Three Big Ten players named AFCA All-Americans

December 4, 2008 1:23 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The American Football Coaches Association announced its 2008 All-America team today, and three Big Ten players made the list.

Iowa junior running back Shonn Greene, Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis and Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins all were among the honorees. Laurinaitis was selected for the second consecutive season.

Greene ranked second nationally in rushing average (144.1 yards per game). Georgia's Knowshon Moreno edged Michigan State's Javon Ringer for the other spot on the All-America team.

Ohio State has the second most selections (56) to the AFCA All-America team, trailing only Oklahoma, and the Buckeyes have the most repeat winners (13).

2008 AFCA Coaches' All-America Team

Offense
Pos.NameHt.Wt.Cl.SchoolCoachHometown (High School)
WRMichael Crabtree*6-3208So.Texas TechMike LeachDallas, Texas (Carter)
WR Dez Bryant6-2215So.Oklahoma St.Mike GundyLufkin, Texas (Lufkin)
TEChase Coffman6-6255Sr.MissouriGary PinkelPeculiar, Mo. (Raymore-Peculiar)
OL Andre Smith6-4330Jr.AlabamaNick SabanBirmingham, Ala. (Huffman)
OL Brandon Carter6-7350Jr.Texas TechMike LeachLongview, Texas (Spring Hill)
C Antoine Caldwell6-3305Sr.AlabamaNick SabanMontgomery, Ala. (Lee)
OL Michael Oher 6-5318Sr.MississippiHouston NuttMemphis, Tenn. (Briarcrest Christian)
OL Andy Levitre6-3317Sr.Oregon St.Mike RileyBen Lomond, Calif. (San Lorenzo Valley)
QB Graham Harrell6-3205Sr.Texas TechMike LeachEnnis, Texas (Ennis)
RB Knowshon Moreno5-11208So.GeorgiaMark RichtBelford, N.J. (Middletown South)
RB Shonn Greene5-11235Jr.IowaKirk FerentzSicklerville, N.J. (Milford Acad. [Conn.])

Defense
Pos.NameHt.Wt.Cl.SchoolCoachHometown (High School)
DL Brian Orakpo6-4260Sr.TexasMack BrownHouston, Texas (Lamar)
DL Terrence Cody6-5365Jr.AlabamaNick SabanFort Myers, Fla. (Riverdale)
DLGeorge Selvie*6-4242Jr.South FloridaJim LeavittPensacola, Fla. (Pine Forest)
DLMichael Johnson6-7260Sr.Georgia TechPaul JohnsonSelma, Ala. (Dallas County)
LB James Laurinaitis*6-3240Sr.Ohio St.Jim TresselHamel, Minn. (Wayzata)
LB Rey Maualuga6-2260Sr.USCPete CarrollEureka, Calif. (Eureka)
LBBrandon Spikes6-3245Jr.Florida Urban MeyerShelby, N.C. (Crest)
DBEric Berry5-11195So.TennesseePhil FulmerFairburn, Ga. (Creekside)
DBRashad Johnson6-0186Sr.AlabamaNick SabanSulligent, Ala. (Sulligent)
DB Malcolm Jenkins6-1202Sr.Ohio St.Jim TresselPiscataway, N.J. (Piscataway)
DB Alphonso Smith5-9190Sr.Wake ForestJim GrobePahokee, Fla. (Pahokee)

Specialists
Pos.NameHt.Wt.Cl.SchoolCoachHometown (High School)
P Kevin Huber6-1220Sr.CincinnatiBrian KellyCincinnati, Ohio (McNicholas)
PKLouie Sakoda5-9178Sr.UtahKyle WhittinghamSan Jose, Calif. (Branham)
AP Percy Harvin5-11195Jr.FloridaUrban MeyerVirginia Beach, Va. (Landstown)

*-2007 All-American

Big Ten Conference, Shonn Greene, Iowa Hawkeyes, James Laurinaitis, Ohio State Buckeyes, Malcolm Jenkins

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