice Award voting, led UTRGV with 102 tackles (45 solo), including 2.5 for a loss of 11 yards, a 10-yard sack, two passes broken up, a quarterback hurry, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble.
 
He had six games of double-figures tackles, including a career-high 17 (seven solo) at No. 18 Lamar (10/18), 11 against No. 23 Stephen F. Austin (11/1), Houston Christian University (10/4) and Prairie View A&M (9/6), and 10 against UIW (10/25) and McNeese (11/15). Seven of his tackles at McNeese were solo.
 
Haygood ranks 36^th in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in total tackles per game (8.5) and 97^th in the FCS and ninth in the Southland in fumble recoveries (1).
 
2025 Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-America Team
Offense
QB – Braden Atkinson, Mercer, 6-1, 215
QB – Caden Pinnick, UC Davis, 6-0, 200
RB – Nick Herman, Drake, 5-11, 190
RB – Tre Page III, Tarleton State, 5-9, 180
RB – Mitchell Summers, Sacred Heart, 5-7, 155
WR – Rico Bond, Lindenwood, 6-1, 177
WR – Tony Diaz, UTRGV, 5-11, 176
WR – Evan James, Furman, 5-11, 170
TE – Jeter Purdy, Northern Arizona, 6-3, 200
OL – Damon McMillian, Rhode Island, 6-3, 335
OL – Brady Pickett, The Citadel, 6-3, 285
OL – Braden Smith, Tarleton State, 6-4, 290
OL – Nate Tastad, North Dakota State, 6-5, 285
OL – Shane Willenbring, South Dakota State, 6-4, 305
OL – Brian Williams Jr., Jackson State, 6-2, 333
OL – Braden Zimmer, Montana State, 6-6, 240
 
Defense
DL – Ka'Von Chisolm, South Carolina State, 6-5, 260
DL – Justin Krueger, William & Mary, 6-4, 250
DL – Lamont Lester Jr., Monmouth, 6-2, 230
DL – Kobe McInnis, Mercer, 6-2, 245
LB – Ramere Davis, Northern Arizona, 6-1, 205
LB – Jaiden Haygood, UTRGV, 6-0, 215
LB – Montreze Smith Jr., Austin Peay, 5-11, 204
LB – Anthony Feltrinelli, Valparaiso, 6-1, 220
DB – Tyran Chappell, Houston Christian University, 6-3, 170
DB – Chase Hatton, Marist, 5-11, 208
DB – Anthony Hawkins, Villanova, 6-3, 195
DB – Darius Malcolm Jr., Wofford, 5-11, 175
DB – Nic Yatsko, Indiana State, 6-1, 200
 
Special Teams
PK – Nicholas Romero, Wagner, 5-9, 160
P – Lachie Pozzobon, Stephen F. Austin, 6-4, 180
LS – Jack Baade, Harvard, 6-3, 220
LS – Maddox Broughton, Northern Colorado, 6-0, 225
KR – Ryan Ricketti, Valparaiso, 5-9, 180
PR – Braden Reed, Villanova, 5-9, 180
AP – Chase Bingmon, Prairie View A&M, 5-9, 185
AP – Xai'Shaun Edwards, Houston Christian University, 5-9, 195
AP – Cru Newman, Portland State, 6-0, 185

Support UTRGV Football | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube