View the CSJ All-America Team
View the CSJ All-Freshman Team

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Among the recipients of the first-ever postseason awards handed out by College Sports Journal were Elon junior wide receiver Aaron Mellette and red-shirt freshman linebacker Jonathan Spain.  Mellette was named to his seventh All-American team while Spain was a member of the all-freshman squad.

Mellette was a first-team All-Southern Conference selection by both the Southern Conference's coaches and media members and finished fifth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award.  He was also honored with the national Wide Receiver Award from College Football Performance Awards.  The Sanford, N.C., native ended the regular season as the FCS leader in both receptions per game (10.27) and receiving yards per game (149.0).  His 1,639 receiving yards established a new Elon and SoCon record, surpassing the mark of 1,633 yards set by former Phoenix standout Terrell Hudgins in 2009.  Mellette had nine 100-yard receiving games and twice went over 200 yards receiving during his junior campaign.  He began the season with an 11-catch, 180-yard performance at Vanderbilt.  In a win at North Carolina Central, Mellette caught 16 passes for a career-high 237 yards.  In the season finale against Appalachian State, Mellette hauled in 14 balls for 236 yards.  He made a SoCon-best 113 catches and led the league with 12 touchdown receptions.  He was twice honored as the league's offensive player of the month.

In his three seasons in the maroon and gold Mellette has caught 207 passes for 2,856 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Mellette was been named to six other All-America teams this year.  He was a first-team choice to teams announced by The Associated Press, The Sports Network/Fathead.com, the Walter Camp Football Foundation, College Sporting News, Phil Steele and College Sports Madness.

Spain totaled 37 total tackles, including 22 solo stops in his first year on the gridiron.  The Greensboro, N.C., native also had 4.5 tackles for a loss, including one sack, and one interception.  He was a member of the 2011 SoCon All-Freshman Team as selected by the league's coaches.  In back-to-back outings against Samford and Chattanooga, Spain recorded a personal-best nine tackles.  In his first career start, a victory at Western Carolina, Spain recorded his first interception.

The All-America and all-freshman teams were selected by a blue ribbon panel of FCS experts put together by College Sports Journal.