Linebacker Weaver is Cal’s first AllAmerican since 2006
Cal inside linebacker Evan Weaver was named to the Associated Press’ firstteam AllAmerica squad Monday, becoming the first player in the program to receive such recognition since Daymeion Hughes and DeSean Jackson in 2006.
Weaver, named Pac12 Defensive Player of the Year last week, leads the nation in total tackles (173) and solo tackles (95). With the Dec. 30 Redbox Bowl against Illinois still to play, he is 20 tackles away from tying the NCAA’s season record set by Texas Tech’s Lawrence Flugence in 2002.
“He’s a unique character. He’s not perfect, but he’s an ultraproductive football player,” Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said at last week’s Redbox Bowl news conference. “… You know the comment? Race car in the red. He runs right there on the red line. … The reason he’s so productive is that he does play with an edge. He’s a physical, competitive, aggressive person.”
— Rusty Simmons
AllAmerica highlights: No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Ohio State each placed three players on the AP AllAmerica first team.
Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow of LSU highlights the firstteam offense and Heisman finalist Chase Young of Ohio State leads the defense on the team chosen by a panel of 15 college football poll voters.
The topranked Tigers also placed receiver Ja’Marr Chase and cornerback Derek Stingley on the first team. Young was joined on the first team by Ohio State teammates Wyatt Davis, a guard, and Jeff Okudah, a cornerback. No. 3 Clemson’s only firstteam AllAmerican was linebacker Isaiah Simmons. No. 4 Oklahoma was represented on the first team by receiver CeeDee Lamb.
No. 5 Georgia, Kentucky and No. 11 Wisconsin were the other teams with multiple firstteam selections. Georgia placed tackle Andrew Thomas and safety J.R. Reed on the
AllAmerica team.
Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor is the only player to repeat as a firstteam AllAmerican this season. Badgers center Tyler Biadasz also made the first team.
Kentucky had punter Max Duffy, and Lynn Bowden Jr., the receiverturned quarterback, who made the first team as an allpurpose player. Bowden leads the Wildcats in rushing and receiving this season.
Ohio State led all teams with seven players selected to the three AllAmerica teams, including quarterback Justin Fields on the second team.
No. 9 Alabama had no players on the first team for the first time since 2010, but had five players combined on the second and third teams. Little to return: Stanford tackle Walker Little said he will return for his senior season in 2020 instead of entering the NFL draft. He was a top draft prospect before going down with a seasonending knee injury in the season opener against Northwestern. Briefly: Offensive coordinator Graham Harrell is staying at No. 22 USC after agreeing to a multiyear contract extension. ... Tennessee offensive lineman Ryan Johnson says he’ll transfer to Georgia Tech.