Bagley and Jones Lead Five Trojans on All-MSFA Team
UPLAND, Ind. – The Mid-States Football Association announced its All-Mideast League Team awards on Monday, with Taylor placing five student-athletes on the list. Drew Bagley and Aven Jones led the way as Second-Team All-MSFA Mideast League standouts, while Joey Breckel, Jacob Hockett and Ja Thomas were named as Honorable Mention selections.
Bagley took home his first All-MSFA honor with a spot on the All-MSFA Second-Team after ending second on the Trojans with 19 receptions during the 2023 campaign. The senior tight end averaged 7.4 yards per catch, pulled in two touchdowns and helped fuel a powerful Taylor ground game that boasted eight different players averaging over 20.0 yards per contest.
Jones was also named Second-Team All-MSFA for his second All-MSFA nod in three years. The junior linebacker topped the MSFA with 10.5 tackles per game and ranked fifth among NAIA players in that category. On the way to posting 115 hits, Jones registered 10-plus stops in a game six times this season and had at least seven tackles in 10-of-11 outings.
Breckel earned Honorable Mention All-MSFA honors for his first postseason award, after helping Taylor rush for at least 150 yards in 10-of-11 games during his junior season at left guard. Breckel helped pave the way for Taylor to rank ninth in the NAIA with 214.9 rushing yards per game.
Hockett hauled in a third-straight Honorable Mention All-MSFA award with another standout season from his linebacker position. The junior finished second on Taylor with 91 stops and added eight tackles for lost yardage to go with two forced fumbles.
Thomas rounded out the list of honors for the Trojans, collecting his first All-MSFA recognition as an Honorable Mention selection. The sophomore playmaker led TU with 68.4 all-purpose yards per game, topping the roster with 506 rushing yards and ranking second with 16.4 yards per catch.
Jones, Breckel, Hockett and Thomas are all poised to return, headlining an expected group of 16 returning starters for the Trojans in 2024.