Elijah Roberts named first-team All-America by Action Networ

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Roberts Named First Team All-America By Action Network

DALLAS (SMU) – Elijah Roberts earned high praise on Monday by the Action Network, getting selected to the publication’s 2023 All-America Team.

Roberts was a first-team selection on defense in the release, becoming the first SMU player to earn All-America honors on the defensive end in the publication's history. He joins former Mustang standout Rashee Rice, a second-team selection on offense in 2022.

Forty-one schools are represented on the All-American teams, led by Georgia with three players. Nine schools had two players honored: Boise State, Iowa, LSU, Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Texas, Toledo, UNLV and Washington.

The teams were selected by Action Network's Brett McMurphy, Collin Wilson and George Stuckey.

Roberts made an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball for the Mustangs, causing constant pressure that has resulted in a career-high 10.0 sacks this year, good for 13th in the NCAA.

Defensively, the Mustangs have been one of the best teams in the country this season. The 47 sacks rank second in program history for a single season. SMU took it to the conference opposition, posting an average margin of victory of 28.9 points (45.9-17.0) in conference games this year, the largest margin for any team in the NCAA in conference play in 2023.

The Mustangs have posted an 11-2 record so far this year, capturing their first AAC Championship while going undefeated (8-0) in conference play. The 11 wins are the most by the program since the 1982 National Championship team. The conference championship marks the first outright championship won by SMU in 41 years.

[PerunaPunch]

Well-deserved would be the understatement of the year. Our entire DL, headlined by Roberts, has been simply fantastic this year. I hope there's a way we can keep him on the Hilltop another year, But regardless, going forward, I hope he will always consider himself a Mustang (rather than a Hurricane).

[birddogger]

Not bad for a 2nd team all AAC DL

[Charleston Pony]

Now we just need to make sure he stays with SMU. Pony up!