DALLAS - A pair of Conference USA standouts were named FWAA (Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-Americans in Marshall RB Rasheen Ali (as an all-purpose selection) and Middle Tennessee PR Jaylin Lane, the organization announced Monday. The team is presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. 

The list includes players who were either redshirt freshmen, true freshmen, or freshmen playing in their second season via the NCAA's updated COVID eligibility rules as designated by their respective schools.
 
Ali finished with 140.9 all-purpose yards per game in 2021, the 10th-highest average nationally and the top mark in Conference USA. He also led the nation in total touchdowns (25), rushing touchdowns (23-tied), points scored (150) and points per game (11.5-tied). The league's coaches also tabbed him a first-team All-Conference USA pick.

Lane, who was a first team all-conference pick as a punt returner and an honorable mention choice as kick returner, finishde the season leading the nation in punt return average at 15.5 yards per return to go with a touchdown. He was 26th nationally in combined kick return yards (580). The redshirt freshman receiver also had 42 receptions for 466 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 19 punt returns for 295 yards. He also had 13 kickoff returns for 285 yards.

2021 FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE (13)
QB • Seth Henigan Memphis 6-3 200 Denton, Texas
QB CJ Stroud Ohio State 6-3 218 Inland Empire, Calif.
RB • Braelon Allen Wisconsin 6-2 238 Fond du Lac, Wis.
RB • TreVeyon Henderson Ohio State 5-10 215 Hopewell, Va.
WR Corey Rucker Arkansas State 6-0 203 Bentonia, Miss.
WR • Xavier Worthy Texas 6-1 160 Fresno, Calif.
TE • Brock Bowers Georgia 6-4 230 Napa, Calif.
OL • Joe Alt Notre Dame 6-7 305 North Oaks, Minn.
OL • Campbell Barrington BYU 6-6 285 Spokane, Wash.
OL • Connor Colby Iowa 6-6 298 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
OL • Reuben Fatheree II Texas A&M 6-8 320 Richmond, Texas
OL • Bryce Foster Texas A&M 6-5 325 Katy, Texas
OL • Wyatt Milum West Virginia 6-6 291 Kenova, W. Va.

DEFENSE (14)
DL • Collin Oliver Oklahoma State 6-2 225 Oklahoma City, Okla.
DL • Masson Smith LSU 6-6 292 Houma, La.
DL • Josaiah Stewart Coastal Carolina 6-2 245 Everett, Mass.
DL Lukas Van Ness Iowa 6-5 264 Barrington, Ill.
LB • Junior Colson Michigan 6-2 225 Brentwood, Tenn.
LB • Eric Gentry Arizona State 6-6 200 Philadelphia, Pa.
LB Cal Haladay Michigan State 6-1 235 Elysburg, Pa.
LB • Dallas Turner Alabama 6-4 245 Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
DB • Calen Bullock USC 6-3 180 Pasadena, Calif.
DB • Denzel Burke Ohio State 6-1 192 Scottsdale, Ariz.
DB • Duce Chestnut Syracuse 6-0 195 Camden, N.J.
DB • Jack Howell Colorado State 5-11 195 Chandler, Ariz.
DB Donte Kent Central Michigan 5-11 185 Harrisburg, Pa.
DB • Andrew Mukuba Clemson 6-0 185 Austin, Texas

SPECIALISTS (5)
K • Cam Little Arkansas 6-2 185 Moore, Okla.
P • Nick Haberer Washington State 6-5 224 Queensland, Australia
KR Brian Battie USF 5-8 165 Sarasota, Fla.
PR Jaylin Lane Middle Tennessee 5-8 174 Clover, S.C.
AP Rasheen Ali Marshall 6-0 201 Cleveland, Ohio

• Denotes true freshman as listed on team roster