Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown. Leading up to the start of weekly college football odds and Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
50: Terrell Paxton, OL (Sr.) — Kennesaw State
KSU’s option offense has ranked among the best rushing attacks in the FCS as the Owls have risen to be a consistent playoff threat. They finished third in FCS rushing last season (278.6 yards per game), second in the spring season (268.0 YPG), and No. 1 in 2019 (342.4 YPG).
While Kennesaw has had All-American names like Chandler Burks, Bronson Rechsteiner, and Xavier Shepherd getting the deserved glory, the offensive line has done the dirty work, playing at a high level year after year.
Paxton is a big part of that success.
A two-star recruit, Paxton had other offers from Southern Illinois, Presbyterian, Morgan State, Mercer, Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky, Chattanooga, and The Citadel, according to 247Sports. He hit the lineup at Kennesaw as a freshman in 2019, starting 12 games for the No. 1 FCS rushing attack. Paxton then started four games in the shortened spring season. And last fall, the 6-foot and 310-pounder started nine games at left guard. He earned All-Big South Conference Second Team honors.
“He’s incredibly resilient and has a lot of grit and character,” Kennesaw offensive coordinator and OL coach Grant Chesnut said last year. “I have a lot of respect for Terrell as a man. He’s an outstanding person.”
The Owls are ranked No. 8 in our preseason Top 25. Paxton leads the way up front for what will be another tremendous rushing offense featuring the No. 2 returning QB Xavier Shepherd.
