Gordon, Lewan Named to Freshman All-America Second Team

Very cool.  Good for them.  Bad for donkeys.

Michigan plays No. 21 Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl on New Years Day (Jan. 1, 2011) at 1:30 p.m. in Jacksonville, Fla. The game will be shown to a nationally televised audience by ESPN2.

WE GET TO BE ON TV! :D

/grammar nazi

A little shocked on Gordon, but Lewan certainly deserves the praise, he has the look of something special. I wonder if Gordon made it based on the ol' "starting for a well known power as a freshman" type of thing.

-Aug

Good for them.

I guess this is the Freshman All-American team, so it's not like these are the best overall players in college football.  But I think it's kind of funny that Gordon is kind of an all-star when he was...well...pretty bad at his position for the first half of the year.  I know he ended up with solid numbers and made a few nice plays (the pick against IU, the fumble return against Purdue), but I feel like the voters look at final stats more than actual performance.

Still, it's cool for both of them.  Hopefully they continue to improve in the next few years.

Im not surprised with Lewan, he is a stud. Im pretty surprised with Gordon. I wonder if Vinopal had played the whole season at FS is he would have made the team? Gordon IMO has been much better after he switched positions.

Gordon played better down the stretch, hopefully he continues to improve. Lewan on the other hand is a STUD. There is no doubt in my mind he will be a first round pick. I just cant help but be reminded on Long every time I see him out there.

Their futures are very bright

I was disappointed to not see Lewan's name other day but now he is getting his due.

when they say RR recruits small OL who won't play in the NFL.  Also, Omameh.  Now I can say Freshman All American Lewan (6'8", 300 lbs as a FR)

Congrats to both he and Cam

It's good to see the guys get some recognition for all the hard work they put in. Also, Lewan is a BEAST, and I can't wait to watch him destroy donkeys in the bowl game.

Hmmm...only 2nd team?

It seems like Hagerup may have gotten screwed a little.

A name you can't forget!

Remember when we recruited this guy; Barkevious Mingo!! I'll Never forget that name... He chose LSU over us, he too made the all FROSH team

DE Barkevious Mingo , LSU – Mingo is the kind of elite all-around athlete, who often calls Baton Rouge home for four or five years. Once he sharpens his technique and pass-rushing skills, he’s going to be a nightmare coming off the edge. He used his long frame and long arms to obstruct the other team, making 33 tackles, 5.5 tackles, and 2.5 sacks, while batting down five passes.

Kovacs won it last year.

http://cfn.scout.com/2/927274.html

First Team 

DE Aldon Smith, Missouri – Although it’s early, Aldon appears ready to be the next great Smith to rush the passer in Columbia, joining Justin and Brian, who starred for the Tigers within the last decade. A relative unknown before the season began, he’s erupted for 59 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and five pass break ups. 

DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State – Very quick and athletic for a 6-3, 292-pounder, Worthy has become a fixture on the inside for the Spartans in his first season of action. Playing with the burst and the explosive first step of a defensive end, he’s laid a foundation for an All-Big Ten career with 34 tackles, 8.5 tackles loss, and 4.5 sacks. 

DT Kawann Short, Purdue – The Boilermakers used a slew of young players in this five-win, table-setting season. Short was one of those building blocks. At 6-4 and 310 pounds, he's a big, athletic interior linemen, with the quick first step to get penetration. A starter from day one, he got in on 48 tackles, four behind the line, and intercepted a pair of passes. 

DE Nick Perry, USC – As situational pass rushers go, Perry has gotten off to a fast start in his Trojan career. More like an outside linebacker than a defensive lineman because of his size, speed and get-off, he's regularly frustrated opposing tackles to the tune of 22 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and seven sacks. 

LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College – Somewhere within Kuechly’s brilliant rookie season, there’s a poignant message about silver linings. In an odd twist, his breakthrough year was only made possible after star LB Mark Herzlich was lost to a rare cancer. Kuechly stepped into the gaping void and went on to lead the nation’s freshmen with 142 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss. He’s going to be a very special player...if he isn’t already. 

LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State – As good as advertised, when half of the West Coast sought his signature, Burfict broke into the lineup and made it impossible to keep him off the field. Physically, he’s no true freshman, using his size, strength, and explosiveness to collect 69 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks. He has the unmistakable upside of a future All-American. 

LB Manti Te’o, Notre Dame – Te'o was every bit as talented as the press clippings indicated when he was considered a consensus blue-chipper from Hawaii. After a slow start, he got comfortable and really started to flash all of his athletic ability and penchant for planting opposing players. He finished with 63 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss, clearly getting more comfortable as the season progressed. 

CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina – The rare true freshman to start at cornerback in the SEC, Gilmore possesses the ideal blend of size and athleticism to blossom into a lockdown defender. He had 52 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and nine passes defended, which don't even begin to shed light on just how good he'll be over the next three years. 

S Rashard Hall, Clemson – Even when he doesn’t start a game, Hall has made his presence felt on the Tiger defense this season. A ball-hawk, who breaks on passes like a corner, he’s made 58 tackles and is second behind DeAndre McDaniel with six interceptions. His combination of strength and athleticism are going to set him apart over the next three seasons. 

S John Boyett, Oregon – When injuries struck the Duck secondary early in the season, Boyett was one of the players to step up and solidify it. A former quarterback in high school and terrific athlete, he plays with excellent range and will lower the boom like a linebacker. Even as a part-time starter, he has a team-high 78 tackles and has broken up six passes. 

CB Josh Robinson, UCF – Robinson had opportunities to play in the Big East, ACC, SEC, or Big Ten. However, he felt at home in Orlando, which has been great news for the Knights ever since he arrived. One of the young parts in Conference USA's toughest defenses, he leads the team with six picks and is tied with a team-best 56 solo tackles. 

Special Teams 

PK Nick Tausch, Notre Dame – Tausch wasted little time confirming that he was one of the nation’s top prep placekickers, winning the job in the summer and then solidifying the position in the fall. Prior to injuring his leg and missing most of November, he’d hit all but three of his 17 field goal tries while showing good pop on his kicks. 

P Jeff Locke, UCLA – The ideal successor to Aaron Perez, Locke has displayed the leg strength to keep the Bruins solid here through the 2012 season. The only freshman semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, he’s second in the Pac-10 with a 44-yard average, while leading the league in touchbacks on kickoffs. 

Second Team 

DE Chase Thomas, Stanford
DT Jacobbi McDaniel, Florida State
DT Omar Hunter, Florida
DE Alex Okafor, Texas
LB Steve Greer, Virginia
LB Ronnie Thornton, Southern Miss
LB Chris Borland, Wisconsin
CB Greg Reid, Florida State
S Cody Davis, Texas Tech
S Jordan Kovacs, Michigan
CB Kenny Okoro, Wake Forest

Special Teams

PK Matt Weller, Ohio
P Tress Way, Oklahoma

Third Team

DE Devin Taylor, South Carolina
DT Will Pericak, Colorado
DT Adam Replogle, Indiana
DE Taylor Wyndham, Kentucky
LB Kyle Mangan, Texas A&M
LB Walter Stewart, Cincinnati
LB Brian Wagner, Akron
CB Josh Hill, Cal
S Daren Bates, Auburn
S Drew Frey, Cincinnati
CB Bryan Willis, Troy

i saw this on a Michigan post on FaceBook and i mentioned (amoung mostly completely negative posts about RRod when the post was about our two Freshman award winners) that we as Michigan fans would be seeing more of these kinds of awards next year and for years to come!  i believe that statement, Go Blue beat miss st!