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Scout Freshman AA Team

Freshman All-Americans

By Jamie Newberg
National Recruiting Analyst
Posted Nov 26, 2007

How do you select the National Freshman Player of the Year when you have two record setters at wide receiver and a signal caller that leads the nation in passing efficiency? The answer, you put it to a vote for the Scout.com recruiting team.

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree just edged out Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin as the Scout.com Freshman Player of the Year. This super trio also leads our Scout.com All Freshman Team.

Crabtree, 6-3 and 208 pounds, had one of the greatest seasons ever for a wide receiver, catching an astounding 125 passes for 1,861 yards and 21 touchdowns. He led all receivers in receptions, yardage and touchdowns. In the process Crabtree shattered a slew of Red Raider receiving records and also became the first freshman finalist of the Biletnikoff Award, which is awarded annually to college football's best wide receiver.

Maclin, 6-1 and 185 pounds, finished the '07 season as the freshman national record holder in all-purpose yardage with 2,509 yards and was 2nd overall in NCAA averaging 209 all-purpose yards per game. He rushed for 309 yards and four touchdowns, caught 69 passes for 954 yards and nine touchdowns, averaged 13.6 yards per punt return with two for touchdowns, and averaged 24.3 yards per kick return with another touchdown.

Bradford, 6-4 and 214 pounds, led the NCAA in passing efficiency (182.2) after leading the Sooners to 10 wins and the Big 12 South title after throwing for 2,670 yards, 32 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions while completing 70% of his passes. Crabtree, Maclin, and Bradford are all from the Big 12 Conference.

Perhaps the freshman that had the most dominating second half to the season was Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno. Moreno, 5-11 and 207 pounds, became the 10th running back in Georgia history to rush for over 1,000. He finished with 1,273 yards (5.3 ypc) and scored 12 touchdowns.

Moreno is one first team running back. The other slot went to Pitt. sensation LeSean McCoy. McCoy, 5-11 and 200 pounds, had the second best freshman rushing season ever in Big East history after running for 1,180 yards. He also established a freshman scoring record with 14 touchdowns.

The front line is spearheaded by Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski. He started 8 of 11 games and had 26 receptions, for 496 yards and 5 touchdowns. Tackles Lee Ziemba (Arkansas) and Trinton Sturdivant (Georgia), guard Clint Boling (Georgia) and Kai Maiava (Colorado) and center Kristofer O’Dowd (USC) make up the first team offensive line.

Defensively, the Scout.com Freshman All-American team is also led by a trio, a threesome from the Northeast in Connecticut linebackers Scott Lutrus (98 tackles) and Lawrence Wilson (106 tackles) and Buffalo safety Davonte Shannon (123 tackles). The three of them have a combined total of 327 tackles.

Other student-athletes on the first team defense are safety Eric Berry (Tennessee), cornerbacks Omar Bolden (Arizona State), linebacker Greg Jones (Michigan State), defensive tackle Colby Whitlock (Texas Tech) and defensive end Cameron Heyward (Ohio State). Defensive end Everson Griffen (USC), Scout.com’s number one over high school prospect in the class of 2007, also made the first team along with defensive tackle Marvin Austin (North Carolina).

The Scout.com 2nd Team is led by Washington quarterback Jake Locker, Oklahoma running back Demarco Murray, and Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn.



First-Team All-Americans
Offense

QB Sam Bradford Oklahoma
RS Freshman 6-4/214
Bradford led the NCAA in passing efficiency (182.2) after leading the Sooners to 10 wins and the Big 12 South title after throwing for 2,670 yards, 32 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions while completing 70% of his passes.

RB Knowshon Moreno Georgia
RS Freshman 5-11/207
Moreno became the 10th RB in Georgia history to rush for over 1,000. He finished with 1,273 yards (5.3 ypc) and scored 12 touchdowns.

RB LeSean McCoy Pittsburgh
Freshman 5-11/200
McCoy had the second best freshman rushing season ever in Big East history after running for 1,180 yards. He also established a freshman scoring record with 14 touchdowns.

WR Michael Crabtree Texas Tech
RS Freshman 6-3/208
Crabtree had one of the greatest seasons for a wide receiver in the history of the college game, catching 125 passes for 1,861 yards and 21 touchdown passes. In the process Crabtree shattered a bunch of Red Raider receiving records. He also became the first freshman finalist of the Bilentnikoff Award.

WR Jeremy Maclin Missouri
RS Freshman 6-1/185
Maclin finished the '07 season as the freshman national record holder in all-purpose yardage with 2,509 yards and was 2nd overall in NCAA averaging 209 all-purpose yards per game. He rushed for 309 yards and 4 touchdowns, caught 69 passes for 954 yards and 9 touchdowns, averaged 13.6 yards per punt return (2 touchdowns), and averaged 24.3 yards per kick return (1 touchdown).

TE Rob Gronkowski Arizona
Freshman 6-6/250
Gronkowski started 8 of 11 games and had 26 receptions, for 496 yards and 5 touchdowns.

OT Trinton Sturdivant Georgia
Freshman 6-5/293
Sturdivant was the first true freshman OT to start the opening game since 1989. He started all 12 games this season.

OT Lee Ziemba Auburn
Freshman 6-8/297
Ziemba started all 12 games for the Tigers at RT. He has graded out at 80+% in most of Auburn's games this season.

OG Kai Maiava Colorado
Freshman 6-0/295
Maiava started final 7 games, recording 68 knockdown blocks in eight games.

OG Clint Boling Georgia
Freshman 6-5/290
Boiling started the final 9 games at right guard and was part of an offensive line unit that only gave up one sack per game.

C Kristofer O'Dowd USC
Freshman 6-5/290
O'Dowd became the first true freshman to start at USC at center ever and only the third true freshmen to start on the Trojan OL since WWII. He has missed four games because of a knee injury.

K Thomas Weber Arizona State
RS Freshman 6-1/202
Weber was 19/20 on field goal attempts this season with a long of 53.

KR Antonio Brown Central Michigan
Freshman 5-11/175
Brown had 35 kick returns for 969 yards (27.7 average) and 1 touchdown. He also caught 92 passes for 879 yards and 5 scores.

Defense

DE Everson Griffin USC
Freshman 6-3/265
Griffen recorded 20 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

DE Cameron Heyward Ohio State
Freshman 6-6/282
Heyward played in 12 games recording 30 tackles, 9 TFL, 2.5 sacks, and1 forced fumble.

DT Marvin Austin North Carolina
Freshman 6-3/295
Austin recorded 26 tackles, 6 TFL, and 4 sacks.

DT Colby Whitlock Texas Tech
Freshman 6-2/281
Whitlock played in 12 games with 8 starts, recording 42 tackles, 8.5 TFL, and 2 sacks.

LB Greg Jones Michigan State
Freshman 6-1/220
Jones led Spartans in tackles with 73. He also recorded 7.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks.

LB Lawrence Wilson Connecticut
RS Freshman 6-1/220
Wilson was 2nd on the team in tackles with 106. He also had 7.5 TFL and 1 INT.

LB Scott Lutrus Connecticut
RS Freshman 6-3/220
Lutrus recorded 98 tackles, 8 TFL, 4 INT (2 returned for TDs), and 1 sack this season.

S Eric Berry Tennessee
Freshman 5-11/195
Berry had 76 tackles, 10 games, 4 INTs (1 for TD),and 1 fumble recovery. Leads nation in interception return yardage and leads all freshman in the SEC in tackles.

S Davonte Shannon Buffalo
Freshman 6-1/180
Shannon led Buffalo with 123 tackles, 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 3 INTs, 7 pass break ups, and 3 forced fumbles.

CB Donovan Warren Michigan
Freshman 6-0/173
Warren played in 12 games, 49 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 4 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles.

CB Omar Bolden Arizona State
Freshman 5-11/200
Bolden emerged as a super cover man, often drawing the opposition's top WR. He finished with 24 tackles and 1 INT.

P Keenyn Crier Arizona
RS Freshman 6-1/200
Crier is one of ten Ray Guy finalists after averaging 44.8 yards per punt, 17 inside 20. He has a long of 83 yards this season.

PR David Gilreath Wisconsin
Freshman 5-11/160
Gilreath had 21 punt returns for 343 yards (14.9 average).


Second-Team All-Americans

Offense
QB Jake Locker Washington RS Freshman
RB DeMarco Murray Oklahoma RS Freshman
RB Harvey Unga BYU RS Freshman
WR Arrelious Benn Illinois Freshman
WR Marcus Barnett Cincinnati RS Freshman
TE Wesley Saunders South Carolina Freshman
OL Ryan Miller Colorado Freshman
OL Maurkice Pouncey Florida Freshman
OL Anthony Davis Rutgers Freshman
OL Anthony Castonzo Boston College Freshman
OL Steve Schilling Michigan RS Freshman
K Wes Bynum Auburn Freshman
KR Max Suter Syracuse Freshman

Defense
DE Paul Kruger Utah RS Freshman
DE Greg Romeus Pittsburgh RS Freshman
DT Ladi Ajiobye South Carolina RS Freshman
DT Brian Price UCLA Freshman
LB Rennie Curren Georgia Freshman
LB Obi Ezeh Michigan RS Freshman
LB Rolando McClain Alabama Freshman
S Morgan Burnett Georgia Tech Freshman
S Chad Jones LSU Freshman
CB Kareem Jackson Alabama Freshman
CB Tavious Polo Florida Atlantic RS Freshman
P Rob Long Syracuse Freshman
PR Dominique Franks Oklahoma RS Freshman


Honorable Mention:
QB Trevor Vittatoe (UTEP), QB Giovanni Vizza (North Texas), RB Nick Grigsby (Arizona), RB Terry Grant (Alabama), RB Josh Adams (Wake Forest), RB Graig Cooper (Miami), WR Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas), WR Trae Johnson (Tulsa), OL Ryan Pugh (Auburn), OL Chaz Ramsey (Auburn), OL Colin Baxter (Arizona), OL Chris Davis (Georgia), OL Rodney Hudson (FSU), K Kai Forbath (UCLA), K Daniel Lincoln (Tennessee), DE Kirk DeCremer (Wisconsin), DE Martez Wilson (Illinois), DE Cameron Jordan (Cal.), DE Kirk DeCremer, DT Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma), DT Ian Williams (Notre Dame), DT Ollie Ogbu (Penn State), DT Dexter Larimore (Ohio State), DT Malo Taumua (UNLV), DT Derrick Hill (Cal.), DE Almando Sewell (Akron), LB Mike Tashman (UAB), LB Craig Robertson (North Texas), LB Quan Sturdivant (North Carolina), CB Joe Haden (Florida), CB C.J. Bailey (Southern Miss), CB Ras-I Dowling (Virginia), CB Chima Nwakchukwu (Washington State), CB Chris Conte (Cal.), S Zac Etheridge (Auburn), S Ryan Downard (Eastern Michigan), S Major Wright (Florida), S Joseph Lefeged (Rutgers), S Alex Kube (Northern Illinois), S Deunta Williams (North Carolina).