Henderson State punter Cody Mikell has been named First-Team All-American by the American Football Coaches of America.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.

Mikell was a weapon for Henderson in 2017 and broke the Great American Conference and school records for yards per punt (45.6) and punting average for a career (43.9).

Mikell had 26 kicks this season, 10 of which went 50 yards or more, and had 13 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line. In his Reddie career, Mikell punted 60 times and racked up 2635 total punting yards.

The Poplarville, Miss. product was a two-time All-GAC performer as a Second Team selection in 2016 and a First Team honoree this season.

Mikell is the fifth Reddie and second punter in school history to receive First-Team AFCA All-American honors. Wide receiver Darius Davis earned first-team honors in 2014. Other first-team honorees include linebacker Rob Thomas (1996), punter Chris Carter (1993) and offensive lineman Todd Jones (1990).