WACO, Texas – History continues to be made during North Carolina Central University's 2016 gridiron campaign, as redshirt senior center Carl Jones was announced to the AFCA Football Championship Subdivision Coaches' All-America Team on Monday, becoming the first Eagle named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America Team in 20 years and just the fifth NCCU student-athlete to ever earn the distinction.
 
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Jones has been voted to the AFCA All-America Second Team as a repeat selection to All-MEAC First Team as the conference's top center. Entering the Celebration Bowl, the team captain recorded a team-best grade of 91 percent on blocking assignments with a team-high 65 pancake blocks, while only allowing one sack in 707 plays.
 
He helped pave the way for a NCCU single-season record of 4,614 yards of total offense, averaging 384.5 total yards per game. The Eagles were also the second-highest scoring team in school history with 347 points. The Eagles made more history this season by becoming the first NCCU football team to win a third consecutive conference championship and posted the most wins (9) in the program's Division I era.
 
During his stellar NCCU career from 2013-16, Jones started 39 games, including 37 consecutive starts. The team posted a record of 26-13 and won three straight conference championships with Jones as the starting center. In more than 2,200 plays during the past three seasons, the 6-2, 285-pound lineman has only allowed two sacks.
 
Jones is a two-time All-MEAC First Team selection as league's top center (2015 & 2016) and a five-time MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week. He graduated from NCCU in May 2016 with an overall grade point average of 3.63 and bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting.
 
Jones was also recently named to the 2016 BOXTOROW All-America Team, honoring the top players from HBCUs, for the second straight season.
 
The AFCA also recognized Jones for his accomplishments off the field as one of 24 college football players named to the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, one of the most coveted off-the-field honors in college football.
 
The last Eagle to make the AFCA All-America Team is linebacker Tommy Dorsey in 1996. NCCU was also represented on the AFCA All-America Team by quarterback Earl Harvey (1988), defensive end Charles Smith (1974), and lineman Doug Wilkerson (1968 & 1969).
 
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions.
 
For more information on the AFCA and its programs, log on to the AFCA's website at www.afca.com.