NM State Amasses 21 College Football Network All-CUSA Awards

Malaki Ta’ase named league’s Newcomer of the Year.

Source: NMSU Athletics
By Michael Navarette
Photo: Courtesy

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Thursday morning, College Football Network (CFN) announced its All-Conference USA honors for the 2024 season. In Head Coach Tony Sanchez‘s first year at the helm of the program, 16 Aggies garnered 21 awards presented by College Football Network.

The group was highlighted by a pair of linemen as Canaan Yarro was named the Conference USA Center of the Year while true freshman defensive tackle Malaki Ta’ase was named the Newcomer of the year, the Impact Freshman of the Year and the Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

Following a season in which he anchored CUSA’s fourth-leading rushing offense, Yarro was also the lone Aggie to earn CFN First Team honors. This marks the second time that CFN has recognized Yarro as he was also named Second Team All-Independent as a sophomore in 2022.

This award also adds to the collection of Ta’ase who was recently named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Defense following a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches. This season, Ta’ase finished with 33 total tackles, including one and a half tackles for loss, one sack, five quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. Ta’ase also secure a spot on the CFN’s second team all-conference list.

NM State also received three additional CFN Second Team All-CUSA honors as running back Mike Washington, offensive lineman AJ Vaipulu and kicker Abraham Montaño each received recognition. Montaño also doubled up on awards as he landed a spot on the third team all-conference list as a kickoff specialist. Montaño was joined on the third team by running back Seth McGowan.

Lastly, the Aggies placed 10 individuals on the honorable mention list as TJ Pride, Louie Canepa, Buddha Peleti, Naki Fahina, Tyler Martinez, Dakerric Hobbs, Dylan Early, Tayden Barnes, Sone Aupiu and George Eberle were each honored by CFN.

The complete list of Aggies which were recognized by College Football Network can be found below.

College Football Network Conference USA Superlative Awards
Newcomer of the Year – Malaki Ta’ase
Impact Freshman of the Year – Malaki Ta’ase
Center of the Year – Canaan Yarro
Defensive Newcomer of the Year – Malaki Ta’ase

College Football Network First Team All-CUSA
Canaan Yarro

College Football Network Second Team All-CUSA
Mike Washington
AJ Vaipulu
Malaki Ta’ase
Abraham Montaño (K)

College Football Network Third Team All-CUSA
Seth McGowan
Abraham Montaño (KOS)

College Football Network Honorable Mention All-CUSA
TJ Pride
Louie Canepa
Buddha Peleti
Naki Fahina
Tyler Martinez
Dakerric Hobbs
Dylan Early
Tayden Barnes
Soune Aupiu
George Eberle

For complete coverage of the NM State football program, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of Aggie athletics – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Football), Twitter (@NMStateFootball) and Instagram (@NMStateFB).

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Levi Gwaltney

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