Compiled by
Richard
Cirminiello
- CFN Freshman All-America Teams
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007
- CFN 2008 Freshman All-America
Defense
- CFN 2008 Freshman All-America
2nd & Honorable Mention
Team
- CFN 2008 Sophomore All-America
Offense
- CFN 2008 Sophomore All-America
Defense
- CFN 2008 Sophomore All-America
2nd & Honorable Mention
Team
*Indicates player is a true freshman
First Team
Offensive Freshman of the
Year: RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon St.
Offense
QB
Russell Wilson, NC State – Others put
up gaudier numbers, and there's no arguing against Baylor's Robert
Griffin or Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor, but no freshman quarterback
meant more to his team than Russell did to the Pack. Without him, NC
State doesn't go bowling. Baylor didn't go to a bowl, and Ohio State
probably would've been 9-3 at worst with Todd Boeckman under center. A
model of uncommon consistency for such a young player, Wilson became the
first rookie in league history to be named to the All-ACC first team. He
finished the regular season with 20 total touchdowns and one
interception, led State to four wins in-a-row down the stretch, and has
thrown a school-record 226 straight passes without a pick. He is the
future in Raleigh.
*RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon
State – Who? Rodgers was not a household name in recruiting circles back
in February. He is now. The unexpected sparkplug in the Beavers’ upset
of USC and season-long Rose Bowl contention, he leads the Pac-10 with
1,253 yards rushing, adding 29 receptions and a dozen scores. If
durability concerns don’t get in the way, he’ll be one of the
conference’s most exciting players over the next three seasons.
RB Darren Evans, Virginia Tech –
Evans answered the call for a Hokie team that was craving consistency at
the skill positions before the season began. A reserve when the season
began, he wound up bulling his way to 1,112 yards and 10 touchdowns,
including a school-record 253 yards in a win over Maryland and an ACC
Championship game-record 114 yards in Saturday’s win over Boston College
in Tampa.
*WR DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss – Brown wasted no time
showing the nation why he received a scholarship offer from just about
every SEC school in February. A 6-6 thoroughbred, who’s drawn
comparisons to a young Randy Moss, he’s exploded for a school-record 66
receptions for 1,108 yards and 12 touchdowns. In the defense-deficient
Conference USA, he’ll be able to name his numbers for as long as he
stays in Hattiesburg.
*WR A.J. Green, Georgia – Almost exclusively on raw ability,
Green has caught 55 passes for 910 yards and eight touchdowns to earn a
spot on the All-SEC first team. Once he hones his pass-catching and
route-running skills, he’s got the total physical package of size and
speed to be one of the premier receivers in the country. It’s no
coincidence that senior Mohamed Massaquoi is enjoying his best year in
Green’s first season in Athens.
*TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame – Tight End U. has found its next
member. Thrust into a prominent role when starter Mike Ragone tore his
ACL in the summer, Rudolph has responded with 25 catches for 262 yards
and a pair of touchdowns. At 6-6 and 252 pounds, he already has the size
of a future Mackey Award contender to go along with the athleticism to
create mismatches with opposing linebackers.
OT Matt Reynolds, BYU– In a long line of Reynolds men to play in
Provo, Matt could wind up being the best of the family. At 6-6 and 320
pounds he has remarkable strength and surprising agility for such a big
lineman. Despite a lack of experience, he began the season as the
starter, often dominating veteran defensive ends and keeping Max Hall’s
blindside protected.
OG Mason Cloy, Clemson – Yeah, it was a rough year in general for
the rebuilt Tiger offensive line, but Cloy made progress throughout the
season to become one of the bright spots for the future. One of the
program’s top recruits from 2007, he’s a versatile and athletic pass
protector, who’ll benefit tremendously from this first full season in
the starting lineup.
*C Ben Jones, Georgia – It takes a special individual to start at
the pivot for an SEC team. Jones is one of those special players. A
regular since September, he plays with a nasty streak and has the head
to make all the calls on the line. He was rewarded for his hard work in
November, getting named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week following the
win over Kentucky.
*OG Cordy Glenn, Georgia – Injuries wreaked havoc on the Bulldog
offensive line throughout the season. If not for the maturity of players
like Glenn, the wheels might have come completely off the offense. He
began the year as the starter, got benched for a brief period of time,
and eventually worked his way back into the lineup. At 6-5 and 320
pounds, he’s got the frame to blossom into a star once his fundamentals
catch up with his raw strength.
OT Elvis Fisher, Missouri – Gary Pinkel got Fisher out of the
state of Florida without much competition from the Big 3 in the Sunshine
State. It could wind up looking like a heist a year from now. The
protector of Chase Daniel’s blindside throughout the year, he played an
integral role on an offensive line that allowed just 15 sacks in 521
pass attempts.