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Stats Perform All-America Release

A pair of Eastern Illinois football players picked up additional post-season honors on Tuesday (Dec. 19) as Stats Perform announced its 2023 FCS All-America and Freshman All-America teams presented by FedEx Ground.
 
Blake Ruffin was named a third team All-American at defensive back while MJ Flowers picked up his third Freshman All-American honor at running back.
 
Ruffin was a first team All-Big South-OVC Football Association selection this year after leading the league in interceptions with four while ranking second on the EIU roster in tackles with 63.   Ruffin added four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.  Earlier this post season he was a second team All-America selection by the Associated Press.
 
Flowers, this year's runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award (top FCS Freshman), was previously named a freshman All-American by two other publications.   A first team All-Big South-OVC selection, the running back rushed for 854 yards this season which ranked second among FCS freshman running backs.  He posted a pair of 200-yard rushing games and ended with another monster effort in the final regular season win at Robert Morris.  In addition, he was talented pass catcher out of the backfield finishing second in the nation among FCS freshman with 1,046 all-purpose yards. 
 
EIU went 8-3 this past season and was one of the final four teams left out of this year's FCS playoff field.  The Panthers were ranked No. 24 in the final regular season FCS Coaches Top 25 poll.