FLORENCE, Ala. (December 13, 2024) – North Alabama linebacker Josh Anglin added another award to an already full trophy case on Friday, as he was named the United Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in a vote of the league's head coaches.
 
Anglin is the first UNA football player to win conference freshman of the year at the Division I level. Former linebacker Christon Taylor is the last Lion to win Freshman of the Year, earning the honor from the Gulf South Conference in 2017.
 
Anglin was recently named to the FCS Football Central Freshman All-American team and was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the top freshman in FCS each season. The Buford, Ga. native also won three UAC Freshman of the Week awards this season.

Anglin finished his rookie season with 81 tackles to rank second on the team. He had 7.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, as well as two quarterback hurries. The former Mill Creek High School standout forced a fumble against Illinois State and added a pass breakup against UT Martin — both of which won first round matchups in the FCS Playoffs.

Perhaps Anglin's best game came at Southern Utah earlier this month, as Anglin tallied a career-high 14 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Anglin matched the FCS school record for single-game tackles, tying teammate Edwin White Schultz's 14 tackles against Mercer last season.
 
Anglin won one of five superlatives voted on by the UAC coaches. Southern Utah's Targhee Lambson was named Offensive Player of the Year, Central Arkansas' David Walker earned Defensive Player of the Year, EKU's Patrick Nations was voted Specialist of the Year and Abilene Christian's Keith Patterson won Coach of the Year.
 
The UAC also announced all-conference awards today. To view, click here.
 
The UAC Academic All-Conference team will be announced later today at 3 p.m.
 
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