Bucknell's Alex Pechin Garners Eight All-America Laurels

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell's Alex Pechin was recognized on eight All-America teams for his performance during the 2019 campaign.

The fifth-year punter, a rare two-time captain, garnered the following All-America laurels:

Pechin was honored by every entity that selects an All-America team. Notably, by being tabbed to the AP, AFCA, STATS and Walter Camp teams, he became the Patriot League's 14th consensus All-American. He became the second Patriot League specialist to achieve this feat, joining Fordham kicker Patrick Murray (2012). In addition, he joined former Bison offensive lineman Julién Davenport (2016) and current Bucknell head coach Dave Cecchini (1993) in this decorated group. Cecchini, who was recognized following his senior season at Lehigh, was the fourth Patriot League player to be recognized as a consensus All-American. Davenport, who went on to become the seventh Bison selected in the NFL Draft, was the 12th.

Pechin will graduate as a 15-time All-American. Over the course of his record-setting career, he was recognized by STATS three times, the AP, AFCA, Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and Hero Sports twice each and by the Walter Camp Foundation and Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) once each.

Pechin put an exclamation mark on his legendary career in 2019, shattering his own school record in punting average by 2.2 yards. His 47.3 punting average led the FCS by 1.3 yards, broke the Patriot League record by 1.3 yards and slotted him seventh in FCS history; in addition, it raised his career average to 44.5, a figure good for fifth in the FCS annals.

In large part due to Pechin's efforts, the Bison led the FCS with a 43.43 net punting average, more than a yard better than the second-place team. In 2019, they were one of only eight FCS squads that posted a net punting average north of 40.0 and the only one from the Patriot League ranks.

The highly decorated Pechin, who was named the inaugural FCS Punter of the Year, was selected to the STATS All-Decade Team and was recognized as the 2019 Phil Steele Special Teams Player of the Year, will graduate with Bucknell's top four single-season punting averages of 47.3 (2019), 45.1 (2017), 44.5 (2018) and 42.1 (2015); his 44.5 career punting average is the school standard by 3.8 yards.

Entering 2019, Pechin had been honored on seven All-America teams, including the 2018 STATS First Team; in addition, he became the first Bison specialist to garner All-America accolades from the AP and AFCA when he made their Second Teams that season.

In November, Pechin became the fourth Patriot League student-athlete to make four All-Patriot League First Teams, joining Holy Cross defensive back Dave Murphy (1986-89), Colgate quarterback Ryan Vena (1996-99) and Lehigh running back Dom Bragalone (2015-18). Additionally, he became the fourth Bison to garner All-Patriot League laurels four times, joining running back Rich Lemon (1993-96), offensive lineman Julién Davenport (2013-16) and defensive lineman Abdullah Anderson (2014-17). He is only the 11th Bison to twice serve as captain.

A Biomedical Engineering and Management for Engineers double major, Pechin has also excelled in the classroom. The 2019 STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award winner as the FCS's top scholar-athlete, he is the first football player to capture three-straight Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards. Following the 2018-19 school year, he became the third football player to be selected as the Patriot League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, joining fellow Bison David Berardinelli (1992-93) and Lehigh's Nick Martucci (1998-99).

The following are Pechin's previous All-America nods in chronological order:

Bucknell's Alex Pechin Garners Eight All-America Laurels

Players Mentioned

Alex Pechin

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