Urban Meyer led Ohio State to a perfect 12-0 in his first year at Columbus.
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 Meter 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.
2012 FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (6-1, 200, Kerrville, Texas)
RB • Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech (6-0, 215, Strong, Ark.)
RB • Todd Gurley, Georgia (6-1, 218, Tarboro, N.C.)
WR Davante Adams, Fresno State (6-2, 200, Palo Alto, Calif.)
WR • Amari Cooper, Alabama (6-1, 198, Miami, Fla.)
WR J.D. McKissic, Arkansas State (5-10, 185, Phenix City, Ala.)
TE • Devin Funchess, Michigan (6-5, 229, Farmington Hills, Mich.)
OL Jack Allen, Michigan State (6-1, 295, Hinsdale, Ill.)
OL Austin Blythe, Iowa (6-3, 275, Williamsburg, Iowa)
OL Jake Brendel, UCLA (6-4, 295, Plano, Texas)
OL Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech (6-5, 303, Rockdale, Texas)
OL Parker Ehinger, Cincinnati (6-7, 290, Rockford, Mich.)
OL Tyler Johnstone, Oregon (6-6, 292, Chandler, Ariz.)
DEFENSE
DL Deion Barnes, Penn State (6-4, 246, Philadelphia, Pa.)
DL • Devonte Fields, TCU (6-4, 240, Arlington, Texas)
DL Samuel Ukwuachu, Boise State (6-4, 222, Pearland, Texas)
DL • Leonard Wllliams, USC (6-5, 270, Daytona Beach, Fla.)
LB Kyler Fackrell, Utah State (6-5, 236, Mesa, Ariz.)
LB Cory James, Colorado State (6-0, 235, Del Rio, Texas)
LB • Tyler Matakevich, Temple (6-1, 220, Stratford, Conn.)
LB Denzel Nkemdiche, Ole Miss (5-11, 203, Loganville, Ga.)
DB Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee (5-11, 229, Lithonia, Ga.)
DB • Ronald Darby, Florida State (5-11, 189, Oxon Hill, Md.)
DB • KeiVarae Russell, Notre Dame (5-11, 182, Everett, Wash.)
DB • Trevon Stewart, Houston (5-9, 183, Patterson, La.)
SPECIALISTS
P • Tyler Williams, Marshall (6-0, 195, Fort Wayne, Ind.)
K • Austin Lopez, San Jose State (6-0, 170, Euless, Texas)
PR • Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan (5-11, 196, Belle Glade, Fla.)
KR • Duke Johnson, Miami (5-9, 188, Miami, Fla.)
AP • Stefon Diggs, Maryland (6-1, 185, Gaithersburg, Md.)
HEAD COACH
Urban Meyer, Ohio State
• Denotes true freshman
