FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (FWAA) The 12th annual Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team has been announced, with all 11 Football Bowl Subdivision Conferences and Notre Dame represented on the 30-man roster. A pair of players from the team, Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper and Notre Dame defensive back KeiVarae Russell, will battle one another in tonight's Discover BCS National Championship Game.
Heisman Trophy-winning Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel became the first quarterback to be named to both the FWAA All-America Team and its Freshman All-America Team. Only three other players have earned a spot on both teams: Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson (2004); and Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree and Missouri wide receiver/return specialist Jeremy Maclin (2007). The FWAA has named a Freshman All-America team since the 2001 season.
Ohio State's first-year coach Urban Meyer claimed the first-year coaching honors after his Buckeyes completed a perfect 12-0 regular season.
The team and coach are selected by an 11-person panel of nationally-prominent writers led by Mike Griffith of the MLive Media Group. Both true freshmen (15 players) and redshirt freshmen (15 players) were considered for the team and are so noted.
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization
founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,200 men and women who cover college football
for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists,
as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works
to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America
team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve
Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com or 972-713-6198.
All-Time FWAA Freshman All-America Teams
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012