STORRS, Conn. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced its 2024 Division I FBS All-ECAC Team and Major Awards on Thursday with a pair of Huskies earning a spot among those honored. R-Senior linebacker Jayden McDonald (Suwanee, GA) and junior running back and return specialist Mel Brown (Stone Mountain, GA) both earned spots on this year's team.

McDonald was named to the All-ECAC Defense. He transferred to UConn for his final season of eligibility in 2024 and did not disappoint, helping to lead a stout Husky defense all season.  McDonald led the Huskies in total tackles with 119, ranking 11th in the NCAA. He finished with 9.0 tackles for a loss including 3.5 sacks. He added an interception and three pass break-ups as well. He posted double digit tackles in six of the Huskies 12 games including three-straight to end the year. In the season finale at UMass, he posted a career-best 20 tackles which is one off the UConn FBS school record.

He helped anchor a UConn defense that was its stingiest since 2015, allowing just 286 points (23.8 ppg). The Huskies excelled on third downs, ranking 10th nationally in conversion defense (.312)

Brown was named to the All-ECAC Special Teams as a return specialist. He finished the season returning 15 kickoffs for a total of 462 yards and a touchdown.  He ranks second in the nation in kickoff returns by averaging 30.8 yards per return. He is 22nd in combined kick returns as well.  His highlight came in the season finale when he brought a kickoff back 96-yards for a touchdown in the win at UMass. In the running game, Brown rushed 107 times over the 12 games for 577 yards and two touchdowns.  He average 5.4 yards per carry.

The duo are in the midst of preparing for the 2024 Wasabi Fenway Bowl on December 28.