RIO GRANDE VALLEY – FCS Football Central on SI announced on Monday that wide receiver Tony Diaz, linebacker Jaiden Haygood, offensive lineman Nick Hughes, and defensive back Alijah Prosser of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) football team are Freshman All-Americans, giving UTRGV an FCS-best four selections.
 
This team recognizes the best freshman players from across FCS, as 62 players from 46 programs are recognized on this year's team. UTRGV is the only team with four selections, ranking ahead of North Dakota State and Mercer, both of which made the second round of the FCS Playoffs and have three selections each.
 
In total, the Southland Conference has seven honorees along with running back Xai'Shaun Edwards and defensive back Tyran Chappell of Houston Christian University and kick returner LaDamian McDowell of Lamar.
 
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 to be honored as the national freshman of the year.
 
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), 29^th in the FCS and second in the Southland in receiving yards (875), 32^nd in the FCS and third in the Southland in receiving yards per game (72.9), 43^rd in the FCS and second in the Southland in total touchdowns (11), 100^th in the FCS and eighth in the Southland in total points scored (66), 104^th in the FCS and eighth in the Southland in scoring (5.5), 145^th in the FCS and 10^th in the Southland in all-purpose yards per game (72.83), 180^th in the FCS and 10^th in the Southland in yards per receptions (12.87), and 199^th in the FCS and 17^th in the Southland in points responsible for (66).
 
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 to be honored as the national freshman of the year, 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 96^th in the FCS and ninth in the Southland in fumble recoveries (1).
 
Nick Hughes
A Southland All-Conference Second Team Offensive Lineman, Hughes started all 12 games on the offensive line, anchoring a unit that allowed just 1.50 sacks per game, the 28^th best mark in the FCS and best in the Southland. The offensive line consistently gave quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger considerable time to make passes, allowing him and the UTRGV offense to be among the best in the nation. The extra time also helped the UTRGV offense to go the entire season without committing a fumble.
 
Alijah Prosser
Prosser led the Vaqueros by recording nine tackles for a loss of 27 yards. He finished with 47 total tackles (25 solo), the fifth most on the team. He also posted a 9-yard sack, two interceptions for 53 yards, five passes broken up, one quarterback hurry, and two forced fumbles. Prosser ranked 144^th in the FCS and 16^th in the Southland in interceptions per game (0.17).
 
2025 FCS Freshman All-American Team
Offense
QB - Braden Atkinson (Mercer)
QB - Caden Pinnick (UC Davis)
RB - Xai'Shaun Edwards (Houston Christian)
RB - Tre Page III (Tarleton State)
RB - Mitchell Summers (Sacred Heart)
RB - Nick Herman (Drake)
RB - Chase Bingmon (Prairie View A&M)
WR - Tony Diaz (UTRGV)
WR - Brooks Davis (Montana)
WR - Ernest Campbell (Sacramento State)
WR - Evan James (Furman)
WR - Rico Bond (Lindenwood)
WR - Owen Sweeney (VMI)
WR - Rashawn Cunningham (Charleston Southern)
TE - Reis Kessel (North Dakota State)
TE - Jeter Purdy (Northern Arizona)
OL - Shane Willenbring (South Dakota State)
OL - Gavin Marks (Mercer)
OL - Braden Zimmer (Montana State)
OL - Sawyer Prementine (Mercyhurst)
OL - Isaac Cariveau (North Dakota)
OL - Braden Smith (Tarleton State)
OL - Nick Hughes (UTRGV)
OL - Nate Tastad (North Dakota State)
OL - Brady Pickett (The Citadel)
OL - Colin Amick (Montana)
OL - Brian Williams Jr. (Jackson State)
 
Defense
DL - Lamont Lester Jr. (Monmouth)
DL - Zach Vanderpool (North Dakota State)
DL - Kobe McInnis (Mercer)
DL - Ka'Von Chisolm (South Carolina State)
DL - Justin Kruger (William & Mary)
DL - Evan Aubrey (Southeastern Louisiana)
DL - Dallin Havea (Utah Tech)
LB - Montreze Smith Jr. (Austin Peay)
LB - Jaiden Haygood (UTRGV)
LB - Dexter Niekamp (Illinois State)
LB - Ramere Davis (Northern Arizona)
LB - Anthony Feltrinelli (Valparaiso)
LB - Beckham Dee (Lafayette)
DB - Drew Cofield (UC Davis)
DB - Darius Malcolm Jr. (Wofford)
DB - Tyran Chappell (Houston Christian)
DB - Carson Williams (Montana State)
DB - Chase Hatton (Marist)
DB - Grant Noland (North Dakota)
DB - Nick Yatsko (Indiana State)
DB - Anthony Hawkins (Villanova)
DB - Alijah Prosser (UTRGV)
DB - RJ Stewart (South Dakota)
DB - Caleb Ricks (Idaho)
 
Special Teams
K - Nicholas Romero (Wagner)
K - Noah Piper (Yale)
P - Bobby Engstler (Florida A&M)
P - Lachie Pozzobon (Stephen F. Austin)
KR - Ryan Ricketti (Valparaiso)
KR - Sidney Webb (Morehead State)
KR - LaDamian McDowell (Lamar)
PR - Braden Reed (Villanova)
PR - Darriel Harper (Presbyterian)
AP - Christopher Bennett Jr. (Lindenwood)
AP - Cru Newman (Portland State)

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