Johnson, Kaler Pick Up CAA Postseason Awards

11/21/2023 3:00:00 PM

RICHMOND, Va. – Stony Brook football saw a pair of players selected in the Coastal Athletic Association's postseason honors, with redshirt freshman Anthony Johnson being named to the Third Team while graduate student Aidan Kaler earned honorable mention distinction from the league, as announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Both players picked up the first all-conference honors of their respective careers, with Johnson doing so in his first year in the CAA and Kaler earning recognition in his second full season on the field.

The FBS transfer Johnson caught his way to a standout season among the conference, as well as nationally. He reeled in 59 catches (5.9/game) for 714 yards (71.4/game) and caught three touchdowns.

Johnson finished third in the CAA in total and average receptions and fourth in average receiving yards. He was also 21st in the league in yards per catch (12.1) and tied for 22nd with three touchdowns. The New Jersey native ranked best among all FCS freshmen in receptions and receiving yards, and his performance earned him one of 22 finalist spots for the Jerry Rice Award, awarded annually to the most outstanding freshman.

In Stony Brook ranks, Johnson's 59 receptions were tied for sixth most in single-season history and his 714 yards were the most for a Stony Brook receiver since 2019. He had at least five receptions in seven games, the most such instances for an SBU receiver since 2015.

A captain on defense, Kaler finished the season with 82 tackles, good for seventh in the league in tackles per game (8.2). He made 51 solo stops, which also ranked seventh in the league and put him 21st in the FCS in solo stops per game (5.1). The Long Island native added 4.0 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup from the linebacker spot.

Kaler's 82 tackles are the most for any Stony Brook player across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He finished with at least five stops in all but one game and has done so in 12 of his last 13 games dating back to last season. Kaler recorded 10 or more tackles four times, including a career high 14 stops on Sept. 23 against Richmond, which represented the most tackles among all CAA players for Week 4.

Kaler was also a Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention and a Phil Steele Preseason Fourth Team All-CAA pick this year.

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