Buckner Announces All-America Team

Dec. 1, 2005

Southern California all-purpose player Reggie Bush and national sack leader Elvis Dumervil of Louisville highlight Brentson Buckner’s 2005 All-America team. Buckner, a starting defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers, is the only active NFL player who has a vote in the Harris Interactive poll that will help determine the teams that will compete in the four BCS Bowls this year.

He has released his ballot each week throughout the season on his internet site, brentsonbuckner.com and this week released his 2005 All-America team.

Two Clemson players were named to the first team, cornerback Tye Hill and kicker Jad Dean. Hill is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented to the nation’s top defensive back and Dean is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, which is given to the nation’s top placekicker. Hill leads Clemson’s 16th ranked scoring defense in passes defensed with 10, while Dean is second in the nation in field goals per game with 22. Both will be in Orlando, FL on December 8 for the ESPN College Football Awards Show.

Bush was named the first-team all-purpose player and was Buckner’s national player of the year.Buckner named Penn State Coach Joe Paterno his National Coach of the Year. “There were a lot of candidates, but Joe Pa stands out. He had everyone on his back for the last five years it seemed, but he stayed the course from a hard work standpoint. He might have made some changes in his approach to the offense and in recruiting, but give the man his due. Now he is one upset away on Saturday from getting into the National Championship game.”

Buckner, now in his 12th season with the Panthers and one of the reasons Carolina is challenging for the best record in the NFC, selected 29 players from 25 different teams. Notre Dame, Minnesota, Maryland and Clemson all had two players apiece. The ACC had eight players, followed by the Pac-10 with six and the Big 10 with five. Overall, eight different conferences were represented on the team.

ALL AMERICAN TEAM

OFFENSE QB- Brady Quinn, Notre Dame RB- Jerome Harrison, Wash. St. RB- DeAngelo Williams, Memphis RB- Laurence Maroney, Minnesota All Purpose Athelete- Reggie Bush, Southern Cal TE- Vernon Davis, Maryland Wr- Mike Hass, Oregon St. Wr- Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame Ol-Greg Eslinger, Minnesota Ol- Marcus McNeill, Auburn Ol- Jonathan Scott, Texas Ol- Marvin Phillips, California Ol- Joe Thomas, Wisconsin Pk- Jad Dean, Clemson Kr- Cory Rodgers, TCU

DEFENSE Dl- Elvis Dumervil, Louisville Dl- Mario Williams, NC State Dl- Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan Dl- Haloti Ngata, Oregon Lb- D’Quell Jackson, Maryland Lb- Chad Greenway, Iowa Lb- DeMeco Ryans, Alabama Lb-Paul Posluszy, Penn St. Db- Ko Simpson, South Carolina Db- Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech Db- Tye Hill, Clemson Db- Brandon Merriweather, Miami P- Ryan Plackemier, Wake Forest PR- Maurice Drew UCLA

Coach of the Year- Joe Paterno Penn St. Player of the year- Reggie Bush USC Defensive Player of the Year- Elvis Dumervil Louisville Offensive Player of the Year- Brady Quinn Notre Dame Freshman Of the Year- Tyrell Sutton RB Northwestern