Three WAC Football Standouts Named To 2022 AP FCS All-America Teams
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) was represented by three standout football players on the 2022 Associated Press FCS All-America teams that were unveiled on Tuesday night. Stephen F. Austin wide receiver Xavier Gipson and Southern Utah punter Jake Gerardi landed on the AP All-America First Team, while Utah Tech wide receiver Joey Hobert was tabbed as a second-team All-American.
Gipson, a senior, became just the eighth player in WAC history to win offensive player of the year honors in back-to-back seasons following a stellar 2022 campaign. Gipson led the WAC with 1,486 all-purpose yards, which included a conference-high 276 punt return yards and added 1,163 receiving yards to rank second in the league. Gipson’s nine total touchdowns (seven receiving, two punt returns) were tied for third among all WAC players, while his 25.1 yards per punt return average was among the best in college football.
Gerardi, a redshirt senior, was arguably the most valuable player at the punter position nationally during the year. Gerardi paced the WAC and the FCS with a 48.0 yards per punt average over 52 attempts, with a conference-high 20 punts covering 50 or more yards. Gerardi also ranked second in the conference with 18 punts landing inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Serving as the primary kickoff specialist, Gerardi registered a touchback on exactly half of his kickoffs, 31-of-62.
Hobert, a sophomore, was among the FCS leaders with 90 receptions, 1,258 yards and 16 touchdowns over just 11 games at Utah Tech. Hobert led the WAC with eight 100-yard receiving outings during the 2022 season and equaled the season’s single-game conference highs in both receptions (11) and receiving touchdowns (3) with the Trailblazers.
2022 FCS AP Football All-America
2022 AP All-America First Team
WR – Xavier Gipson, Sr., Stephen F. Austin
P – Jake Gerardi, R-Sr., Southern Utah
2022 AP All-America Second Team
WR – Joey Hobert, So., Utah Tech
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