Charlotte 49ers freshman wide receiver Elijah Spencer has been named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year following his outstanding debut in 2021. Spencer, who was named to the league's All-Freshman Team, yesterday, ranks seventh among NCAA freshmen with six touchdown catches.
Part of an explosive receiving corps that included senior Victor Tucker and sophomore Grant DuBose, Spencer was the team's third-leading receiver and shared team-high honors with DuBose with those six TD catches. The true freshman pulled in both the game-tying and game-winning TD passes on back-to-back offensive plays in the 49ers overtime victory over Rice. He also had TD catches against Georgia State, Middle Tennessee, Illinois and Old Dominion. His four TD catches in C-USA play matched the 49ers team-high.
With six TD catches on 28 receptions, Spencer notched a touchdown catch for every five receptions. He had back-to-back games with over 70 receiving yards against Rice (77) and Louisiana Tech (74) and finished the year with 381 receiving yards (31.8/game). He improved those numbers against C-USA competition with 24 catches for 300 yards to average 37.5 yards per game, while pulling in those four touchdowns. He caught at least three passes in each of the last four games.
An all-state receiver out of South Carolina's Dutch Fork High School, Spencer keyed a Silver Foxes' program that enjoyed a 50-game unbeaten streak and did not lose a game in his four years. The three-star prospect was team captain for the 10-0 2020 5A State Champions, averaging 85.8 receiving yards per game while scoring 12 touchdowns. In his junior year, Spencer had 843 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns as the State Champions went 14-0-1.
Spencer is the first 49ers player to be named C-USA Freshman of the Year in football.
C-USA INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Most Valuable Player: WKU QB Bailey Zappe
Offensive Player of the Year: UTSA RB Sincere McCormick
Defensive Player of the Year: WKU DE DeAngelo Malon
Special Teams Player of the Year: FIU P Tommy Heatherly
Freshman of the Year: Charlotte WR Elijah Spencer
Newcomer of the Year: WKU WR Jerreth Sterns
Coach of the Year: UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor
