Kikaha, Shelton, Thompson Earn AP All-America
December 16, 2014 | Football
For the first time in history, three University of Washington football players have been named to the Associated Press All-America first team in the same season.
Seniors Hau'oli Kikaha and Danny Shelton and junior Shaq Thompson were honored today by the AP with Kikaha at linebacker, Shelton at defensive tackle and Thompson as an all-purpose player.
It had been 12 years since a Husky player was named to the AP All-America first team (Reggie Williams, 2002) and 17 seasons since more than one player made it (Olin Kruetz and Benji Olson in 1997). The only other occasions on which two Husky players made the AP first team were in 1991 (Mario Bailey and Steve Emtman) and 1982 (Chuck Nelson and Mark Stewart).
Kikaha, a senior from Hau'ula, Hawai'i, is the NCAA leader in sacks, with 18. He's set UW records for season and career sacks and single-season tackles for loss and yards. Kikaha was a finalist for five national postseason awards and is just one All-America selection (from the coaches, writers or The Sporting News) away from consensus All-America status, having already made the Walter Camp first team.
Shelton, a senior from Auburn, Wash., is widely considered the most dominant defensive lineman at the UW since Emtman. Despite nearly constant double teams, he's second on the Huskies with 89 total tackles and has 16.5 for a loss, including 9.5 sacks.
Thompson, a junior from Sacramento, Calif., won the Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player. Thompson scored four defensive touchdowns as a linebacker and also rushed for 100 yards in each of his two starts at tailback.
Thompson was also named to the Sports Illustrated All-America first team while Kikaha earned second team and Shelton honorable mention from SI.
Finally Tuesday, freshman safety Budda Baker, who started all 13 games in 2014, earned a spot on the USA Today Freshman All-America first team (see link).
The Huskies will spend much of the current week on the practice field before taking a break for the holidays. They'll reconvene in Arizona for the TicketCity Cactus Bowl Jan. 2 vs. Oklahoma State at Sun Devil Stadium.
Seniors Hau'oli Kikaha and Danny Shelton and junior Shaq Thompson were honored today by the AP with Kikaha at linebacker, Shelton at defensive tackle and Thompson as an all-purpose player.
It had been 12 years since a Husky player was named to the AP All-America first team (Reggie Williams, 2002) and 17 seasons since more than one player made it (Olin Kruetz and Benji Olson in 1997). The only other occasions on which two Husky players made the AP first team were in 1991 (Mario Bailey and Steve Emtman) and 1982 (Chuck Nelson and Mark Stewart).
Kikaha, a senior from Hau'ula, Hawai'i, is the NCAA leader in sacks, with 18. He's set UW records for season and career sacks and single-season tackles for loss and yards. Kikaha was a finalist for five national postseason awards and is just one All-America selection (from the coaches, writers or The Sporting News) away from consensus All-America status, having already made the Walter Camp first team.
Shelton, a senior from Auburn, Wash., is widely considered the most dominant defensive lineman at the UW since Emtman. Despite nearly constant double teams, he's second on the Huskies with 89 total tackles and has 16.5 for a loss, including 9.5 sacks.
Thompson, a junior from Sacramento, Calif., won the Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player. Thompson scored four defensive touchdowns as a linebacker and also rushed for 100 yards in each of his two starts at tailback.
Thompson was also named to the Sports Illustrated All-America first team while Kikaha earned second team and Shelton honorable mention from SI.
Finally Tuesday, freshman safety Budda Baker, who started all 13 games in 2014, earned a spot on the USA Today Freshman All-America first team (see link).
The Huskies will spend much of the current week on the practice field before taking a break for the holidays. They'll reconvene in Arizona for the TicketCity Cactus Bowl Jan. 2 vs. Oklahoma State at Sun Devil Stadium.
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