WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - Monmouth University football junior running back Jaden Shirden has been named to the 2023 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America First Team presented by FedEx Ground.

Shirden's national honor is his fourth of the preseason after he claimed Hero Sports, Athlon Sports and The Bluebloods awards earlier this summer.

Shirden, the CAA's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, completed his sophomore season as the nation's leading rusher and earned consensus All-America honors from six different major publications. His efforts put him third in the Walter Payton Award voting.

Shirden led the entire country in rushing at the end of the regular season, including FBS running backs, with 1,722 yards. His 8.4 yards per carry and 156.5 rushing yards per game were both tops in the FCS, earning him CAA Offensive Player of the Year honors. Shirden averaged an impressive 52.8 yards on 13 touchdown runs, including eight 50+ yard touchdown runs. The two-time CAA Offensive Player of the Week ranked third in the conference with his 13 rushing scores.

Earlier in the year he set the Monmouth record for rushing yards in a game when he had 299 yards on just 12 carries against Fordham, including touchdown runs of 95 and 80 yards. Shirden had four 200-yard games on the season and nine 100+ yard performances. At one point in the season, the Connecticut native ran for 917 yards over a five-game span. His 8.4 yards per carry marked a new Monmouth single-season record while his 1,722 rushing yards was second most in Monmouth history.

Follow Shirden on social media @Shirden_20 (twitter) and jrock_20 (Instagram)

Monmouth starts the season at Florida Atlantic University on September 2, 2023. Season and single-game tickets are on sale now at MonmouthHawks.com/tickets or by calling 732-263-5735.