From UT:
Punter Michael Dickson and safety DeShon Elliott were named first team All-Americans by the American Football Coaches Association.
WACO, Texas – The postseason honors continued to pile up for both junior punter Michael Dickson and safety DeShon Elliott on Wednesday, as both were named first team All-Americans by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
With the announcement, Dickson will be a unanimous first team All-American, as he was honored by all five recognized publications (AFCA, AP, FWAA, SN, WCFF). Elliott joins Dickson as a consensus All-American, as he was first team on four of the five teams, garnering second team honors from the Associated Press.
Dickson becomes the 21st Longhorn all-time to be recognized as a unanimous All-American, and the first since Colt McCoy in 2009. With Dickson and Elliott earning consensus status, UT has now had 60 consensus first team All-Americans.
A native of Sydney, Australia, Dickson is the first UT punter to ever be named a first team All-American by the AFCA. He leads the country averaging 48.4 yards per punt on 73 attempts. His net average of 44.7 yards per punt is the best in the country as well. He won the 2017 Ray Guy Award and was also the Big 12’s Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year. So far in 2017, Dickson has 34 punts of more than 50 yards, 14 of more than 60 yards and a career-long punt of 76 yards in a game at TCU. That 76-yard punt was the fifth-longest in the country this season, and tied for the fifth-longest in school history. He has had 32 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, 27 downed inside the 15, 14 downed inside the 10 and six downed inside the opponents’ five-yard line.
Elliott, a native of Rockwall, Texas, becomes the first Longhorn defensive back honored on the first team since Michael Huff in 2005. Elliott totaled 63 tackles (50 solo) with 8.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and nine pass breakups. His six interceptions rank third nationally and his two interceptions returned for a touchdown are first. Elliott and the Longhorns’ secondary held all three first team All-Big 12 wide receivers out of the end zone this season, limiting Biletnikoff Award winner Oklahoma State’s James Washington to four catches for 42 yards, Biletnikoff Award finalist West Virginia’s David Sills to two catches for 47 yards and Iowa State’s Allen Lazard to five catches for 63 yards.
With all five All-America teams now released in 2017, a total of 144 Longhorns have earned 187 All-America honors in the history of the program. UT is one of 10 teams in the nation to have at least 60 consensus All-Americans. With both Dickson and Elliott being named first team All-Americans, a total of 95 players have earned 117 first team All-America honors in Texas Football history.
American Football Coaches Association: P Michael Dickson (first team), S DeShon Elliott (first team)
Associated Press: P Michael Dickson (first team), S DeShon Elliott (second team), LB Malik Jefferson (second team)
Football Writers Association of America: P Michael Dickson (first team), S DeShon Elliott (first team)
Sporting News: P Michael Dickson (first team), S DeShon Elliott (first team), LB Malik Jefferson (second team)
Walter Camp Football Foundation: P Michael Dickson (first team), S DeShon Elliott (first team)
Punter Michael Dickson and safety DeShon Elliott were named first team All-Americans by the American Football Coaches Association.
WACO, Texas – The postseason honors continued to pile up for both junior punter Michael Dickson and safety DeShon Elliott on Wednesday, as both were named first team All-Americans by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
With the announcement, Dickson will be a unanimous first team All-American, as he was honored by all five recognized publications (AFCA, AP, FWAA, SN, WCFF). Elliott joins Dickson as a consensus All-American, as he was first team on four of the five teams, garnering second team honors from the Associated Press.
Dickson becomes the 21st Longhorn all-time to be recognized as a unanimous All-American, and the first since Colt McCoy in 2009. With Dickson and Elliott earning consensus status, UT has now had 60 consensus first team All-Americans.
A native of Sydney, Australia, Dickson is the first UT punter to ever be named a first team All-American by the AFCA. He leads the country averaging 48.4 yards per punt on 73 attempts. His net average of 44.7 yards per punt is the best in the country as well. He won the 2017 Ray Guy Award and was also the Big 12’s Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year. So far in 2017, Dickson has 34 punts of more than 50 yards, 14 of more than 60 yards and a career-long punt of 76 yards in a game at TCU. That 76-yard punt was the fifth-longest in the country this season, and tied for the fifth-longest in school history. He has had 32 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, 27 downed inside the 15, 14 downed inside the 10 and six downed inside the opponents’ five-yard line.
Elliott, a native of Rockwall, Texas, becomes the first Longhorn defensive back honored on the first team since Michael Huff in 2005. Elliott totaled 63 tackles (50 solo) with 8.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and nine pass breakups. His six interceptions rank third nationally and his two interceptions returned for a touchdown are first. Elliott and the Longhorns’ secondary held all three first team All-Big 12 wide receivers out of the end zone this season, limiting Biletnikoff Award winner Oklahoma State’s James Washington to four catches for 42 yards, Biletnikoff Award finalist West Virginia’s David Sills to two catches for 47 yards and Iowa State’s Allen Lazard to five catches for 63 yards.
With all five All-America teams now released in 2017, a total of 144 Longhorns have earned 187 All-America honors in the history of the program. UT is one of 10 teams in the nation to have at least 60 consensus All-Americans. With both Dickson and Elliott being named first team All-Americans, a total of 95 players have earned 117 first team All-America honors in Texas Football history.
American Football Coaches Association: P Michael Dickson (first team), S DeShon Elliott (first team)
Associated Press: P Michael Dickson (first team), S DeShon Elliott (second team), LB Malik Jefferson (second team)
Football Writers Association of America: P Michael Dickson (first team), S DeShon Elliott (first team)
Sporting News: P Michael Dickson (first team), S DeShon Elliott (first team), LB Malik Jefferson (second team)
Walter Camp Football Foundation: P Michael Dickson (first team), S DeShon Elliott (first team)
