BC’s Denis, Dillon join All-America squad
Boston College senior defensive back Lukas Denis and sophomore running back AJ Dillon were named yesterday to the 2018 Associated Press Preseason AllAmerica second-team.
For Denis, the honor marks his sixth preseason All-America nod leading up to opening day. He was previously recognized by Sports Illustrated, CBSSports.com, Sporting News, Athlon Sports and Street & Smith’s. The former Everett High star was a Walter Camp Football Foundation second-team All-American and All-ACC Second team selection in 2017. He tied for second nationally with seven interceptions. He led BC and tied for 17th nationally with 10 pass breakups.
Denis is also on the Bednarik Award, Jim Thorpe Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists.
Dillon, the preseason ACC Player of the Year, also pulled in his sixth preseason AllAmerica selection. Sports Illustrated, CBSSports.com, Phil Steele, Athlon and Lindy’s Sports all recognized the former Lawrence Academy standout this summer.
He is on the Doak Walker and Maxwell Award watch lists and on the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s “50 players to watch” following a breakout freshman campaign.
Dillon was the ACC Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the Year as he finished the season with 1,589 rushing yards, ranking seventh nationally and second among freshmen.
He was a FWAA and ESPN.com Freshman AllAmerican as he posted the most rushing yards by a BC freshman and the second most by a freshman in ACC history.
The Eagles open the season Sept. 1 at home against UMass.
Heisman Trophy runner-up Bryce Love of Stanford and Outland Trophy winner Ed Oliver of Houston highlight the firstteam picks for the AP preseason All-America squad.
West Virginia quarterback Will Grier and his teammate, receiver David Sills V, both first-team picks.
Love, along with Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell, Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards and Utah kicker Matt Gay, were the only players who made firstteam All-American after last season and first team to start this season. Love ran for 2,118 yards and 8.05 per carry last season and was second to Baker Mayfield in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Clemson and Wisconsin led the way with three players on the first team. Alabama and Wisconsin each had a total of five players on the first and second teams combined. were
Hawkeyes name RB
Sophomore Ivory KellyMartin will likely start the season as Iowa’s top running back, according to offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz.
The move could be categorized as a mild surprise given that fellow sophomore Toren Young was listed ahead of Kelly-Martin on a depth chart released in fall camp. But Kelly-Martin, who appeared to be slotted as an option on third downs and in the return game, has shown Iowa’s coaches that he has the potential to become an every-down back in their system.
“He’s got wiggle. He’s got some power. He’s got really good balance,” Ferentz said. “One thing he does a nice job with is catching the ball out of the backfield.”
Kelly-Martin, who is listed at 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, saw the field as a true freshman in 2017 largely because he was one of the fastest players in the program. He averaged 9.2 yards on just 20 carries, scoring three touchdowns, while averaging 21.3 yards on kickoff returns.
Kelly-Martin appears to have distanced himself in the three-man battle to replace Akrum Wadley, partly because he has proven in practice that he can pick up blitzing defenders.
Kelly-Martin, Young and newcomer Mekhi Sargent likely will split carries, especially early in the season, as Iowa looks to improve on a rushing attack that ranked just 97th nationally with 139.2 yards per game last year.
White wins QB job
Memphis’ Brady White will be the starting quarterback for the Tigers’ season opener with Mercer. White had been competing with sophomore David Moore. Memphis coach Mike Norvell announced that Moore has left the program and plans to transfer.