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Mississippi College senior wide receiver Marcel Newson has been named American Football Coaches’ Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches’ All-America Team, it was announced on Wednesday (Dec. 7).
Newson (Coldwater, Miss.) becomes MC’s first Division II All-American selection since Kelly Ray earned the honor in 1993. He becomes MC’s first AFCA All-American since Renard Ellis was named to the Division III team in 2009.
The transfer from Northwest Mississippi Community College was a First Team All-Gulf South Conference selection as a wide receiver and return specialist. He was also a D2CCA All-South Region Second Team selection.
Newson closed out his two-year career with 97 catches for 1,509 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. He added two rushing touchdowns, two punt return touchdowns and one kickoff return touchdown to score 18 times over his 19 games.
In 2016, Marcel led the GSC with 180.6 all-purpose yards per game and 94.8 receiving yards per game. His all-purpose yards mark was good enough to finish 5th nationally. He set single-season school records for receptions per game (6.33) and all-purpose yards per game.
He had four games with 100 receiving yards in 2016, catching touchdown passes in five consecutive games. He also tallied a 93-yard kickoff return for touchdown (at Shorter), an 83-yard touchdown catch (at Delta State), a 75-yard touchdown rush (vs. Cumberland) and a 73-yard punt return touchdown (vs. Valdosta State).
Newson is also MC’s all-time career leader in receptions per game (5.11) and all-purpose yards per game (146.2). He ranks 10th in school history in receiving yards and 12th in receptions.
He is the 14th player in school history to be named to the AFCA Division II All-American Team with Terry Fleming earning the honor twice (1988-89). Current defensive backs coach Ricky Herzog was MC’s first Division II All-American in 1972.
Joining Newson, Ray, Fleming and Herzog as Division II All-Americans are Calvin Howard (1979), Elbert Lyles (1980), Major Everett (1982), Wayne Frazier (1983), Earl Conway (1985), Fred McAfee (1990) and Johnny Poole (1992).
MC’s 15 all-time selections to the AFCA Division II All-American Teams ranks 10th among all Division II institutions.
