Watkins Named First-Team All-American by AFCA

CLEMSON, SC – Sammy Watkins has been named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. With the selection, Watkins becomes the first football player in Clemson history to be named a first-team All-American by at least one service in three different years.

Watkins was named a first-team All-American as a freshman all-purpose player by the Associated Press. He was just the fourth true freshman in college football history to be named a first-team AP All-American.

In 2012 Watkins was named a first-team All-American by College and Pro Football Weekly. He had been named a second-team All-American by Associated Press, the Walter Camp Foundation and many others this year, but the announcement by the AFCA on Wednesday was his first first-team selection.

This year, Watkins has 85 receptions for 1237 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has seven 100-yard receiving games this year and 14 for his career. He needs just four receptions in the Discover Orange Bowl against Ohio State to establish a Clemson season record for receptions. 

For his career his 224 receptions are fourth in ACC history and his 3164 career receiving yards rank fifth.