FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.- The 12th annual Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team has been announced, with all 11 Football Bowl Subdivision Conferences and Notre Dame represented on the 30-man roster.
A pair of players from the team, Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper and Notre Dame defensive back KeiVarae Russell, will battle one another in tonight's Discover BCS National Championship Game.
Heisman Trophy-winning Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel became the first quarterback to be named to both the FWAA All-America Team and its Freshman All-America Team. Only three other players have earned a spot on both teams: Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson (2004); and Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree and Missouri wide receiver/return specialist Jeremy Maclin (2007). The FWAA has named a Freshman All-America team since the 2001 season.
Ohio State's first-year coach Urban Meter claimed the first-year coaching honors after his Buckeyes completed a perfect 12-0 regular season.
The team and coach are selected by an 11-person panel of nationally-prominent writers led by Mike Griffith of the MLive Media Group. Both true freshmen (15 players) and redshirt freshmen (15 players) were considered for the team and are so noted.
2012 FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
Pos.
Player, School
Ht.
Wt.
Hometown
QB
Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
6-1
200
Kerrville, Texas
RB
* Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech
6-0
215
Strong, Ark.
RB
* Todd Gurley, Georgia
6-1
218
Tarboro, N.C.
WR
Davante Adams, Fresno State
6-2
200
Palo Alto, Calif.
WR
* Amari Cooper, Alabama
6-1
198
Miami, Fla.
WR
J.D. McKissic, Arkansas State
5-10
185
Phenix City, Ala.
TE
* Devin Funchess, Michigan
6-5
229
Farmington Hills, Mich.
OL
Jack Allen, Michigan State
6-1
295
Hinsdale, Ill.
OL
Austin Blythe, Iowa
6-3
275
Williamsburg, Iowa
OL
Jake Brendel, UCLA
6-4
295
Plano, Texas
OL
Le'Raven Clark, Texas Tech
6-5
303
Rockdale, Texas
OL
Parker Ehinger, Cincinnati
6-7
290
Rockford, Mich.
OL
Tyler Johnstone, Oregon
6-6
292
Chandler, Ariz.
DEFENSE
Pos.
Player, School
Ht.
Wt.
Hometown
DL
Deion Barnes, Penn State
6-4
246
Philadelphia, Pa.
DL
* Devonte Fields, TCU
6-4
240
Arlington, Texas
DL
Samuel Ukwuachu, Boise State
6-4
222
Pearland, Texas
DL
* Leonard Wllliams, USC
6-5
270
Daytona Beach, Fla.
LB
Kyler Fackrell, Utah State
6-5
236
Mesa, Ariz.
LB
Cory James, Colorado State
6-0
235
Del Rio, Texas
LB
* Tyler Matakevich, Temple
6-1
220
Stratford, Conn.
LB
Denzel Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
5-11
203
Loganville, Ga.
DB
Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee
5-11
229
Lithonia, Ga.
DB
* Ronald Darby, Florida State
5-11
189
Oxon Hill, Md.
DB
* KeiVarae Russell, Notre Dame
5-11
182
Everett, Wash.
DB
* Trevon Stewart, Houston
5-9
183
Patterson, La.
SPECIALISTS
Pos.
Player, School
Ht.
Wt.
Hometown
P
* Tyler Williams, Marshall
6-0
195
Fort Wayne, Ind.
K
* Austin Lopez, San Jose State
6-0
170
Euless, Texas
PR
* Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan
5-11
196
Belle Glade, Fla.
KR
* Duke Johnson, Miami
5-9
188
Miami, Fla.
AP
* Stefon Diggs, Maryland
6-1
185
Gaithersburg, Md.
HEAD COACH
Urban Meyer, Ohio State
* Denotes true freshman
