Jay Person said before the 2023 football season that he wasn’t worried about any of the preseason accolades being bestowed upon the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga edge rusher.
He just wanted to work and let the results speak for themselves, and in his final season as a Moc, they did just that on the field with 9.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss which led to his seventh selection to a Football Championship Subdivision All-American first team, which ties former Moc Isaiah Mack who also received first-team honors seven times.
Davis Tull has the most in school history with nine.
“Really, it’s just a blessing to be able to get that award,” Person said after being named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. “But there’s a lot that comes with it. Just work hard, not only in season but all year. All I can really do is thank everybody around me — my coaches, my teammates and everybody sticking with me throughout the whole process.”
In 2023, Person was named first-team by the Associated Press, STATS Perform (media) and second team by Phil Steele and FCS Football Central.