Chanticleers' McCall Heads College Football Focus 2020 Freshman Squad

 

And a child shall lead them. 

Coastal Carolina emerged as one of the feel-good stories of the 2020 college football season, due in large part to the play of freshman quarterback Grayson McCall. The Indian Trail, N.C. product was a revelation for the Chanticleers, who fell on game short of a historic perfect season after falling to Liberty 37-34 in the Cure Bowl. McCall was the heart and soul of the CCU offense, tossing 26 touchdowns to only three interceptions, and completing nearly 69 percent of his passes. 

For his efforts McCall is awarded with the 2020 Freshman of the Year award from College Football Focus. He is one of two CCU players on the two-unit all-freshman teams, quite a feat for a school that until 2017 was an FCS program. McCall edged out heralded Oklahoma signal-caller Spencer Rattler for first team honors, and saw teammate Willie Lampkin make second team at guard.

Oklahoma leads the way with three freshman selections, while College Football Playoff participants Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame have two apiece. Perennial powerhouse LSU also has a pair of honorees, which should be a good sign after a subpar 2020 season. Auburn, Northwestern and Pittsburgh also placed two players on the freshman teams.

Breakdown by conference:

ACC:

Big 10: 5

Big 12: 7

Pac-12: 3

SEC: 11

AAC: 5

CUSA: 4

MAC: 2

MWC: 1

Sun Belt: 5

Independent: 2

        COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOCUS 2020 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

1^ST TEAM OFFENSE                                                                      2^ND TEAM OFFENSE

QB Grayson McCall/Coastal Carolina                                           QB Spencer Rattler/Oklahoma

RB Ty Jordan/Utah                                                                        RB Kyren Williams/Notre Dame

RB Ulysses Bentley IV/SMU                                                           RB Tank Bigsby/Auburn

WR Marvin Mims/Oklahoma                                                         WR Kayshon Boutte/LSU

WR Tahj Washington/Memphis                                                    WR Kyle Williams/UNLV

WR Jordan Addison/Pittsburgh                                                    WR Parker Washington/Penn St

TE Isaac Rex/BYU                                                                        TE Michael Mayer/Notre Dame

OT Peter Skoronski/Northwestern                                                OT Tyler Smith/Tulsa

OT Cooper Beebe/Kansas State                                                   OT Dalton Cooper/Texas State

OG Preston Wilson/Oklahoma State                                            OG Jeremy James/Ole Miss

OG Keiondre Jones/Auburn                                                    OG Willie Lampkin/Coastal Carolina

 C Matthew Lee/UCF                                                                      C Louis Smith/S Miss

1^ST TEAM DEFENSE                                                                      2^ND TEAM DEFENSE

DE Khari Coleman/TCU                                                                 DE Tuli Tuipolotu/USC

DT Calijah Kancey/Pittsburgh                                                       DT Bryan Bresee/Clemson

DT Ahkeem Mesidor/West Virginia                                               DT Ricky Barber/W Kentucky

DE Myles Murphy/Clemson                                                           DE BJ Olujari/LSU

LB Tyler Grubbs/Louisiana Tech                                                   LB Colby Wooden/Auburn

LB Will Anderson Jr/Alabama                                                       LB Jamal Ligon/UTSA

LB Noah Sewell/Oregon                                                               LB Nick Herbig/Wisconsin

CB Derrick Canteen/Georgia Southern                                 CB Woodi Washington/Oklahoma

CB Malachi Moore/Alabama                                                         CB Eli Ricks/LSU

 S Jalen Catalon/Arkansas                                                             S Antavious Lane/Georgia St

 S Brandon Joseph/Northwestern                                                  S Nick Andersen/Wake Forest

1^ST TEAM SPECIALISTS                                                                2^ND TEAM SPECIALISTS

 K Harrison Mevis/Missouri                                                            K Marshall Meeder/C Michigan

 P Tory Taylor/Iowa                                                                       P Laine Wilkins/Houston

RS Trayvon Rudolph/Northern Illinois                                           RS Demario Douglas/Liberty

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Grayson McCall