Three Elon Football Players Named to All-CAA Football Teams

RICHMOND, Va. – Led by linebacker Corey Mitchell who led the league in tackles, the Elon Phoenix football team landed three players on the 2015 CAA Football all-conference teams. Joining Mitchell with all-league honors were linebacker John Silas and punter David Petroni.

Mitchell, a second-team selection, compiled a league-best 116 total tackles, averaging 10.5 tackles per game, to earn the first all-conference honor of his career. The junior’s 116 tackles tied for the sixth-most by any Elon player in a season at the FCS level. Mitchell ranked 20th nationally with his 10.5 tackles per game. He was named the CAA Football and STATS National Defensive Player of the Week following a career-high 18-tackle performance in a 21-13 victory at Gardner-Webb in September. Mitchell started all 11 games for the Phoenix and added 7.0 tackles for a loss, including 1.5 sacks. He also broke up two passes, forced two fumbles, recovered one fumble, blocked a kick and posted two quarterback hurries. The Jacksonville, N.C., native had six double-digit tackle outings for the season.

Silas, a third-team pick, finished third in the conference with 104 total tackles, an average of 9.5 per game, His average rated 36th in the country. Silas, who hails from Powder Springs, Ga., tallied 70 tackles for a loss, including a career-high 3.5 sacks. He broke up four passes. With his 104 tackles, Silas became the first Phoenix player to post back-to-back 100-tackle campaigns since linebacker Chad Nkang had three consecutive seasons with 100 or more stops from 2004-06. His 104 tackles are the ninth-highest total by an Elon player in a season at the FCS level. Silas notched six double-digit tackle efforts duirng his junior season. He ended the year with 277 career tackles, ranking ninth on the program’s all-time chart.

Petroni, also a third-team choice, ranked fourth in CAA Football with a 41.3 punting average. His longest punt went 63 yards. Of his 76 punts, 30 were fair caught, two were touchbacks, 16 were placed inside the 20-yard line and 10 travelled 50 or more yards. Petroni, a native of Buford, Ga., rated 24th nationally in punting as the Phoenix ranked 18th in the country in net punting with a 37.56 average.