University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Almendares Honored By Football Writers Association of America
12/17/2024 2:43:00 PM | Football
Senior kicker named second-team All-American
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana's Kenneth Almendares continued to pile up on postseason honors as the 2024 Football Writers Association of America All-America Team, presented in partnership with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, was released on Tuesday.
Almendares, named last week as the Lou Groza Award recipient, was selected as a second-team All-American on the 54-member team. The selection of Almendares marked the second Ragin' Cajuns to earn FWAA All-America honors joining Chris Smith (second team) in 2020.
The postseason honor was the seventh this season for Almendares, named a first-team All-American on Monday by the Associated Press. Since the end of the regular season, Almendares has earned first-team All-America recognition by the AP, Walter Camp Award, CBS Sports, USA Today and Hero Sports G5. Almendares also added second-team All-America honors last week by The Athletic.
The national FBS leader in field goals made (27) and field goals made per game (2.08), Almendares was ninth in the country in field goal percentage converting of 27 of 29 attempts (.931).
On pace to become the third kicker since 2008 to lead the nation in field goals while maintaining 90-percent accuracy, Almendares was 25-for-25 on the season in field goals from under 50 yards with his lone misses on the season coming from 53 (right) and 60 (left) yards.
Almendares led the Sun Belt Conference and was 11th nationally in points scored (127) and holds both the UL and SBC career record for most field goals made (68). He also set UL career records for scoring (362) and PATs (158) along with single-season records in field goals made and points.
He had nine games on the season with 10 or more points scored, including eight straight contests. Almendares set the Sun Belt record for most field goals made in a season (27).
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB) to stay up-to-date on Louisiana Football.
Following is the complete 2024 FWAA All-America Team:
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB – Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (6-0, 200, Sr., Mililani, Hawaii)
RB – Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (5-9, 215, Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.)
RB – Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (6-0, 225, Jr., Hamilton, Ohio)
WR – Harold Fannin, Bowling Green (6-4, 230, Jr., Canton, Ohio)
WR – Nick Nash, San Jose State (6-3, 195, Sr., Irvine, Calif.)
TE – Tyler Warren, Penn State (6-6, 261, Sr., Mechanicsville, Va.)
OL – Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas (6-4, 320, Jr., Humble, Texas)
OL – Will Campbell, LSU (6-6, 323, Jr., Monroe, La.)
OL – Wyatt Milum, West Virginia (6-6, 317, Sr., Kenova, W. Va.)
OL – Addison West, Western Michigan (6-3, 305, R-Sr., Cary, Ill.)
C – Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State (6-4, 305, Gr., Buford, Ga.)
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DE – Abdul Carter, Penn State (6-3, 252, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa.)
DE – Kyle Kennard, South Carolina (6-5, 254, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.)
DT – Mason Graham, Michigan (6-3, 320, Jr., Mission Viejo, Calif.)
DT – Walter Nolen, Ole Miss (6-3, 305, Jr., Powell, Tenn.)
LB – Shaun Dolac, Buffalo (6-1, 225, Gr., West Seneca, N.Y.)
LB – Aiden Fisher, Indiana (6-1, 233, Jr., Fredericksburg, Va.)
LB – Jay Higgins, Iowa (6-2, 232, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.)
DB – Jahdae Barron, Texas (5-11, 200, Sr., Austin, Texas)
DB – Caleb Downs, Ohio State (6-0, 205, Jr., Hoschton, Ga.)
DB – Malaki Starks, Georgia (6-1, 205, Jr., Jefferson, Ga.)
DB – Nohl Williams, California (6-1, 200, Sr., Oxnard, Calif.)
FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
K – Collin Rogers, SMU (6-4, 219, Jr., Prattville, Ala.)
P – Alex Mastromanno, Florida State (6-1, 241, Sr., Melbourne, Australia)
KR – Keelan Marion, BYU (6-0, 195, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.)
PR – Kaden Wetjen, Iowa (5-10, 196, Sr., Williamsburg, Iowa)
AP – Travis Hunter, Colorado (6-1, 185, Jr., Suwanee, Ga.)
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE: QB Cam Ward, Miami; RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee; RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State; WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona; WR Xavier Restrepo, Miami; TE Colston Loveland, Michigan; OL Tyler Booker, Alabama; OL Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota; OL Lucas Scott, Army West Point; OL Clay Webb, Jax State; C Parker Brailsford, Alabama. SECOND TEAM DEFENSE: DE Mike Green, Marshall; DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech; DT Howard Cross III, Notre Dame; DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon; LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama; LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma; LB Jackson Woodard, UNLV; DB Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina; DB D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana; DB Terrence Spence, James Madison; DB Xavier Watts, Notre Dame. SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS: K Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana; P Kai Kroeger, South Carolina; KR Winston Wright, East Carolina; PR Josh Cameron, Baylor; AP Desmond Reid, Pitt.
Almendares, named last week as the Lou Groza Award recipient, was selected as a second-team All-American on the 54-member team. The selection of Almendares marked the second Ragin' Cajuns to earn FWAA All-America honors joining Chris Smith (second team) in 2020.
The postseason honor was the seventh this season for Almendares, named a first-team All-American on Monday by the Associated Press. Since the end of the regular season, Almendares has earned first-team All-America recognition by the AP, Walter Camp Award, CBS Sports, USA Today and Hero Sports G5. Almendares also added second-team All-America honors last week by The Athletic.
The national FBS leader in field goals made (27) and field goals made per game (2.08), Almendares was ninth in the country in field goal percentage converting of 27 of 29 attempts (.931).
On pace to become the third kicker since 2008 to lead the nation in field goals while maintaining 90-percent accuracy, Almendares was 25-for-25 on the season in field goals from under 50 yards with his lone misses on the season coming from 53 (right) and 60 (left) yards.
Almendares led the Sun Belt Conference and was 11th nationally in points scored (127) and holds both the UL and SBC career record for most field goals made (68). He also set UL career records for scoring (362) and PATs (158) along with single-season records in field goals made and points.
He had nine games on the season with 10 or more points scored, including eight straight contests. Almendares set the Sun Belt record for most field goals made in a season (27).
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB) to stay up-to-date on Louisiana Football.
Following is the complete 2024 FWAA All-America Team:
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB – Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (6-0, 200, Sr., Mililani, Hawaii)
RB – Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (5-9, 215, Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.)
RB – Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (6-0, 225, Jr., Hamilton, Ohio)
WR – Harold Fannin, Bowling Green (6-4, 230, Jr., Canton, Ohio)
WR – Nick Nash, San Jose State (6-3, 195, Sr., Irvine, Calif.)
TE – Tyler Warren, Penn State (6-6, 261, Sr., Mechanicsville, Va.)
OL – Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas (6-4, 320, Jr., Humble, Texas)
OL – Will Campbell, LSU (6-6, 323, Jr., Monroe, La.)
OL – Wyatt Milum, West Virginia (6-6, 317, Sr., Kenova, W. Va.)
OL – Addison West, Western Michigan (6-3, 305, R-Sr., Cary, Ill.)
C – Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State (6-4, 305, Gr., Buford, Ga.)
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DE – Abdul Carter, Penn State (6-3, 252, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa.)
DE – Kyle Kennard, South Carolina (6-5, 254, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.)
DT – Mason Graham, Michigan (6-3, 320, Jr., Mission Viejo, Calif.)
DT – Walter Nolen, Ole Miss (6-3, 305, Jr., Powell, Tenn.)
LB – Shaun Dolac, Buffalo (6-1, 225, Gr., West Seneca, N.Y.)
LB – Aiden Fisher, Indiana (6-1, 233, Jr., Fredericksburg, Va.)
LB – Jay Higgins, Iowa (6-2, 232, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.)
DB – Jahdae Barron, Texas (5-11, 200, Sr., Austin, Texas)
DB – Caleb Downs, Ohio State (6-0, 205, Jr., Hoschton, Ga.)
DB – Malaki Starks, Georgia (6-1, 205, Jr., Jefferson, Ga.)
DB – Nohl Williams, California (6-1, 200, Sr., Oxnard, Calif.)
FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
K – Collin Rogers, SMU (6-4, 219, Jr., Prattville, Ala.)
P – Alex Mastromanno, Florida State (6-1, 241, Sr., Melbourne, Australia)
KR – Keelan Marion, BYU (6-0, 195, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.)
PR – Kaden Wetjen, Iowa (5-10, 196, Sr., Williamsburg, Iowa)
AP – Travis Hunter, Colorado (6-1, 185, Jr., Suwanee, Ga.)
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE: QB Cam Ward, Miami; RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee; RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State; WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona; WR Xavier Restrepo, Miami; TE Colston Loveland, Michigan; OL Tyler Booker, Alabama; OL Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota; OL Lucas Scott, Army West Point; OL Clay Webb, Jax State; C Parker Brailsford, Alabama. SECOND TEAM DEFENSE: DE Mike Green, Marshall; DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech; DT Howard Cross III, Notre Dame; DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon; LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama; LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma; LB Jackson Woodard, UNLV; DB Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina; DB D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana; DB Terrence Spence, James Madison; DB Xavier Watts, Notre Dame. SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS: K Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana; P Kai Kroeger, South Carolina; KR Winston Wright, East Carolina; PR Josh Cameron, Baylor; AP Desmond Reid, Pitt.
Players Mentioned
K
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