Thomas makes AP All-American Team

By Leader Sports

More honors keep rolling in for West Orange-Stark graduate and Texas sophomore safety Earl Thomas.

On Tuesday, Thomas was selected to the Associated Press All-American Team.

Thomas has been a key cog on the defensive side of the ball for the Longhorns (13-0), Big 12 champions who will take on Alabama (13-0) in the BCS National Championship Game Jan.7 in Pasadena, California.

Thomas has racked up 71 tackles this season, eight interceptions, which is No. 1 on Texas’ single-season list. He also has 16 pass breakups and five tackles for losses.

The AP Team is just one of several squads that Thomas has landed on. Other First Team All-American honors that he has received include theAmerican Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America and the Walter Camp Foundation.

Alabama will bring a lineup powered by a record number of AP All-Americans to the national championship game.

Six players on the top-ranked Crimson Tide, including Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, made The Associated Press All-America team released Tuesday.

Ingram was a unanimous choice, as was linebacker Rolando McClain. Defensive tackle Terrence Cody was voted to the team for the second consecutive season. Cornerback Javier Arenas, guard Michael Johnson and kicker Leigh Tiffin also were on the squad.

Oklahoma twice (1987, 2003) had five first-team All-Americans, according to STATS. But no team has had more since 1964, when the AP started selecting both an offensive and defensive team.

Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, the Heisman runner-up, and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, fourth in Heisman voting, were also unanimous first-team All-Americans.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was the All-American quarterback, selected to the first team by a panel of 14 AP college football poll voters. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was a second-team choice. Boise State's Kellen Moore was the third-team quarterback.

McCoy finished third in the Heisman voting last weekend and was a second-team All-American last year. The senior was joined by his longtime pal and favorite receiver, Jordan Shipley, on the first team. Texas safety Earl Thomas gave the Longhorns three players on the first team, second only to Alabama.

Alabama safety Mark Barron made the third-team, giving the Tide seven players who received AP All-America honors. Texas put three players — kicker Hunter Lawrence, center Chris Hall and linebacker Sergio Kindle — on the third team for a total of six overall.

Florida also had six players make the three teams, including cornerback Joe Haden and tight end Aaron Hernandez as first-teamers.

The SEC was the most represented conference on the first team, with 11 players, including Tennessee safety Eric Berry, South Carolina linebacker Eric Norwood and Georgia punter Drew Butler.

The Big 12 has seven first-team selections, including three of the five offensive linemen.

The tackles were Oklahoma State's Russell Okung and Oklahoma's Trent Williams. Okung is projected to be a first-round draft pick in the NFL.

Baylor's J.D. Walton was the center. Completing the offensive line was Idaho guard Mike Iuapti.

Notre Dame receiver Golden Tate and Clemson running back C.J. Spiller, selected as an all-purpose player, round out the offense.

TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes was the lone representative on all three teams from the unbeaten and No. 3 Horned Frogs. Georgia Tech's Derrick Morgan was the other defensive end.

Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones was the only Big Ten player on the first team.

Florida's twin brother offensive linemen, Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, were selected to the second team. Oregon State receiver James Rodgers made the second team as an all-purpose player and his brother, Jacquizz, was a third-team selection at running back.



College football 2009 AP All-American 1st Team:



AP All-American Offense



QB: Colt McCoy (Texas)

RB: Toby Gerhart (Stanford), Mark Ingram (Alabama)

WR: Golden Tate (Notre Dame), Jordan Shipley (Texas)

TE: Aaron Hernandez (Florida)

T: Russell Okung (Oklahoma State), Trent Williams (Oklahoma)

G: Michael Johnson (Alabama), Mike Iupati (Idaho)

C: J.D. Walton (Baylor)

All-purpose player: C.J. Spiller (Clemson)



AP All-American Defense



K: Leigh Tiffin (Alabama)

DE: Jerry Hughes (TCU), Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)

DT: Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska), Terrence Cody (Alabama)

LB: Rolando McClain (Alabama), Greg Jones (Michigan State), Eric Norwood (South Carolina)

CB: Joe Haden (Florida), Javier Arenas (Alabama)

S: Earl Thomas (Texas), Eric Berry (Tennessee)

P: Drew Butler (Georgia)

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