Soph AA

[kramer]

2005 CFN Sophomore All-America Teams

 

First Team

 

Offense

QB Jeff Brohm, Louisville – Taking over for Stefan LeFors, Brohm threw for 19 touchdowns and 2,883 yards, and displayed uncommon poise and maturity for a true sophomore. The Big East Offensive Player of the Year was the No. 2 passer in the country, but had his campaign marred by a late-season ACL tear that’s going to take six to nine months to rehab.

 

RB Albert Young, Iowa – Finally healthy for an entire season, Young gave the Hawkeyes a consistent threat out of the backfield that they sorely lacked a season ago. He broke the century mark in each of the last seven games, and finished ninth in the country with 118 rushing yards a game.

 

RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma – Peterson was banged up during the first half of the year, but he still finished with 1,024 yards and 14 touchdowns highlighted by a brilliant four game stretch to close out the year rushing for two scores in each game. When 100%, he's still among the best players in the game.

 

Offensive Sophomore of the Year

WR Dwayne Jarrett, USC – Jarrett is a physically imposing receiver in the mold of former Trojan standout Mike Williams. He can run past, out muscle or leap over most of the game’s defensive backs at this level, and used that menagerie of attributes to pace USC with 81 catches for 1,153 yards and 15 touchdowns.

 

WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech – Johnson is an acrobatic, who catches anything that’s remotely close to his long arms, and would be utterly unstoppable if he played with a more consistent passer. His 52 catches for 869 yards and six touchdowns do not do justice to just how dominant this young receiver has become in two seasons.

 

TE Jonny Harline, BYU – A former junior college transfer, Harline blossomed into BYU’s top pass catcher this fall, earning a position on the All-Mountain West first team. He topped the nation’s sophomore tight ends with 56 catches for 780 yards and four touchdowns.

 

OT Sam Baker, USC – On a Trojan offense that’s as prolific as any in the nation, Baker has been the unit’s best lineman two years running. A first team All-Pac 10 selection, he’s extremely physical, has above average footwork and still has room to add muscle to his 6-5 frame.

 

OG Jordan Grimes, Purdue – Buried beneath a season of disappointments was Grimes, one of the few bright spots for the Boilermakers in 2005. A bona fide mauler, who’s only going to get better with experience, he was cited by Big Ten coaches for the all-league second team.

 

C Adam Spieker, Missouri – A rising star at the pivot, Spieker is the quarterback of the Mizzou line and already has 22 starts on his resume. He’s 6-3 and 310 pounds, and behind Tony Palmer, has been the Tigers’ most consistent blocker over the last two seasons.

 

OG Will Arnold, LSU – A second team All-SEC selection, Arnold figures to assume the role of line leader in Baton Rouge next season. He’s big and powerful, and particularly effective when the Tigers are wearing out a defense on the ground.

 

OT Tony Brinkhaus, Minnesota – With Greg Eslinger and Mark Setterstrom out of eligibility, Brinkhaus is poised to become the next pillar of the prolific Gopher running attack. He was a standout in his first season as a starter and an honorable mention choice on the All-Big Ten team.

 

Defense

Defensive Sophomore of the Year

DE Lawrence Jackson, USC – Jackson is evidence that all of USC’s stars don’t reside on the offensive side of the ball. The Pac-10 first-teamer is a well-sized prodigy, who tied for second best in the conference with 10 sacks.

 

DT Sedrick Ellis, USC – Ellis is emerging as a star at the nose for the Trojans. He’s a nimble athlete for a 285-pounder and plays with an incredible amount of passion and intensity. Ellis has All-America potential now that he has a full season of reps in the vault.

 

DT Frank Okam, Texas – Once he’s able to step outside Rod Wright’s long shadow, folks are going to realize Okam is one of the fastest rising run stoppers in college football. He’s a powerful and explosive interior lineman, who was named to the All-Big 12 second team.

 

DE Stanley McClover, Auburn – For the second straight year, McClover continued his assault on SEC quarterbacks, bagging 12½ tackles for loss and a Tiger-best seven sacks. He spent much of the season nursing an ankle and hamstring injury, which hampered his production.

 

LB Vince Hall, Virginia Tech – On a defense loaded with stars, Hall distinguished himself as one of the Hokies most valuable players. His 103 tackles led the team, and his 7½ tackles for loss and nine passes defended were a testament to his ability to make plays all over the field.

 

LB Brandon Siler, Florida – Gainesville is a stepping stone to the NFL for Siler, a youngster in a man’s body. He defends the run and pass exceptionally well and is one of the nation’s best defenders at separating a player from the ball. Siler’s seven fumble recoveries led the country in 2005.

 

LB Corey McKeon, Nebraska – McKeon came virtually out of nowhere to have a blockbuster season for the Huskers. Leaving on superior athleticism and instincts, he stepped in for the departed Barrett Ruud and collected 87 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three picks and seven passes defended.

 

CB Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh – Revis is a ball hawk, who’s well on his way to becoming one of the best cornerbacks in America. This past fall, he parlayed a team-leading four picks and nine passes broken up into the All-Big East first unit.

 

S Ko Simpson, South Carolina – Simpson is one of the premier safeties in the country, regardless of class.

He led South Carolina with 94 tackles, and nine passes broken up, and is already advanced enough to strongly consider a jump to the NFL following next year’s junior season.

 

S Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame – A physical playmaker from his safety spot, Zbikowski scored four times this year, two on his five interceptions and two on punt returns. He’s one of the inspirational leaders of the Irish D and the kind of player that just seems to make positive things happen for his side.

 

CB Antoine Cason, Arizona – A starter as a true freshman, Cason is maturing into one of the top young cover corners in the country. No one in the Pac-10 wants to throw his way, which keeps his numbers down, but can’t keep NFL scouts from projecting him as a future first-day draft choice.

 

Special Teams

P Jimmie Kaylor, Colorado State – Kaylor turned out to be a most valuable weapon for the Ram defense, averaging nearly 46 yards a boot and regularly pinning opposing offenses near their own end zone. He boomed punts of 60 yards three times and rose to No. 4 nationally in punting.

 

K Brandon Coutu, Georgia – Coutu’s three field goals of more than 50 yards are evidence he has a powerful leg, but he was also pretty doggone accurate in 2005. He connected on 23-of-29 attempts, and is No. 5 among the nation’s kickers in scoring.

 

KR Ted Ginn, Ohio State – It took a while before Ginn reached top gear this fall, but he was still able to average almost 30 yards a return and finish No. 3 in the country. If more opponents dared to punt the ball to him, he’d take back at least three every year.

 

PR Terrence Nunn, Nebraska – In his second year in Lincoln, Nunn blossomed into a steady wide receiver and an explosive punt returner. His average of more than 19 yards a return was good for No.3 in the country.

 

Sophomore All-America 2005 Second Team | 2004 CFN Sophomore All-America Team

[HuskerFaithful]

Good news. Nice to see players get recognized for their hard work. I thought Nunn was a much better PR than Grixby, but maybe the coaches were protecting him a little since he was also a key WR. Maybe next year, he'll get a little more time at PR.

[StuckinChicago]

He was also scarier than Grixby. I thought he was going to fumble the ball everytime he had it, the way he holds it.

[chuckd]

He was also scarier than Grixby. I thought he was going to fumble the ball everytime he had it, the way he holds it.

 

He was awesome to watch and had better moves and breakaway speed than Grixby, but he looked like he was carrying a dang loaf of bread everytime he got the ball.