Welcome to the 2023 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to Week 0 games on Aug. 26, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Because team rosters are updated at different times 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 2022 rosters.
42: William McRainey, LB (Sr.) — Gardner-Webb
McRainey has been in the starting lineup since his true freshman season in 2020-21, where he started all four games and totaled 20 tackles.
He became a top linebacker in the Big South over the last two seasons, earning back-to-back First Team All-Conference honors.
In 2021, McRainey led the Big South and finished No. 15 in the FCS with 109 total tackles, including 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, three passes defended, and two forced fumbles. McRainey earned HERO Sports Sophomore All-American honors.
Last season, the 6-foot and 217-pounder tallied 111 stops, 10 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, one interception, three passes defended, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries.
McRainey made impact plays all over the field. And he graded out solidly on PFF. McRainey’s overall defensive grade was 76.9. He owned a run-defense grade of 73.1 and a tackling grade of 80.9. McRainey missed just 9.2% of his tackle opportunities.
Against Gardner-Webb’s three FBS opponents, he had eight tackles, two TFLs, and one sack at Coastal Carolina, 14 tackles at Marshall, and seven tackles and one sack at Liberty.
McRainey is No. 11 on HERO Sports’ best returning FCS linebackers rankings.
