Charlotte 49ers Recognized Across The American Athletic Conference
Five 49ers earned recognition across the American Athletic Conference’s four all-conference and honorable mention squads, headlined by wide receiver O’Mega Blake’s spot on the second team, the league announced on Tuesday.
Blake was joined on the All-AAC squads by defensive lineman Demon Clowney and kicker Stephen Rusnak on the third team while defensive back Dontae Balfour and offensive tackle Kendall Stanley appeared on the honorable mention list.
2024 All-American Athletic Conference 49ers
- WR O’Mega Blake – Second Team
- DL Demon Clowney – Third Team
- PK Stephen Rusnak – Third Team
- DB Dontae Balfour – Honorable Mention
- OL Kendall Stanley – Honorable Mention
Blake, in his first season wearing the Green and White, enjoyed a breakout campaign as one of the nation’s top deep ball threats. His 24.84 yards per catch average is No. 2 nationally – tops in the AAC – and his nine touchdown receptions tied a single-season school record. Blake’s connection with quarterback Deshawn Purdie was unquestioned as he led the nation with eight receiving plays of 40-plus-yards. On the season, his 795 receiving yards rank No. 6 in school history.
Rusnak emerged as one of the nation’s top kickers as the 2024 season progressed, going a perfect 11-for-11 on field goal attempts, the highest percentage in school history as well as the longest streak of consecutive makes in school history. His three makes from 50-plus-yards make him just the second kicker in school history to have as many kicks from that range in a single season, and he is one of just two kickers in the country with 10 or more field goal attempts to have perfect percentages in both field goals and point after attempts (Ryan Fitzgerald, Florida State). Against Florida Atlantic, Rusnak’s four field goals set a single-game program record.
Clowney finished his junior campaign with a career-best 6.0 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks to make the league’s third team. Clowney totaled 26 tackles on the season in 10 games including 14 solo tackles, the most among Charlotte’s defensive ends group.
Balfour again tied the single-season school record with 11 pass breakups in 2024 to lead the AAC and his 22 career pass breakups set a school record. Balfour finished as the No. 4 tackler for the 49ers this season with 49 total tackles to go along with 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions. His 385 snaps in pass coverage with fourth-most in the AAC according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Stanley was a stalwart on the Charlotte offensive line, starting all 12 games at right tackle in 2024. His 73.8 PFF grade was the highest among Charlotte’s offensive line group and seventh among all eligible tackles in the AAC. In 706 snaps, Stanley allowed just 14 pressures according to PFF. He ranked inside the top 10 in every major category by PFF’s scale among eligible tackles.