Redshirt freshman defensive end Anthony Knighton earned a first-team FCS Freshman All-American selection from HERO Sports on Monday morning.

Knighton was also selected as one of the nation’s finalists for the Jerry Rice Award, which is handed to the most outstanding freshman in FCS Football. He was the first player in Southern’s history to be nominated for the award, as he finished 11th in the voting with two first-place votes.

Knighton set multiple SIU freshman records last season and led the team and all MVFC freshman in sacks, tackles for loss, tackles for loss yardage and quarterback hurries. As a starter in all 11 games, he registered 6.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles.

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Sports writer Ryan Demer can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @RyanDemer_DE 

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