Monmouth University football running back Jaden Shirden added to his impressive list of accolades as he collected a pair of All-America nods from Hero Sports, the organization announced on Dec. 8.
Shirden, who was recently named a top-three finalist for the Walter Payton Award, was named to the Hero Sports All-FCS All-American Team and the Hero Sports Sophomore All-American Team.
The dynamic sophomore led the entire country in rushing at the end of the regular season, including FBS running backs, with 1,722 yards. His 8.4 yards per carry and 156.5 rushing yards per game were both tops in the FCS, earning him Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year honors. Shirden averaged an impressive 52.8 yards on 13 touchdown runs, including eight 50+ yard touchdown runs. The two-time CAA Offensive Player of the Week ranked third in the conference with his 13 rushing scores.
Earlier in the year he set the Monmouth record for rushing yards in a game when he had 299 yards on just 12 carries against Fordham, including touchdown runs of 95 and 80 yards. Shirden had four 200-yard games on the season and nine 100+ yard performances. At one point in the season the Connecticut native ran for 917 yards over a five-game span. His 8.4 yards per carry was a new Monmouth single-season record while his 1,722 rushing yards was second most in the school annals.
Shirden is the third Hawk to earn Hero Sports All-FCS All-American Team honors, joining Pete Guerriero (2019) and Mike Basile (2017).
On Dec. 13, Shirden was also named Second Team All-America by the Associated Press.