Gurley Named Freshman All American

FOOTBALL

Georgia true freshman tailback Todd Gurley has been named to the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America Team, according to an announcement on Monday.

Georgia has now had a freshman All-American for the last six consecutive seasons. Gurley is one of only four players from the Southeastern Conference on the All-America squad and one of only 13 true freshmen on the 30-man squad.

Gurley, a 6-1, 218-pound native of Tarboro, North Carolina, became the 12th Dawg to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and the first since Knowshon Moreno in 2008. Gurley went for 1,385 yards, which ranks sixth in school history for a single season, and 17 touchdowns (a UGA freshman record) on 222 carries (6.2/carry).

Only Gurley and Herschel Walker have tallied 1,000-yard seasons in their true freshman seasons. Gurley finished 2012 with nine games where he went for at least 100 yards rushing, which ranks third in school history for a season. Currently, the Associated Press All-SEC First Team selection is second in the SEC in Rushing Yards Per Game (98.9), second in Scoring (106 pts.) and third in All-Purpose Yards Per Game (124.6).

Fellow true freshman tailback Keith Marshall, who is Gurley’s roommate, combined with Gurley to rack up 2,144 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading the Dawgs to only the third 12-win season in school history.

Gurley was also named to the Sporting News Freshman All-America Team and to Phil Steele’s All-Freshman First Team.

The Dawgs kick off the 2013 season at Clemson on Aug. 31.

Offense

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 — Amari Cooper, Alabama, 6-1, 198, Miami, Fla

WR — J.D. McKissic, Arkansas State, 5-10, 185, Phenix City, Ala.

WR— Davante Adams, Fresno State, 6-2, 200, Palo Alto, Calif.

OL — Tyler Johnstone, Oregon, 6-6; 292, Chandler, Ariz.

OL—Jake Brendel, UCLA, 6-4, 295, Plano, Texas

OL— Jack Allen, Michigan State, 6-1, 295, Hinsdale, Ill

OL—Austin Blythe, Iowa, 6-3, 275, Williamsburg, Iowa

OL—Le'Raven Clark, Texas Tech, 6-5, 303, Rockdale, Texas

OL — Parker Ehinger, Cincinnati, 6-7, 290, Rockford, Mich.

*TE—Devin Funchess, Michigan, 6-5, 229, Farmington Hills, Mich.

Defense

*DL Devonte Fields, TCU, 6-4, 240, Arlington, Texas

*DL Leonard Williams, Southern Cal, 6-5, 270, Daytona Beach, Fla.

DL Deion Barnes, Penn State, 6-4, 246, Philadelphia, Penn.

DL Samuel Ukwuachu, Boise State, 6-4, 222, Pearland, Texas

LB —Denzel Nkemdiche, Ole Miss, 5-11, 203, Loganville, Ga.

LB— Tyler Matakevich, Temple, 6-1. 220, Stratford, Conn.

LB—Kyler Fackrell, Utah State, 6-5, 236, Mesa, Ariz.

LB—Cory James, Colorado State, 6-0, 235, Del Rio, Texas

*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.

DB-Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee, 5-11, 220, Lithonia, Ga.

Special Teams

*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 (Fla.), 5-9, 188, Miami, Fla.

*AP-Stefon Diggs, Maryland, 6-1, 185, Gaithersburg, Md.

*-True Freshman