FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (FWAA) – The 12th annual Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team has been announced, with all 11 Football Bowl Subdivision Conferences and Notre Dame represented on the 30-man roster. A pair of players from the team, Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper and Notre Dame defensive back KeiVarae Russell, will battle one another in tonight’s Discover BCS National Championship Game.Heisman Trophy-winning Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel became the first quarterback to be named to both the FWAA All-America Team and its Freshman All-America Team. Only three other players have earned a spot on both teams: Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson (2004); and Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree and Missouri wide receiver/return specialist Jeremy Maclin (2007). The FWAA has named a Freshman All-America team since the 2001 season.Ohio State’s first-year coach Urban Meter claimed the first-year coaching honors after his Buckeyes completed a perfect 12-0 regular season.The team and coach are selected by an 11-person panel of nationally-prominent writers led by Mike Griffith of the MLive Media Group. Both true freshmen (15 players) and redshirt freshmen (15 players) were considered for the team and are so noted.
2012 FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
|
OFFENSE
|
Pos. |
Player, School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
QB |
Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M |
6-1 |
200 |
Kerrville, Texas |
RB |
• Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech |
6-0 |
215 |
Strong, Ark. |
RB |
• Todd Gurley, Georgia |
6-1 |
218 |
Tarboro, N.C. |
WR |
Davante Adams, Fresno State |
6-2 |
200 |
Palo Alto, Calif. |
WR |
• Amari Cooper, Alabama |
6-1 |
198 |
Miami, Fla. |
WR |
J.D. McKissic, Arkansas State |
5-10 |
185 |
Phenix City, Ala. |
TE |
• Devin Funchess, Michigan |
6-5 |
229 |
Farmington Hills, Mich. |
OL |
Jack Allen, Michigan State |
6-1 |
295 |
Hinsdale, Ill. |
OL |
Austin Blythe, Iowa |
6-3 |
275 |
Williamsburg, Iowa |
OL |
Jake Brendel, UCLA |
6-4 |
295 |
Plano, Texas |
OL |
Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech |
6-5 |
303 |
Rockdale, Texas |
OL |
Parker Ehinger, Cincinnati |
6-7 |
290 |
Rockford, Mich. |
OL |
Tyler Johnstone, Oregon |
6-6 |
292 |
Chandler, Ariz. |
DEFENSE
|
Pos. |
Player, School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
DL |
Deion Barnes, Penn State |
6-4 |
246 |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
DL |
• Devonte Fields, TCU |
6-4 |
240 |
Arlington, Texas |
DL |
Samuel Ukwuachu, Boise State |
6-4 |
222 |
Pearland, Texas |
DL |
• Leonard Wllliams, USC |
6-5 |
270 |
Daytona Beach, Fla. |
LB |
Kyler Fackrell, Utah State |
6-5 |
236 |
Mesa, Ariz. |
LB |
Cory James, Colorado State |
6-0 |
235 |
Del Rio, Texas |
LB |
• Tyler Matakevich, Temple |
6-1 |
220 |
Stratford, Conn. |
LB |
Denzel Nkemdiche, Ole Miss |
5-11 |
203 |
Loganville, Ga. |
DB |
Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee |
5-11 |
229 |
Lithonia, Ga. |
DB |
• Ronald Darby, Florida State |
5-11 |
189 |
Oxon Hill, Md. |
DB |
• KeiVarae Russell, Notre Dame |
5-11 |
182 |
Everett, Wash. |
DB |
• Trevon Stewart, Houston |
5-9 |
183 |
Patterson, La. |
SPECIALISTS
|
Pos. |
Player, School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
P |
• Tyler Williams, Marshall |
6-0 |
195 |
Fort Wayne, Ind. |
K |
• Austin Lopez, San Jose State |
6-0 |
170 |
Euless, Texas |
PR |
• Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan |
5-11 |
196 |
Belle Glade, Fla. |
KR |
• Duke Johnson, Miami |
5-9 |
188 |
Miami, Fla. |
AP |
• Stefon Diggs, Maryland |
6-1 |
185 |
Gaithersburg, Md. |
HEAD COACH
|
Urban Meyer, Ohio State |
• Denotes true freshman |
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,200 men and women who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com or 972-713-6198.
All-Time FWAA Freshman All-America Teams
• 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012
2012 FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA COMMITTEE |
Marc Anderson |
Las Vegas Review Journal |
Mountain West |
Andrew Gribble |
Alabama Media Group |
SEC |
Mike Griffith |
MLive Media Group |
Big Ten |
Rich Hammond |
Orange County Register |
Pac-12 |
Tommy Hicks |
Mobile Press-Register |
Sun Belt |
Blair Kerkhoff |
Kansas City Star |
Big 12 |
Tom Luicci |
Newark Star-Ledger |
Big East |
Brian Murphy |
Idaho Statesman |
WAC |
Phil Stukenborg |
Memphis Commercial Appeal |
Conference USA |
John Wagner |
Toledo Blade |
MAC |
Greg Wallace |
Freelance |
ACC |
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