Dec. 2, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has released its 2005 All-American team and a pair of Maryland Terrapins are on the list. Senior LB D'Qwell Jackson and TE Vernon Davis become the first AFCA All-Americans at the school since E.J. Henderson in 2002.
Notably, just one other time in school history has the school had a pair of first team All-Americans in the same season as Dick Modzelewski and Jack Scarbath were consensus picks in 1952. Until this year, Maryland has never had two selections to the AFCA All-American team in the same season while Davis and Jackson are, respectively, the seventh and eighth Terps ever named to an AFCA team.
Jackson's selection comes in the same week that he was named Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He was a second team All-American by Collegefootballnews.com after leading the ACC in tackles, but this year -- his second leading the league -- was his first being named first team to a major All-American list.
Davis had a breakout year in 2005, leading the Terrapins in receiving (51 receptions, 871 yards, six TDs) while finishing the regular season as the ACC's leader in receiving yards per game at 79.2. He is one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award, an honor bestowed upon the nation's top tight end.
The AFCA's Division I-A All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's nine I-A districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The Association does not pick a second team, thus, any player selected is technically a first team selection.
The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts, that information, along with ballots submitted by I-A head coaches, are used to select the AFCA I-A Coaches' All-America Team.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945.
For the entire AFCA list and press release, click HERE.
