UW Defensive Trio Earn Preseason All-America Recognition
July 20, 2020 | Football
Washington tied for the second most representatives on Pick Six Previews Defensive All-America team by having three Huskies named to the publication's preseason list. Elijah Molden was named to the first first team, while Levi Onwuzurike earned second-team and Joe Tryon fourth-team recognition.
Additionally, nine Huskies were named to Pick Six Previews All-Pac-12 first, second or third teams.
After 2019, Molden, a senior defensive back from West Linn, Ore., earned second-team All-America from Pro Football Focus, while also making the All-Pac-12 first team and the Academic All-District 8 first team. He started all 13 games, notching 70 tackles and four interceptions during the 2019 season. He was recently named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award watch list, is a candidate for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy and was named preseason All-American by Walter Camp (first team) and Phil Steele (third team).
Onwuzurike, a senior defensive lineman from Allen, Texas, was also a first-team All-Pac-12 pick last season, and was an Academic All-District 8 selection in 2017. He led all UW defensive linemen with 45 tackles in 2019, when he started 12 out of 13 games. Onwuzurike has been named to both the Walter Camp and Phil Steele preseason All-America second team and the Bednarik Watch List.
Tryon, a junior linebacker from Renton, Wash., was named to the All-Pac-12 second team after last season, when he started 12 of 13 games for the Huskies. He finished the 2019 season as the UW leader in tackles for loss (12.5) and sacks (8.0). Tryon is on the Butkus Award watch list and was named to The Phil Steele preseason All-America first team and the Sporting News' preseason All-America second team.
The trio are joined on Pick Six Previews' All-Pac-12 first team by senior outside linebacker Ryan Bowman. Junior tight end Cade Otton and junior offensive lineman Jaxson Kirkland were named to the All-Pac-12 second team, while sophomore wide receiver Puka Nacua, sophomore running back Richard Newton and sophomore defensive back Kyler Gordon were named to the third team.
Additionally, nine Huskies were named to Pick Six Previews All-Pac-12 first, second or third teams.
After 2019, Molden, a senior defensive back from West Linn, Ore., earned second-team All-America from Pro Football Focus, while also making the All-Pac-12 first team and the Academic All-District 8 first team. He started all 13 games, notching 70 tackles and four interceptions during the 2019 season. He was recently named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award watch list, is a candidate for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy and was named preseason All-American by Walter Camp (first team) and Phil Steele (third team).
Onwuzurike, a senior defensive lineman from Allen, Texas, was also a first-team All-Pac-12 pick last season, and was an Academic All-District 8 selection in 2017. He led all UW defensive linemen with 45 tackles in 2019, when he started 12 out of 13 games. Onwuzurike has been named to both the Walter Camp and Phil Steele preseason All-America second team and the Bednarik Watch List.
Tryon, a junior linebacker from Renton, Wash., was named to the All-Pac-12 second team after last season, when he started 12 of 13 games for the Huskies. He finished the 2019 season as the UW leader in tackles for loss (12.5) and sacks (8.0). Tryon is on the Butkus Award watch list and was named to The Phil Steele preseason All-America first team and the Sporting News' preseason All-America second team.
The trio are joined on Pick Six Previews' All-Pac-12 first team by senior outside linebacker Ryan Bowman. Junior tight end Cade Otton and junior offensive lineman Jaxson Kirkland were named to the All-Pac-12 second team, while sophomore wide receiver Puka Nacua, sophomore running back Richard Newton and sophomore defensive back Kyler Gordon were named to the third team.
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