TAMPA, Fla. – Zach Shackelford was named a Freshman All-American on Monday, announced by the Football Writers Association of America. Shackelford, who started nine games at center during his inaugural campaign in Austin, helped the UT offense to become one of the most improved in the country during the 2016 season.
The Longhorns finished the season just 5-7, but were 16th nationally in total offense after averaging 491.3 yards per game. Shackelford was an integral part of the offensive line that blocked for Doak Walker Award winner D'Onta Foreman, the nation's leading rusher at 184.4 yards per game. UT finished the season ranked 17th in rushing offense (239.3), 50th in passing offense (252.0) and 46th in scoring offense (31.9).
Shackelford started the first six games of the season and nine total, sitting out three games due to injury throughout the second half of the season. He was named honorable mention All-Big 12 and also recognized by ESPN.com on the All-Big 12 Underclassmen team.
Against No. 10 Notre Dame in the season opener, Shackelford picked up his first career start and helped the Longhorns to 517 offensive yards in a 50-47 double-overtime win over the Fighting Irish. In week three at California, UT totaled 568 yards on 90 plays, rushing for 307 yards and four touchdowns.
After a bye week, the Longhorns opened up Big 12 Conference play with 568 yards on the road against Oklahoma State. The game against the Cowboys marked the second straight game the Longhorns had two running backs over 100 yards each in the same game. In total, Texas had seven games with more than 500 yards of offense in 2016, a school record. They also totaled three games with more than 300 yards rushing throughout the season.
2016 FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE (15)
QB, Sam Darnold, USC, 6-4, 225 (Capistrano Beach, Calif.)
RB • Justice Hill, Oklahoma State, 5-10, 171 (Tulsa, Okla.)
RB • Benny Snell, Kentucky, 5-11, 220 (Westerville, Ohio)
RB Mike Weber, Ohio State, 5-10, 212 (Detroit, Mich.)
WR • Ty Lee, Middle Tennessee, 5-9, 155 (Moultrie, Ga.)
WR • Ahmmon Richards, Miami, 6-1, 192 (Wellington, Fla.)
WR • Demetris Robertson, California, 6-0, 175 (Savannah, Ga.)
TE • Isaac Nauta, Georgia, 6-4, 246 (Buford, Ga.)
OL Ryan Bates, Penn State, 6-4, 305 (Warrington, Pa.)
OL • Ben Bredeson, Michigan, 6-5, 310 (Hartland, Wis.)
OL • Michael Jordan, Ohio State, 6-7, 310 (Canton, Mich.)
OL • Zach Shackelford, Texas, 6-3, 290 (Belton, Texas)
OL Thomas Shoaf, BYU, 6-5, 280 (Columbus, Ind.)
OL • Jawaan Taylor, Florida, 6-5, 340 (Cocoa, Fla.)
AP Donnie Corley, Michigan State, 6-2, 186 (Detroit, Mich.)
DEFENSE (15)
DL • Brian Burns, Florida State, 6-5, 218 (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
DL Dre'Mont Jones, Ohio State, 6-3, 280 (Cleveland, Ohio)
DL • Dexter Lawrence, Clemson, 6-5, 340 (Wake Forest, N.C.)
DL • Ed Oliver, Houston, 6-2, 290 (Houston, Texas)
DL Reggie Walker, Kansas State, 6-2, 239 (Ponchatoula, La.)
LB • Troy Dye, Oregon, 6-4, 225 (Norco, Calif.)
LB Leo Lewis, Mississippi State, 6-2, 240 (Brookhaven, Miss.)
LB • David Reese, Florida, 6-0, 244 (Farmington, Mich.)
LB Josiah Tauaefa, UTSA, 6-1, 230 (Corinth, Texas)
LB Logan Wilson, Wyoming, 6-2, 225 (Casper, Wyo.)
DB Jessie Bates, Wake Forest, 6-2, 200 (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
DB Xavier Crawford, Oregon State, 6-1, 182 (Pittsburg, Calif.)
DB • Clifton Duck, Appalachian State, 5-10, 175 (Matthews, N.C.)
DB Javon Hagan, Ohio, 6-0, 211 (Jacksonville, Fla.)
DB • Taylor Rapp, Washington, 6-0, 202 (Bellingham, Wash.)
SPECIALISTS (4)
K Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia, 6-1, 191 (Marietta, Ga.)
P • Tom Sheldon, North Carolina, 6-3, 200 (Echuca, Australia)
PR • Malik McGue, Army, 5-8, 174 (Johnson City, Tenn.)
KR Tony Pollard, Memphis, 5-11, 200 (Memphis, Tenn.)
• Denotes true freshman
The Longhorns finished the season just 5-7, but were 16th nationally in total offense after averaging 491.3 yards per game. Shackelford was an integral part of the offensive line that blocked for Doak Walker Award winner D'Onta Foreman, the nation's leading rusher at 184.4 yards per game. UT finished the season ranked 17th in rushing offense (239.3), 50th in passing offense (252.0) and 46th in scoring offense (31.9).
Shackelford started the first six games of the season and nine total, sitting out three games due to injury throughout the second half of the season. He was named honorable mention All-Big 12 and also recognized by ESPN.com on the All-Big 12 Underclassmen team.
Against No. 10 Notre Dame in the season opener, Shackelford picked up his first career start and helped the Longhorns to 517 offensive yards in a 50-47 double-overtime win over the Fighting Irish. In week three at California, UT totaled 568 yards on 90 plays, rushing for 307 yards and four touchdowns.
After a bye week, the Longhorns opened up Big 12 Conference play with 568 yards on the road against Oklahoma State. The game against the Cowboys marked the second straight game the Longhorns had two running backs over 100 yards each in the same game. In total, Texas had seven games with more than 500 yards of offense in 2016, a school record. They also totaled three games with more than 300 yards rushing throughout the season.
2016 FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE (15)
QB, Sam Darnold, USC, 6-4, 225 (Capistrano Beach, Calif.)
RB • Justice Hill, Oklahoma State, 5-10, 171 (Tulsa, Okla.)
RB • Benny Snell, Kentucky, 5-11, 220 (Westerville, Ohio)
RB Mike Weber, Ohio State, 5-10, 212 (Detroit, Mich.)
WR • Ty Lee, Middle Tennessee, 5-9, 155 (Moultrie, Ga.)
WR • Ahmmon Richards, Miami, 6-1, 192 (Wellington, Fla.)
WR • Demetris Robertson, California, 6-0, 175 (Savannah, Ga.)
TE • Isaac Nauta, Georgia, 6-4, 246 (Buford, Ga.)
OL Ryan Bates, Penn State, 6-4, 305 (Warrington, Pa.)
OL • Ben Bredeson, Michigan, 6-5, 310 (Hartland, Wis.)
OL • Michael Jordan, Ohio State, 6-7, 310 (Canton, Mich.)
OL • Zach Shackelford, Texas, 6-3, 290 (Belton, Texas)
OL Thomas Shoaf, BYU, 6-5, 280 (Columbus, Ind.)
OL • Jawaan Taylor, Florida, 6-5, 340 (Cocoa, Fla.)
AP Donnie Corley, Michigan State, 6-2, 186 (Detroit, Mich.)
DEFENSE (15)
DL • Brian Burns, Florida State, 6-5, 218 (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
DL Dre'Mont Jones, Ohio State, 6-3, 280 (Cleveland, Ohio)
DL • Dexter Lawrence, Clemson, 6-5, 340 (Wake Forest, N.C.)
DL • Ed Oliver, Houston, 6-2, 290 (Houston, Texas)
DL Reggie Walker, Kansas State, 6-2, 239 (Ponchatoula, La.)
LB • Troy Dye, Oregon, 6-4, 225 (Norco, Calif.)
LB Leo Lewis, Mississippi State, 6-2, 240 (Brookhaven, Miss.)
LB • David Reese, Florida, 6-0, 244 (Farmington, Mich.)
LB Josiah Tauaefa, UTSA, 6-1, 230 (Corinth, Texas)
LB Logan Wilson, Wyoming, 6-2, 225 (Casper, Wyo.)
DB Jessie Bates, Wake Forest, 6-2, 200 (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
DB Xavier Crawford, Oregon State, 6-1, 182 (Pittsburg, Calif.)
DB • Clifton Duck, Appalachian State, 5-10, 175 (Matthews, N.C.)
DB Javon Hagan, Ohio, 6-0, 211 (Jacksonville, Fla.)
DB • Taylor Rapp, Washington, 6-0, 202 (Bellingham, Wash.)
SPECIALISTS (4)
K Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia, 6-1, 191 (Marietta, Ga.)
P • Tom Sheldon, North Carolina, 6-3, 200 (Echuca, Australia)
PR • Malik McGue, Army, 5-8, 174 (Johnson City, Tenn.)
KR Tony Pollard, Memphis, 5-11, 200 (Memphis, Tenn.)
• Denotes true freshman
