NEWPORT, RI – Former ECU wide receiver Zay Jones, who wrapped up his four-year career in 2016 as the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision’s career and single-season receptions leader, has been named to the American Athletic Conference Fifth Anniversary Team the league announced Monday at its annual Media Day. The team was selected from votes by the 12-member institutions, local and national media members, and a fan ballot.

Photo Credit: Ted Gangi (College Press Box)

A two-year team captain and All-AAC honoree, Jones became the owner of the FBS career record against Navy on Nov. 19, 2016 before finishing with 399 catches. In addition to his 158 receptions as a senior in 2016, he also set AAC and ECU single-season standards with 1,746 receiving yards. Jones is one of only 19 FBS receivers all-time with over 4,000 receiving yards (4,279).



Jones topped the FBS level in three categories during his senior campaign - receptions, receptions per game (13.2) and receiving yards per game (145.5). In 12 games he caught a personal-best eight touchdown passes and registered nine double-triples (catches-yards), which included a career-high 22 receptions for 190 yards at South Carolina on Sept. 17. His 22 grabs against the Gamecocks were the most by an NCAA FBS receiver in a game in 2016 and was one shy of an all-time NCAA FBS record.

Photo Credit: Ted Gangi (College Press Box)

The Austin, Texas native was a finalist for the 2016 Biletnikoff Award, William V. Campbell Trophy and the Senior CLASS Award, while also earning CoSIDA Academic All-America (second-team) honors as a communications major before graduating in December with a 3.547 grade point average. He was selected to a combined 14 All-America squads for his play on the field, including first-team nods by Walter Camp, The Sporting News, ESPN.com, SB Nation, Pro Football Focus and College Sports Madness, while being formally recognized as a Heisman Trophy candidate by the Heisman Trophy Trust.



A second-round selection by the Buffalo Bills in the 2017 National Football League Draft, Jones appeared in 15 games hauling down 27 passes for 316 yards (11.7 ypr) with a pair of touchdowns during his rookie campaign. He caught his first career pass (21 yards) against the New York Jets in his professional debut (season opener) and eight weeks later scored his first touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Tyrod Taylor, which was also against the Jets.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – East Carolina seniors Zay Jones (first-team) and Worth Gregory (second-team) have been named All-American Athletic Conference performers according to an announcement by the league office Wednesday. For Jones, it’s his second-straight all-conference honor after being named to the second-team in 2015.



A two-year team captain, Jones wrapped up his four-year career as the NCAA FBS career (399) and single-season (158) receptions leader, while setting new ECU and American Athletic Conference single-season standards in catches and receiving yards (1,746).



This season, Jones led the NCAA FBS in four categories: receptions, receiving yards, receptions per game (13.20) and receiving yards per game (145.5). In 12 games he caught a personal-best eight touchdown passes and registered nine double-triples (catches-yards), which included a career-high 22 receptions for 190 yards at South Carolina on Sept. 17. His 22 grabs against the Gamecocks are the most by an NCAA FBS receiver in a game this season and was one shy of an all-time NCAA FBS record.




The Austin, Texas native is a finalist for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy (one of 12) presented by Fidelity Investments National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. Jones was also named a finalist for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award (one of 10) honoring the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition.



On Nov. 7, Jones was formally recognized as a Heisman Trophy candidate by the Heisman Trophy Trust, while being selected as a finalist for the 2016 Biletnikoff Award and a semifinalist for the 2016 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award on Nov. 21. He has committed to play in the 2017 Reese’s Senior Bowl, which will be played on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.



Gregory earned his first career all-conference accolade after ranking second in The American and 44th nationally with a 42.3 punting average. The Fort Mill, S.C. native registered 51 punts for 2,159 yards and landed 15 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Nine of his punts went for 50 or more yards, including a season-long 65-yarder at Tulsa.



A three-time Ray Guy Award Watch List candidate (nation’s top punter), Gregory capped his three-year career ranked fourth in the Pirate annuals with a 43.00 punting average after booting 160 balls for 6,878 yards. In all, 32 punts went for 50 or more yards; he landed 66 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and had 15 touchbacks.