Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Miner & Akharaiyi Earn Preseason All-SEC Honors By College Football Network
August 05, 2024 | Football
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State football's Kelly Akharaiyi and Ethan Miner have been named to the College Football Network preseason All-SEC team, both earning honorable mention honors.
For both Miner and Akharaiyi, this is their second preseason honor after being named to the Shrine Bowl 1,000 Watchlist.
Miner, who was the second-best offensive lineman in The American by PFF last season (81.5), spent one year at North Texas before his time at Arkansas State. In his career, Miner has played in 44 career games with 36 starts, including a streak of 35 straight starts dating back to Sept. 4, 2021. While being one of the best offensive linemen in The American, he was also an elite center, earning the third-best PFF grade in America for a center (81.2), while his 85.9 passing grade by PFF was the fifth-best grade nationally as well. While at UNT, he blocked for an offense that averaged 495.8 yards per game and 304.7 passing yards per contest. Following last season's stellar campaign, Miner was named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Fourth Team while also earning 2024 National Football Honor Society honors for his hard work in the classroom.
Akharaiyi comes to Starkville after two impressive seasons at UTEP. In 2023, Akharaiyi began to turn heads with an outstanding junior campaign. He started all 12 games for the Miners and was one of just two C-USA players to tally over 1,000 receiving yards (1,033). On 48 receptions, he averaged 86.1 yards per game while hauling in seven touchdowns. He led C-USA and ranked fifth in the FBS in yards per catch (21.5) and 17th in college football in total receiving yards and yards per game. He was a big play threat all season, earning a pair of 80+ yard touchdown receptions, the most 80+ yard receptions for a UTEP receiver since 1999. Akharaiyi was named to the 2024 Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Fourth Team after earning First Team All-Conference USA last season.
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For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
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For both Miner and Akharaiyi, this is their second preseason honor after being named to the Shrine Bowl 1,000 Watchlist.
Miner, who was the second-best offensive lineman in The American by PFF last season (81.5), spent one year at North Texas before his time at Arkansas State. In his career, Miner has played in 44 career games with 36 starts, including a streak of 35 straight starts dating back to Sept. 4, 2021. While being one of the best offensive linemen in The American, he was also an elite center, earning the third-best PFF grade in America for a center (81.2), while his 85.9 passing grade by PFF was the fifth-best grade nationally as well. While at UNT, he blocked for an offense that averaged 495.8 yards per game and 304.7 passing yards per contest. Following last season's stellar campaign, Miner was named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Fourth Team while also earning 2024 National Football Honor Society honors for his hard work in the classroom.
Akharaiyi comes to Starkville after two impressive seasons at UTEP. In 2023, Akharaiyi began to turn heads with an outstanding junior campaign. He started all 12 games for the Miners and was one of just two C-USA players to tally over 1,000 receiving yards (1,033). On 48 receptions, he averaged 86.1 yards per game while hauling in seven touchdowns. He led C-USA and ranked fifth in the FBS in yards per catch (21.5) and 17th in college football in total receiving yards and yards per game. He was a big play threat all season, earning a pair of 80+ yard touchdown receptions, the most 80+ yard receptions for a UTEP receiver since 1999. Akharaiyi was named to the 2024 Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Fourth Team after earning First Team All-Conference USA last season.
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For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
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