Weber State University Athletics
Rashid Shaheed named nation's top Return Specialist
12/14/2017 9:24:00 AM | Football
The honors continue for Weber State football. WSU freshman kickoff returner Rashid Shaheed has earned All-America honors and has been selected as the top Collegiate Return Specialist in the nation by the FCS Athletic Directors Association (FCS ADA). Â
The FCS ADA, in coordination with the 13 conference offices, announced the 2017 All-America team on Thursday. The fifth annual award recognizes the top student-athletes from FCS institutions at 11 different positions. The 2017 class includes student-athletes from 11 different institutions, representing six different conferences. Voting was conducted by a national panel, consisting of media and SIDs.
Shaheed is the first player from Weber State to ever earn the honor and is the only freshman in the group of 11 players selected this season. He is one of two players from the Big Sky Conference to earn the honor.Â
Some of the highlights and touchdowns from @RashidShaheed this season who today earned All-America honors and was named the top return specialist in the nation. https://t.co/n0Rn9fxhzd #WeAreWeber ?? pic.twitter.com/5brfgHo4Vz
— Weber State Football (@weberstatefb) December 14, 2017
Shaheed, a native of San Diego, helped lead Weber State to a record-setting season as the Wildcats won the Big Sky Conference title, won a school record 11 games, won two games in the FCS Playoffs and were ranked in the top 10 in the nation. Â
Shaheed finished fourth in the nation in kickoff returns with 25 returns for 743 yards for an average of 29.7 yards per return. He had two returns for touchdowns, one of five players in the nation to do so. He had a 100-yard return for a touchdown against Southern Utah, the ninth 100-yard return in WSU history. He also had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a win at Portland State.Â
His 29.7 yards per return average is the best in a season in Weber State history. The 743 return yards ranks as the fifth most in a season in school history and is second the most ever in a season by a Wildcat freshman.Â
Shaheed also had 25 receptions for 545 yards and three touchdowns, an average of 21.8 yards per reception. He led the Wildcats and was ninth in the Big Sky in all purpose yards with 1,422 yards, an average of 101.6 yards per game. Â
Earlier this season he earned first team All-Big Sky Conference honors as a return specialist.Â
A national Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year will be announced at a later date and recognized at the National Championship Game in Frisco, Texas, on January 6, during an on-field presentation. Of the 11 student-athletes, nine participated in the 2017 NCAA Division I Football Championship.
The following student-athletes will earn 2017 All-America honors from the FCS ADA, as the top players from each of their positions:
QB: Jeremiah Briscoe, Sam Houston State (Southland)
RB: Dominick Bragalone, Lehigh (Patriot)
WR: Keelan Doss, UC Davis (Big Sky)
TE: Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State (MVFC)
OL: Austin Kuhnert, North Dakota State (MVFC)
PK: Lorran Fonseca, Nicholls (Southland)
DL: Andrew Ankrah, James Madison (CAA Football)
LB: Brett Taylor, Western Illinois (MVFC)
DB: Mike Basile, Monmouth (Big South)
RS: Rashid Shaheed, Weber State (Big Sky)
P: Joe Zema, Incarnate Word (Southland)
