Dec. 8, 2006
DALLAS (SMU) - SMU freshman quarterback Justin Willis continues to garner post-season awards with the latest being third-team Freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News.
Willis was named Conference USA's Freshman of the Year by both the media and coaches and was also tabbed an honorable mention All-C-USA selection on the past two weeks. Willis set numerous school records in 2006 including new marks for season touchdown passes and completion percentage. For the year, he completed 182-of-270 passes for 2,047 yards and 26 TDs with just six interceptions and ranks 10th in the nation in passing efficiency. His 29 TDs accounted for are the most in SMU history and his 2,401 yards of total offense is fourth-best in a season at SMU.
SMU teammate Emmanuel Sanders earned honorable mention All-America accolades from The Sporting News as both a wide receiver and kick returner. Sanders ranked third in C-USA with an average of 24.0 yards per kickoff return, netting 288 yards on 12 returns. As a wideout, he caught an SMU-freshman-record nine TDs and led the squad with 605 receiving yards.
SPORTING NEWS 2006 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN TEAMSFIRST TEAMOFFENSEWR Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan*WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland*TE Cody Slate, MarshallL (T) Sam Young, Notre DameL (G) Greg Isdaner, West Virginia*L (T) Andre Smith, AlabamaL (T) Adam Ulatoski, Texas*L (G) Sergio Render, Virginia TechQB Colt McCoy, Texas*RB P.J. Hill, Wisconsin*RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson
DEFENSEL (E) Peanut Whitehead, LouisvilleL (E) Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Virginia*L (E/T) Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU*L (E) Eric Norwood, South CarolinaLB Prince Hall, Alabama*LB Joe Pawelek, Baylor*LB Gerald McRath, Southern Miss*DB (FS) Taylor Mays, USCDB (SS) Myron Rolle, Florida StateDB (CB) Trevard Lindley, KentuckyDB (CB) Vontae Davis, Illinois
SPECIALISTSK Brett Swenson, Michigan StateP Matt DiLallo, Colorado*KR David Harvey, Akron
SECOND TEAMOFFENSEWR Percy Harvin, FloridaWR Ryan Wolfe, UNLVTE Riar Geer, Colorado*L (C Josh McNeil, Tennessee*L (T) Eben Britton, Arizona*L (T) Will Barker, Virginia*L (T) Jason Fox, Miami (Fla.);L (T) Trent Williams, OklahomaQB Riley Skinner, Wake Forest*RB Damion Fletcher, Southern MissRB Mike Goodson, Texas A&M
DEFENSEL (E) Corey Wootton, Northwestern*L (E) Everette Brown, Florida State*L (E) Willie Young, N.C. State*L (E) George Selvie, South Florida*LB Tray Blackmon, Auburn*LB Josh Bailey, Indiana*LB Rodney Paulk, South CarolinaDB (SS) Andre Sexton, Oklahoma State*DB (CB) Alterraun Verner, UCLADB (SS) Barry Church, ToledoDB (CB) Jarius Byrd, Oregon*
SPECIALISTSK Matt Reagan, MemphisP Matt Brandtner, Iowa State*KR Jeff Smith, Boston College
THIRD TEAMOFFENSEWR Dominique Douglas, IowaWR Damian Williams, ArkansasTE Brandon Warren, Florida StateL (G) John Jerry, MississippiL (T) Jeff Griffin, Wake Forest*L (T) Ciron Black, LSU*L (T) Brady Bond, Oklahoma State*L (C) Rafael Eubanks, Iowa*QB Justin Willis, SMU*RB Reggie Arnold, Arkansas State*RB Chris Bullock, Bowling Green*
DEFENSEL (T) Sen'Derrick Marks, Auburn*L (NT) Ekom Udofia, Stanford*L (T) Kade Weston, GeorgiaL (E) Jan Jorgensen, BYU*LB Jacob Cutrera, LSULB Reggie Carter, UCLA*LB Darryl Sharpton, Miami (Fla.)*DB (FS) Quinton Andrews, West Virginia*DB (FS) Aairon Savage, Auburn*DB (CB) Walter Thurmond, Oregon*DB (FS) Latarrius Thomas, Louisville
SPECIALISTSK Joshua Shene, MississippiP Kyle Loomis, Oregon StateKR Chris Garrett, Ohio
HONORABLE MENTIONQUARTERBACKS: Nate Davis, Ball State; Josh Freeman, Kansas State; Dan LeFevour,Central Michigan*; Kellen Lewis, Indiana*; Thaddeus Lewis, Duke; Mitch Mustain,Arkansas; Donovan Porterie, New Mexico*; Jameel Sewell, Virginia*; KarstenSween, Wyoming*; Matthew Stafford, Georgia; Tim Tebow, Florida; Juice Williams,Illinois
RUNNING BACKS: Donald Brown, UConn*; Delone Carter, Syracuse; LaMarcus Coker,Tennessee*; Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State; C.J. Gable, USC; AtiyyahHenderson, San Diego State*; Javarris James, Miami (Fla.); Emmanuel Moody, USC;Leon Patton, Kansas State; James Starks, Buffalo*:Ben Tate, Auburn; KeithToston, Oklahoma State; Chris Wells, Ohio State
RECEIVERS: David Harvey, Akron; Justin Fenty, Baylor; Hakeem Nicks, NorthCarolina; Jared Perry, Missouri; Nick Polk, Indiana*; Emmanuel Sanders, SMU*;Richard Sherman, Stanford; Sam Shields, Miami (Fla.); Derrick Stewart,Cincinnati; Oderick Turner, Pitt*; Jeremy Williams,Tulane*
TIGHT ENDS: Kazeem Alli, Cincinnati*; Justin Akers, Baylor*; Carson Butler,Michigan*; Jeff Cumberland, Illinois; Richard Dickson, LSU; Jim Dray, Stanford*;Jermichael Finley, Texas*; Gabe McKenzie, Auburn*; Anthony Quarless, Penn State;Tommy Trott, Auburn*
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: C Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois*; T Mike Aguayo, UTEP*; TTerence Campbell, East Carolina*; C Chris Fisher, Louisiana-Lafayette*; TAleksey Lanis, UCLA*; T Jeffrey Linkenbach, Cincinnati*; T Ben Ossai,Washington; C Jake Seitz, UAB*; T Nick Stringer, Kansas State*; G Ned Tavale,Minnesota*; T Devin Tyler, Temple*; G Ronnie Wilson, Florida*
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: E Justin Cole, San Jose State*; E Dexter Davis, ArizonaState*; E Maurice Evans, Penn State; E Greg Hardy, Mississippi; EErnie Hodge,Ohio; E James Ingram, West Virginia*; T Vince Oghobaase, Duke*; E ScottyRobinson, East Carolina*; E Brady Smith, Boston College*;E Daniel Te'o-Nesheim,Washington*; E Brandon Williams, Texas Tech
LINEBACKERS: Braxton Amy, UTEP*; Jason Beauchamp, UNLV*; A.J. Edds, Iowa; VanEskridge, East Carolina*; Matt Featherston, Texas A&M*; Junior Galette, Temple;Travis Goethel, Arizona State; Paul Igboeli, Utah State; Cardia Jackson,Louisiana-Monroe; Patrick Lavine, Oklahoma State; Will Patterson, Indiana; ChrisRobinson, South Florida*; Andrew Sendejo, Rice; Clinton Snyder, Stanford*
DEFENSIVE BACKS: CB Asher Allen, Georgia; S Antonio Baker, Louisiana Tech; SEmanuel Cook, South Carolina; CB Kendric Hawkins, Buffalo*;S Calvin Hissong,Central Michigan*; S Shiloh Keo, Idaho; CB Zearrick Matthews, Marshall*; SJeromy Miles, Navy; Joshua Moore, Kansas State; CB Jordan Peterson, Texas A&M*;CB Jamie Robinson, Florida State*; CB Nick Sanders, TCU*; CB Syd'Quan Thompson,Cal*; CB Donald Washington, Ohio State*; CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State*
KICKERS: Josh Arauco, Arkansas State*; Trevor Cook, Miami (Ohio); ClarkFangmeier, Rice; Aric Goodman, Wyoming; Lones Seiber, Kentucky
PUNTERS: Jake Brownell, Temple*; Chris Cook, Florida International; P.J.Fitzgerald, Alabama*; Zach Johnson, Eastern Michigan*; Scott Kozlowski, WestVirginia*; Zoltan Mesko, Michigan*; John Stec, Akron
RETURN MEN: Javier Arenas, Alabama; Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State; Jacoby Ford,Clemson; C.J. Gable, USC; Brandon James, Florida; Jeremy McGee,UCLA; SherrickMcManis, Northwestern; Emmanuel Sanders, SMU*; JaJuan Spillman, Louisville; A.J.Wallace, Penn State; Brandon West, Western Michigan