December 16, 2025
Gaines, Smith, Wilder, and Weedman named AP FCS All-Americans
Gaines, Smith, Wilder, and Weedman named AP FCS All-Americans
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -Tennessee Tech football players Theron Gaines, Andrew Smith, Drew Wilder, and Logan Weedman have been named AP FCS Honorable Mention All-Americans, as announced today by the Associated Press.
Drew Wilder (OL) and Logan Weedman (OL) take home AP FCS Honorable Mention honors on the offense, while Theron Gaines (LB) and Andrew Smith (DB) grab Honorable Mention honors on the defense. These are the first AP honors for all four players. It's the first time since 2016 that the Golden Eagles have had players selected by the Associated Press to an All-American Team of any kind.
Find the full AP Press Release here: AP FCS ALL-AMERICANS
The Golden Eagles have had four players selected as AP FCS Honorable Mention All-Americans after a season that saw a program record 11 wins, along with the second postseason berth in program history, and the highest ranking in program history.
TTU started the season 10-0 for the first time in school history, and posted the longest winning streak against non-FBS opponents (16 games) in program history, while setting program records in total offense, points scored, TD scored, rushing touchdowns, first downs, passing first downs, and passing touchdowns.
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.
Weedman earned 2025 OVC-Big South 1st Team after helping the top-scoring offense in the OVC-Big South to 37.5 points per game. As well as the top rushing offense in the Association, averaging 187.5 yards per game, and the most efficient offense (149.6). He was the top-ranked TTU offensive lineman in grades on PFF (Total: 75.1), Run block (72.0), pass block (79.5). Weedman's PFF rankings are fourth in the nation among FCS offensive tackles. Per PFF, he allowed just three sacks in 775 total snaps this season.
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).
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. Gaines was also named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award. He anchored a defense that ranked first nationally in defensive touchdowns (5), second in rushing defense (76.1 yards/game), team sacks (3.75/game) and team tackles for loss (8.6/game), seventh in total defense (292.6 yards/game) and 11th in scoring defense (17.7 points/game).
Gaines was second on the team with a career-high 92 tackles (43 solo), 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks while also scoring a pair of defensive touchdowns, one on an interception and another on a fumble recovery. He ranked 12th nationally in fumble recoveries (2), while adding seven QBH and 2 PBUs. He recorded two defensive touchdowns, one off an interception against Davidson (9/13) and the other on a fumble return at Eastern Illinois (11/8). Gaines, the defensive lineman turned linebacker, led the team with 14.5 tackles for a loss.
Smith led the team in interceptions with three, including a season-long 94-yard INT return for a touchdown against Tennessee State on the road Sept. 27. Smith was second on the team and sixth in the OVC-Big South with eight pass breakups, and his three interceptions finished third in the conference. His 110 INT-return yards led the conference by 15 yards, and he recorded the second-longest interception return for a touchdown (94 yards) in the OVC-Big South.
AP FCS Honorable Mention All-Americans
| Offense | |
| Drew Wilder | OL |
| Logan Weedman | OL |
| Defense | |
| Theron Gaines | LB |
| Andrew Smith | DB |
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