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Willis, Sanders named Freshman All-Americas
Sporting News names QB to third team
Dec. 8, 2006

DALLAS (SMU) - SMU freshman quarterback Justin Willis continues to garner post-season awards with the latest being third-team Freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News.

Willis was named Conference USA's Freshman of the Year by both the media and coaches and was also tabbed an honorable mention All-C-USA selection on the past two weeks. Willis set numerous school records in 2006 including new marks for season touchdown passes and completion percentage. For the year, he completed 182-of-270 passes for 2,047 yards and 26 TDs with just six interceptions and ranks 10th in the nation in passing efficiency. His 29 TDs accounted for are the most in SMU history and his 2,401 yards of total offense is fourth-best in a season at SMU.

SMU teammate Emmanuel Sanders earned honorable mention All-America accolades from The Sporting News as both a wide receiver and kick returner. Sanders ranked third in C-USA with an average of 24.0 yards per kickoff return, netting 288 yards on 12 returns. As a wideout, he caught an SMU-freshman-record nine TDs and led the squad with 605 receiving yards.

SPORTING NEWS 2006 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
WR Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan*
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland*
TE Cody Slate, Marshall
L (T) Sam Young, Notre Dame
L (G) Greg Isdaner, West Virginia*
L (T) Andre Smith, Alabama
L (T) Adam Ulatoski, Texas*
L (G) Sergio Render, Virginia Tech
QB Colt McCoy, Texas*
RB P.J. Hill, Wisconsin*
RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson
DEFENSE
L (E) Peanut Whitehead, Louisville
L (E) Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Virginia*
L (E/T) Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU*
L (E) Eric Norwood, South Carolina
LB Prince Hall, Alabama*
LB Joe Pawelek, Baylor*
LB Gerald McRath, Southern Miss*
DB (FS) Taylor Mays, USC
DB (SS) Myron Rolle, Florida State
DB (CB) Trevard Lindley, Kentucky
DB (CB) Vontae Davis, Illinois
SPECIALISTS
K Brett Swenson, Michigan State
P Matt DiLallo, Colorado*
KR David Harvey, Akron

SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
WR Percy Harvin, Florida
WR Ryan Wolfe, UNLV
TE Riar Geer, Colorado*
L (C Josh McNeil, Tennessee*
L (T) Eben Britton, Arizona*
L (T) Will Barker, Virginia*
L (T) Jason Fox, Miami (Fla.);
L (T) Trent Williams, Oklahoma
QB Riley Skinner, Wake Forest*
RB Damion Fletcher, Southern Miss
RB Mike Goodson, Texas A&M
DEFENSE
L (E) Corey Wootton, Northwestern*
L (E) Everette Brown, Florida State*
L (E) Willie Young, N.C. State*
L (E) George Selvie, South Florida*
LB Tray Blackmon, Auburn*
LB Josh Bailey, Indiana*
LB Rodney Paulk, South Carolina
DB (SS) Andre Sexton, Oklahoma State*
DB (CB) Alterraun Verner, UCLA
DB (SS) Barry Church, Toledo
DB (CB) Jarius Byrd, Oregon*
SPECIALISTS
K Matt Reagan, Memphis
P Matt Brandtner, Iowa State*
KR Jeff Smith, Boston College

THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
WR Dominique Douglas, Iowa
WR Damian Williams, Arkansas
TE Brandon Warren, Florida State
L (G) John Jerry, Mississippi
L (T) Jeff Griffin, Wake Forest*
L (T) Ciron Black, LSU*
L (T) Brady Bond, Oklahoma State*
L (C) Rafael Eubanks, Iowa*
QB Justin Willis, SMU*
RB Reggie Arnold, Arkansas State*
RB Chris Bullock, Bowling Green*
DEFENSE
L (T) Sen'Derrick Marks, Auburn*
L (NT) Ekom Udofia, Stanford*
L (T) Kade Weston, Georgia
L (E) Jan Jorgensen, BYU*
LB Jacob Cutrera, LSU
LB Reggie Carter, UCLA*
LB Darryl Sharpton, Miami (Fla.)*
DB (FS) Quinton Andrews, West Virginia*
DB (FS) Aairon Savage, Auburn*
DB (CB) Walter Thurmond, Oregon*
DB (FS) Latarrius Thomas, Louisville
SPECIALISTS
K Joshua Shene, Mississippi
P Kyle Loomis, Oregon State
KR Chris Garrett, Ohio

HONORABLE MENTION
QUARTERBACKS: Nate Davis, Ball State; Josh Freeman, Kansas State; Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan*; Kellen Lewis, Indiana*; Thaddeus Lewis, Duke; Mitch Mustain, Arkansas; Donovan Porterie, New Mexico*; Jameel Sewell, Virginia*; Karsten Sween, Wyoming*; Matthew Stafford, Georgia; Tim Tebow, Florida; Juice Williams, Illinois
RUNNING BACKS: Donald Brown, UConn*; Delone Carter, Syracuse; LaMarcus Coker, Tennessee*; Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State; C.J. Gable, USC; Atiyyah Henderson, San Diego State*; Javarris James, Miami (Fla.); Emmanuel Moody, USC; Leon Patton, Kansas State; James Starks, Buffalo*; Ben Tate, Auburn; Keith Toston, Oklahoma State; Chris Wells, Ohio State
RECEIVERS: Emmanuel Sanders, SMU; David Harvey, Akron; Justin Fenty, Baylor; Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina; Jared Perry, Missouri; Nick Polk, Indiana*; Emmanuel Sanders, SMU*; Richard Sherman, Stanford; Sam Shields, Miami (Fla.); Derrick Stewart, Cincinnati; Oderick Turner, Pitt*; Jeremy Williams,Tulane*
TIGHT ENDS: Kazeem Alli, Cincinnati*; Justin Akers, Baylor*; Carson
Butler, Michigan*; Jeff Cumberland, Illinois; Richard Dickson, LSU; Jim Dray, Stanford*; Jermichael Finley, Texas*; Gabe McKenzie, Auburn*; Anthony Quarless, Penn State; Tommy Trott, Auburn*
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: C Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois*; T Mike Aguayo,
UTEP*; T Terence Campbell, East Carolina*; C Chris Fisher, Louisiana-Lafayette*; T Aleksey Lanis, UCLA*; T Jeffrey Linkenbach, Cincinnati*; T Ben Ossai, Washington; C Jake Seitz, UAB*; T Nick Stringer, Kansas State*; G Ned Tavale, Minnesota*; T Devin Tyler, Temple*; G Ronnie Wilson, Florida*
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: E Justin Cole, San Jose State*; E Dexter Davis,
Arizona State*; E Maurice Evans, Penn State; E Greg Hardy, Mississippi; EErnie Hodge, Ohio; E James Ingram, West Virginia*; T Vince Oghobaase, Duke*; E Scotty Robinson, East Carolina*; E Brady Smith, Boston College*;E Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, Washington*; E Brandon Williams, Texas Tech
LINEBACKERS: Braxton Amy, UTEP*; Jason Beauchamp, UNLV*; A.J. Edds, Iowa; Van Eskridge, East Carolina*; Matt Featherston, Texas A&M*; Junior Galette, Temple; Travis Goethel, Arizona State; Paul Igboeli, Utah State; Cardia Jackson, Louisiana-Monroe; Patrick Lavine, Oklahoma State; Will Patterson, Indiana; Chris Robinson, South Florida*; Andrew Sendejo, Rice; Clinton Snyder, Stanford*
DEFENSIVE BACKS: CB Asher Allen, Georgia; S Antonio Baker, Louisiana
Tech; S Emanuel Cook, South Carolina; CB Kendric Hawkins, Buffalo*;S Calvin Hissong, Central Michigan*; S Shiloh Keo, Idaho; CB Zearrick Matthews, Marshall*; S Jeromy Miles, Navy; Joshua Moore, Kansas State; CB Jordan Peterson, Texas A&M*; CB Jamie Robinson, Florida State*; CB Nick Sanders, TCU*; CB Syd'Quan Thompson, Cal*; CB Donald Washington, Ohio State*; CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State*
KICKERS: Josh Arauco, Arkansas State*; Trevor Cook, Miami (Ohio); Clark Fangmeier, Rice; Aric Goodman, Wyoming; Lones Seiber, Kentucky
PUNTERS: Jake Brownell, Temple*; Chris Cook, Florida International; P.J.
Fitzgerald, Alabama*; Zach Johnson, Eastern Michigan*; Scott Kozlowski,
West Virginia*; Zoltan Mesko, Michigan*; John Stec, Akron
RETURN MEN: Emmanuel Sanders, SMU*; Javier Arenas, Alabama; Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State; Jacoby Ford, Clemson; C.J. Gable, USC; Brandon James, Florida; Jeremy McGee,UCLA; Sherrick McManis, Northwestern; JaJuan Spillman, Louisville; A.J. Wallace, Penn State; Brandon West, Western Michigan

That's fantastic news, and very well-deserved!
Congratulations to JW and ES!

Great news for Willis, Sanders & SMU.

Despite the Scout websites, recruiting must be getting a little better-- 2 Ponies on the list v. 1 frog.

21-10

This is a tremendous award for JW and for Sanders to get recognition too.

There is no way that Skinner should have been a Second Teamer...he lead his team to the Orange Bowl...

Congrats again to JW and ES!

Great news and looking forward to more down the road!

Col. Nathan R. Jessep wrote:Great news for Willis, Sanders & SMU.

Despite the Scout websites, recruiting must be getting a little better-- 2 Ponies on the list v. 1 frog.

21-10

Or possibly its an indication that since TCU's program is much stronger than ours, it is far more difficult for a freshman to crack the lineup there.

Yeah right. The only freshmen who played regularly for us were Willis, Mapps, Sanders and McCann, and Hudman after a while. I'm fairly certain Froggy High had 4 or 5 in its rotation, too.

And with all due respect to Our Man Willis, Riley Skinner should have been first-team .... followed by Willis, THEN the Austin a--wipe.

Kiper wrote:Yeah right. The only freshmen who played regularly for us were Willis, Mapps, Sanders and McCann, and Hudman after a while. I'm fairly certain Froggy High had 4 or 5 in its rotation, too.

And with all due respect to Our Man Willis, Riley Skinner should have been first-team .... followed by Willis, THEN the Austin a--wipe.

Hud is a sophmore!

Actually, he's a redshirt freshman.

Congrats, JWill and E. Sanders. Well deserved.

At least I was vindicated in my predicition of all-american greatness. I expected 2nd team but the Wake story was just too good to let his numbers get in the way. Also, JW had a better year than Rhett Bhomar.

congrats

And as Far as the Conference goes, SMU and USM are the only schools to have a player in the First, Second or Third team.