Three Bulldogs, Ole Miss WR Brown are AP All-Americans
Published 8:40 am Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Mississippi’s best college players kept adding to their resumés on Monday.
Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat was named to the Associated Press All-America second team, while defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and safety Johnathan Abram were picked for the third team.
Ole Miss wide receiver A.J. Brown also was named to the third team.
This is the first time Mississippi State has had an AP All-American since 2014. Last week, Sweat earned second-team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated, Abram garnered second-team All-America status from both Sports Illustrated and The Athletic, and Simmons picked up second-team All-America acclaim from The Athletic.
Sweat, a senior, finished with 11 sacks, 51 total tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss.
Simmons, one of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in the country, had 59 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, one sack and four pass breakups.
Abram racked up 93 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five pass breakups, two interceptions, once forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Brown, a junior, has announced he will skip his final college season to enter the NFL draft and is also projected to be a first-round pick. He earned third-team AP All-America honors for the second year in a row.
The Starkville native amassed 1,320 receiving yards in 2018, breaking his own single-season school record of 1,252 set in 2017. He’s the only player in Ole Miss history with two 1,000-yard seasons.
Brown also set the Ole Miss single-season receptions record with 85 this year.
The College Football Playoff semifinalists combined to place 10 players on The AP All-America first team, including a high of four from No. 1 Alabama.
The Tide placed two players on each side of the ball, with Outland Trophy winner Quinnen Williams highlighting the defense. Receiver Jerry Jeudy, offensive tackle Jonah Williams and safety Deionte Thompson also made the first team, while Tua Tagovailoa was the second-team quarterback.
The Crimson Tide had six players chosen to the three All-America teams, more than any other school. No. 2 Clemson has three first-teamers, No. 4 Oklahoma has two, including quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray, and No. 3 Notre Dame had one.
The Tide and Sooners meet in the Orange Bowl and Clemson plays Notre Dame at the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29.
Clemson placed defensive linemen Christian Wilkins and Clelin Ferrell on the first team, and offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt. Cornerback Julian Love represented Notre Dame on the first team.
Other notable first-team selections included Memphis running back and Mississippi native Darrell Henderson; LSU linebacker Devin White; and LSU safety Grant Delpit.