Florida Tech Linebacker J.T. Hassell Named To AFCA All-America First Team

Hassell is from Titusville, Florida

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Redshirt-senior linebacker J.T. Hassell was named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America first team Wednesday.

Hassell becomes the 19th player in program history to earn All-America honors and just the third to be named to an AFCA All-America team. However, he is the first Panther to receive first team laurels from AFCA.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.

A local product of Titusville, Florida, Hassell had one of the best seasons by any player in program history. This season he became the second Panther to be named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

He was selected to the All-GSC First Team for the first time in his career and was a nominee for the Harlon Hill Division II Player of the Year Award. Recently, Hassell was placed on the D2CCA All-Region First Team and is now up for All-America honors from the organization.

Hassell led the GSC, and ranked 21st in the nation, with 124 total tackles this season, while his 76 solo stops ranked first in the league and ninth nationally. Hassell also led the GSC in tackles per game (10.3) and forced fumbles (3), in addition to ranking sixth in the conference in tackles for loss (9.5) and seventh in sacks (4.5).

This season, Hassell set school records for tackles in a season (124), solo tackles in a season (76), tackles in a single game (20.0), and sacks in a single game (4.0).

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