Gaines, Wilder Named 2025 SI FCS Football Central All-Americans
Tennessee Tech linebacker Theron Gaines and offensive lineman Drew Wilder have been named FCS All-Americans by Sports Illustrated, as announced today by the publication.
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech linebacker Theron Gaines and offensive lineman Drew Wilder have been named SI Football Central FCS All-Americans, as announced today by the publication.
Theron Gaines earned First-Team All-American and Drew Wilder grabbed Third-Team All-American honors as selected by Sports Illustrated. It marks the first honors of their kind from Sports Illustrated for both Gaines and Wilder.
Sports Illustrated Press Release
The fourth annual FCS Football Central All-American Team is here. This year's All-American Team features 127 players representing 59 schools across all 13 conferences. North Dakota State leads all programs with eight selections, followed by Stephen F. Austin and Montana with six selections. Illinois State, Lehigh, Youngstown State, Montana State, Rhode Island, and Yale each have five selections.
Gaines started all 13 games, helping guide the No. 9 total defense, No. 12 scoring defense (18.7 papg), and No. 2 rushing defense (85.6 yapg) in the country. Wilder started all 13 games at center, leading the No. 26 total offense, No. 22 rushing offense, and No. 43 passing offense in the nation. Both of these players helped guide an 11-win team to the best season in program history, including an FCS Playoff berth as the No. 13 seed.
The senior from Murfreesboro recorded two defensive touchdowns, one off an interception against Davidson (9/13) and the other on a fumble return at Eastern Illinois (11/8). He finished second on the team with a career-high 92 tackles, giving him 146.0 tackles for his career at Tech. Gaines recorded two defensive touchdowns, a 60-yard interception return against Davidson (9/13), his first-career interception, and a fumble recovery at Eastern Illinois (11/8). He recorded a season-high 11 tackles at EIU, notching double-digit tackles twice with 10 at Kentucky the following week. Gaines, the defensive lineman turned linebacker, recorded 14.5 tackles for a loss of 44 yards, leading the team in both categories.
Wilder started all 13 games at center on one of the best offensive teams in the nation, posting a 69.1 offense grade per PFF while not allowing a sack all season. His PFF offensive ranking was 15th among FCS centers and his 773 snap-count put him in the top 50 nationally in that category. Wilder recorded a 76.1 pass-blocking rating, which was among the best at the center position in the nation. His 64.7 run-blocking rating (per PFF) was 23rd among FCS centers and second in the OVC-Big South.
The senior from Jamestown, Virginia, was a captain and the backbone of one of the best offensive lines in the nation. The Golden Eagles finished No. 26 in total offense, No. 22 in rushing offense, No. 43 in passing offense, and No. 8 in scoring offense (37.5 ppg).
The Golden Eagles set program records in points scored (488), TD scored (65), rushing touchdowns (32), total offense (5,119), first downs (262), passing first downs (126), and passing touchdowns (28) in a single season.
FOLLOW US
Follow @TNTechFootball and @TTUGoldenEagles for all postseason information, as well as check for updates on TTUSports.com.
