Texas Football: Eight Players Earn First or Second Team All-League Honors
For the fourth time in the last six seasons, the Longhorns have placed eight or more players on the coaches first or second All-Big 12 teams (2011 – eight; 2009 – eight; 2008 – nine).
Those earning honorable mention recognition included Mack Brown (as coach of the year), WR Mike Davis, CB Quandre Diggs, LB Steve Edmond, C Dominic Espinosa, Anthony Fera (as special teams player of the year), Jackson Jeffcoat (as defensive lineman of the year), S Adrian Phillips, TE Geoff Swaim, FB Alex De La Torre, OG Mason Walters and DL Chris Whaley.
Jeffcoat leads the team in tackles (80), tackles for loss (21), sacks (12.0), quarterback pressures (18) and fumbles recovered (3). He ranks third in the nation in sacks (1.0 per game) and fifth among defensive linemen in fumbles recovered (0.25 pg). Alex Okafor, who tallied 12.5 last season, is the only other Longhorn to record more sacks than Jeffcoat in the last 29 seasons.
This is the fourth-straight season the Longhorns have placed a defensive end on the coaches All-Big 12 First Team (Sam Acho – 2010; Okafor – 2011, 12).
Fera is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, which honors the nation’s top place-kicker. He has connected on 20 of 22 field goals (90.9 percent) this season. His percentage ranks tied for the fourth in the nation (minimum 15 attempts) and he matched Phil Dawson’s school record (1996-97) of 15 straight field goals this season. Dawson (1996) was the only other Longhorn place-kicker to appear on the coaches All-Big 12 First Team.
Malcolm Brown took on more of the rushing load with a season-ending injury to Johnathan Gray vs. West Virginia. He has averaged 26.3 carries the last three games and 101.6 rushing yards over the last seven games (711 total yards). He has 774 rushing yards (second on the team) and a team-best nine rushing TDs this season.
Byndom, who started all 12 games, tallied 53 tackles and six pass breakups, which ranks second on the team.
Hopkins and Hawkins have helped the Longhorns rank 36th nationally in rushing offense (197.6 yards per game) and allow just 14 sacks which ranks tied for 17th fewest in the FBS. Hopkins was also a second-team selection by the coaches last season.
Reed is tied for second on the team in tackles (75) and second in both tackles for loss (18) and sacks (9.0). He leads the team in forced fumbles (4) and also has four pass breakups. The junior is one of only four players in the FBS with at least 6.0 sacks, four pass breakups and four forced fumbles this season (also Khalil Mack, Buffalo; Vic Beasley, Clemson; Ryan Mueller, Kansas State).
Shipley leads the team with 55 catches and ranks eighth in the league at 4.7 per game. Thirty-four of his receptions have gone for first downs. He also has 581 receiving yards, which is second on the team.
#HookEm
