2023 Stats Perform FCS All-America Team Press Release
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Dec. 19, 2023) – Northern Arizona University football player
Alex McLaughlin has been named to the Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-America Team, presented by FedEx Ground, as announced on Tuesday morning.
The 6-2, 192 defensive back adds the honor to a list of accolades that also includes a spot on the Second Team All-Big Sky Defense and another freshman All-American nod from the FCS Football Central Team.
McLaughlin made an immediate impact on the Lumberjack defense, starting all 10 games he played in. The Chandler, Ariz., native missed just one game due to a lower arm injury that required surgery, playing in the final two games of the season with a heavily wrapped arm and still racked up 13 tackles and an interception in the final two contests.
He led the team with 71 tackles, 34 of which were solo, twice finishing with double-digit tackles at Arizona (10) and against Portland State (11). McLaughlin also earned a team-high four interceptions which was also the second most in the conference, six breakups, a quarterback hurry and one and a half sacks. He was third on the team with five tackles for a loss of 18 yards.
McLaughlin led the team in tackles in four out of the ten games he played in. He had at least six tackles in eight games, averaging 7.1 per game.
He was named to the midseason Jerry Rice Award Watchlist, given to the top freshman in the FCS, and after recording eight tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception, and a breakup at Weber State he was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week.
Northern Arizona concluded the season 5-6 overall with a 5-3 mark in Big Sky Conference play to end the year fourth in the standings, its best finish since 2017.
