East Carolina’s Zay Jones added to his growing list of individual accolades Thursday by being named one of 10 finalists for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award. The senior wide receiver was also earned Academic All-District 3 honors by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The Senior CLASS Award, honors football players in their final year of eligibility for their attributes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The award’s name is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School. In addition to Jones, the other finalists are Southern Cal offensive tackle Zach Banner, Michigan tight end Jake Butt, Memphis kicker Jake Elliott, Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram, Oklahoma linebacker Jordan Evans, Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly, West Virginia center Tyler Orlosky and LSU defensive back Tre’Davious White. Fans can cast ballots for their favorite candidate by clicking on the Senior CLASS Award website. Fan voting counts for one-third of the total, with the remaining two-thirds determined by a vote of Division I coaches and selected members of the national media. Jones, who leads the nation with an average of 14.2 receptions a game, has already amassed 114 catches for 1,094 yards and three touchdowns through his first eight games this season while maintaining a 3.56 GPA as a communications major. Earlier this week, Jones was named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, symbolic of the nation’s top scholar-athlete, by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.His community service credits include work with Aces for Autism, SportWorks Ministries, Ronald McDonald House, Maynard Children’s Hospital, National Food Bank, Dwayne Harris Football Camp and ECU Ladies Football Clinic. He has also participated in on-campus trash pick-ups, blood drives and elementary school visits, and he served as co-master of ceremonies for the 2015 ECU’s version of the ESPY awards.
