Taylor, Lenoir Named to STATS FCS All-America Team

Taylor earns a First Team selection while Lenoir selected Third Team

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois junior linebacker Brett Taylor (Macomb/Macomb) and senior wide receiver Lance Lenoir, Jr. (Crete/Crete-Monee) received FCS All-America honors, as announced by STATS on Tuesday (Dec. 20).

Taylor was voted First Team All-America while Lenoir earned a Third Team selection, as both played a key role in Western turning the program around, recording its second straight winning season (6-5 overall) this fall. They are the first pair of teammates to earn All-America honors since 2010.

When the pair of All-Americans stepped on campus in the fall of 2013, the Leathernecks were coming off a combined five wins during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Lenoir (who played as a true-freshman) and Taylor (redshirted in 2013) have helped Western capture 18 wins over the past three years. The Leathernecks totaled 20 wins in the previous five years combined before they joined the program (2008-12). Western also notched its first FBS victory since 2003 this past season, a 28-23 victory at Northern Illinois.

Taylor was one of four linebackers selected to the First Team, and one of three defensive players from the Missouri Valley Football Conference named to STATS' top defensive squad. Taylor picked up his fourth All-America award this season, and third as a First Team selection. He finished seventh in the STATS Buck Buchanan Award voting, given to the 'National Defensive Player of the Year'.

Following his nation-leading 94 solo tackles and 134 total tackles during the 2016 season, Taylor will enter his senior year ranked among the career 'Top 10' in both categories. He holds down the ninth spot twice among the season 'Top 10' in solo tackles (94 in both 2015 and '16), and with 198 in his career he ranks sixth all-time. Taylor became the 12th Leatherneck all-time to record 300 career tackles, currently with 307 and in 11th place.

Taylor's 8.55 solo tackles per game ties him for the 10th-best season average in NCAA FCS history.

Lenoir was one of eight wide receivers to earn an All-America accolade, and the award marks his second All-America honor this season.

Lenoir leaves Western as the all-time leader in: receptions (273), yards (3,796), touchdowns (28), 100-yard games (14), 200-yard games (2), and consecutive games with a catch (41). In all, Lenoir will find himself listed among the 'Top 5' a whopping 29 times for single-game, season and career records – including 10 total records held.

During the 2016 season, he broke the Missouri Valley Football Conference all-time record for most catches. He ended his career third all-time in yardage, surpassing several MVFC receivers who went onto impressive NFL careers. Lenoir played in all 48 games of his career, starting 47 times. He caught a pass in his final 41 consecutive games.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Lance Lenoir: WR; 6' 0"; Senior; Crete Monee

#44 Brett Taylor: LB; 6' 2"; Junior; Macomb

Players Mentioned

#7 Lance Lenoir
: 6' 0"; Senior; Crete Monee
: WR

#44 Brett Taylor
: 6' 2"; Junior; Macomb
: LB

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Players Mentioned

#7 Lance Lenoir

#44 Brett Taylor

Players Mentioned

#7 Lance Lenoir

#44 Brett Taylor