CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Four Hudson Valley football student-athletes were named to the 2021 NJCAA DIII Football All-America Teams as announced by the national governing body, the NJCAA and the NJCAA Football Coaches' Association on Tuesday afternoon.
Sophomore linebacker, Jayon Renfro headlines the Vikings All-American list as he garnered first-team honors. The Vikings captain was a defensive stalwart this season and finished with a team-best 65 tackles, 39 solo tackles and 26 assisted, which was an 8.1 tackles per game average. His 8.1 average was nationally ranked inside the top-5 among all of the NJCAA DIII programs.
Desi Floyd, the Vikings leading rusher was named to the NJCAA All-America Second Team as the running back finished with 746 total rushing yards and 93.3 yards per game average. His 93.3 yards per game ranked second among all NJCAA DIII running backs. Floyd also finished with a team-high seven rushing touchdowns. For his career, Floyd tallied 1,531 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns. Floyd ran his way into the Vikings record book as his 287 career carries ranks fourth-best and his 1,531 rushing yards ranks second in Hudson Valley program history. Floyd only trails Hudson Valley athletics hall of famer and NJCAA All-American, Emmanuel Marc, who finished his career with 2,038 rushing yards.
Freshman wide receiver, Omari Hopkins was named to the second team for his late season production as one of Hudson Valley's top receiving targets this season. Hopkins finished the year with 230 receiving yards and a team-high six touchdowns. Hopkins was also a force as Vikings primary return specialist. He was named NJCAA Special Teams Player of the Week after he posted 127 kick return yards, including an 85-yard touchdown as the Vikings defeated a previously undefeated program in East Coast Prep in the 2021 season finale.
The final All-American is Freddie Callo, who was named to the second team as a special team's kicker. Callo did more than kick field goals for the program. He also handled all of the punting duties, which was essential to the team's success as Hudson Valley's opponents were forced to start a majority of their drives deep into their own zone. In the eight games played, Callo connected on 91 percent of his extra-point attempts (21-of-23) and hit three field goals, including a season-best 42-yard field goal against East Coast Prep on Nov. 7 at the Outdoor Athletic Complex at Hudson Valley.