Aggies haul in C-USA honors

To say the New Mexico State University football team has made a splash in its first season in Conference USA would be a major understatement.

In addition to going 7-1 in conference play and earning a trip to the C-USA championship game, the Aggies took home three of the conference’s postseason awards Dec. 6.

Coach Jerry Kill was named the conference Co-Coach of the Year while also earning AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year honors. The postseason awards are voted on by the league's nine head coaches and Kill shares his award with Liberty's Jamey Chadwell. This marks the second time in his career Kill has been awarded conference coach of the year honors after being named the 2014 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Additionally, this is the fifth time in his career Kill has earned AFCA regional coach of the year, having done so twice at the FCS level (2003, 2004) and three times at the FBS level (2013, 2014, 2023).

The league office has named quarterback Diego Pavia the CSA Offensive Player of the Year.
Following an incredible back half of his 2022 debut season with the Aggies, Pavia, has taken his game to an entirely different level during his junior campaign. Entering the Isleta New Mexico Bowl, the Albuquerque native is one of just eight players in all of college football to lead his team in passing and rushing this season.
On the year, Pavia is among the best in the conference in nearly every statistical category related to passing while his rushing stats also rank among the best running backs in the league. 
And to complete the trifecta, Aggie kicker Ethan Albertson has been named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year. 
Albertson, who won the Aggies’ final home game against Jacksonville State Nov. 25, had the best season of his career as the San Diego native knocked in 18 field goals to pace all C-USA kickers while also ranking second in field goal percentage at .783. The mark of 18 made field goals is also the most in a single season by any Aggie kicker in the history of the program. Albertson also garnered three C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
As a redshirt senior, Albertson ranked first in the league in field goals per game (1.29) and total points scored (102) while ranking second in scoring (7.3 points per game). Albertson was also nearly automatic on point-after-touchdown attempts – going 48-of-49 across 14 games this season.
Entering bowl season, Albertson has managed at least one made field goal in 12 of the Aggies' 14 games this season, including connecting on two field goals in six contests this season. Albertson's talent proved vital in several games this season, specifically against Louisiana Tech and Jax State as the Aggies went on to win both games by just three points