POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Three Marist football players –
Mekhai Johnson,
Jayden Johnson, and
Teddy Wright – were named First Team All-Pioneer Football League (PFL) on Tuesday.
Four Red Foxes were named Second Team All-PFL:
Dwayne Menders,
Ben Johnson,
Mike Arrington, and
Clayborne Fields III.
Here is closer look at the honorees:
Mekhai Johnson
Johnson was named PFL Special Teams Player of the Year on Monday. He ranked 26th in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with an average of 23.6 yards per kickoff return, and was the only player in the PFL to return a kickoff for a touchdown. This occurred against Dayton on Oct. 16. Following that performance, he was named FCS and PFL Special Teams Player of the Week.
Jayden Johnson
In his first year as a starting linebacker, Johnson led the PFL in tackles and currently ranks eighth in the FCS at 10.4 tackles per game (total of 94 in nine games). He also registered five-and-a-half tackles for loss, a sack, a pass break-up, and a forced fumble. He had at least nine tackles in every game he played this season, with a high of 14 against Morehead State on Oct. 23.
Teddy Wright
Wright filled the stat sheet with 76 tackles, seven stops for loss, four interceptions, three sacks, one fumble recovery, and one pass break-up from the safety position. He ranked second on the team in interceptions, and third in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks. Wright totaled 11 tackles, one-and-a-half stops for loss, a sack, and an interception in Marist's overtime win at Valparaiso on Oct. 2.
Dwayne Menders
Menders was the Red Foxes' leading receiver with 45 receptions for 525 yards, and tied for the team lead with three receiving touchdowns. He tied the program's single-game record with 12 receptions against Bryant on Sept. 25.
Ben Johnson
A captain, Johnson started every game at left tackle for the Red Foxes. It was his first year as a starter on the left side after taking over as the starter at right tackle in 2019. Johnson helped the Red Foxes lead the PFL in fewest turnovers committed and turnover margin.
Mike Arrington
A captain and linebacker, Arrington was the Red Foxes' leader with five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. He also notched 81 total tackles and two pass break-ups. Arrington was named PFL Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 10, the day after totaling 14 tackles, three-and-a-half tackles for loss, a sack, and a pass break-up in a victory over Stetson.
Clayborne Fields III
Fields led the Red Foxes with five interceptions from the safety position. He led the PFL and currently ranks sixth in the FCS in interceptions per game, as he closed out the season with a pick in three straight games. Fields also had a team-leading five pass break-ups to go along with 59 tackles, two tackles for loss, and half-a-sack.
Additionally, seven Red Foxes were named PFL Honorable Mention: defensive end
Jacob Abill, defensive end
Aaron Acosta, running back
Hunter Cobb, quarterback
Austin Day, nose tackle
Nick Foglia, and linebacker
Arthur Pinckney. In addition to being named PFL Special Teams Player of the Year and a First Teamer as a return specialist,
Mekhai Johnson was named Honorable Mention at running back.
The announcement of the PFL awards will conclude on Wednesday with the All-Academic Teams, which are voted on by the league's sports information directors.
