Elon Football’s Messer Earns All-America Honors

ELON, N.C. – Elon University junior linebacker Warren Messer has been selected as a second team member of the 2017 Phil Steele FCS All-America Teams.

Messer is the program’s first All-American since wide receiver Aaron Mellette in 2012.

Messer, who finished 10th in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, is currently second in CAA Football and rates 25th nationally with 9.5 tackles per game. Elon’s first CAA Football first-team all-conference performer, Messer posted a team-best 114 total tackles, including 11.0 for a loss and 5.5 sacks. He intercepted two passes and broke up three others, while forcing two fumbles. He also posted a team-high eight quarterback hurries.

The Garner, N.C., native posted 10 or more tackles in each of Elon’s first five games this year, including a career-best 15 tackles in a league win at #6 Richmond. He had seven total double-digit tackle performances on the year. In the Phoenix’s victory over William & Mary, the junior had eight tackles, which included a sack for a safety. His interception at Rhode Island sealed a one-point victory for Elon. In a victory at #13 Villanova, Messer finished with five total tackles, including 3.0 for a loss and a pair of sacks.

In his three seasons at Elon, Messer has amassed 225 total tackles, including 18.0 for a loss and 9.0 sacks. He has 10 career games with at least 10 tackles.

Messer and the Phoenix concluded the 2017 season with an 8-4 overall record, a six-game improvement from the previous season, and earned a third-place finish in CAA Football with a 6-2 league mark as Elon earned its second-ever bid to the FCS Playoffs.