Tag: All-American

All-Time Gators Men’s Basketball Bio: Scottie Wilbekin 2010-14

Wilbekin was a part of four-straight Elite 8 teams and went from being a defense-first role player to the premier player in the conference.

Scottie Wilbekin wasn’t supposed to be a dominant college basketball player. He wasn’t supposed to be an important cog in one of the most prolific four years of Florida basketball history. Just a two-star local prospect from The Rock School, he wasn’t highly sought after and wasn’t expected to make major contributions to the Gators.

But he steadily improved every year, and by the time his days in Gainesville were done, he was one of the most valuable players in the entire country and was a key component in leading UF to its first Final Four appearance since 2007.

Wilbekin started his career at Florida heading into the 2010-11 season. Early on, he struggled with his offensive game but shined as a passer and defender. His freshman season, he played in 37 games (starting one) and averaged 2.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists. His 61-28 assist-to-turnover ratio was the best on the team, and he nabbed 36 steals as the Gators made it to the first of four-straight Elite Eights during Wilbekin’s career, which they lost to Butler.

His sophomore season, his role was once again largely that of a backup. He played in all 37 games, again making just one start. Despite a decrease in minutes, he slightly improved his points average from 2.4 to 2.6. He began to develop his outside shot, leading the team in three-point percentage at 45.7 percent. Florida returned to the Elite Eight in 2011-12, but lost again at the hands of eventual-champion Louisville.

His junior year was when he really took off, though. He became a starter, starting 29 of 35 games that he appeared in. His points average increased markedly to 9.1 and dished 174 assists, the fifth-best single-season mark in program history. He was named to the SEC All-Defensive team with 53 steals and was an All-SEC honorable mention. He also had the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league. Still, UF couldn’t get past the Elite Eight for the third-straight season, this time falling to Michigan.

As a senior in 2013-14, Wilbekin was part of a quartet of seniors — along with Casey Prather, Will Yeguete and Patric Young — that led the Gators past the Elite Eight hump and on to the Final Four. Wilbekin had career-highs in points (13.1 per game) and steals (56 on the season). For his efforts, he was named the SEC Player of the Year, as well as cracking All-American, All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive lists. When the Gators won the SEC Tournament with just two losses on the entire season, Wilbekin was named its MVP.

UF returned to the Elite Eight, but this time got past it, beating No. 11 seed Dayton. In the Final Four matchup against Connecticut, Wilbekin was limited by injuries, and with its leader not at 100 percent, Florida struggled accordingly, eventually suffering a 63-53 loss to the Huskies, who went on to beat Kentucky in the National Championship.

Despite his prolific college career, Wilbekin went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, signing with the Cairns Taipans of the NBL in Australia after short stints on the summer league rosters for Memphis and Philadelphia. Wilbekin was one of the best players in the league that season, leading the Taipans to a runner-up finish and being named the club’s MVP.

After that season, he joined the Greek team AEK. In just nine games with the team, he averaged eight points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He first played with the Orlando Magic during the summer in 2015, and though he resigned with the Taipans, he opted out of that deal after another summer stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, getting signed to the team’s active roster on a four-year deal. However, he was cut after playing in five preseason games.

He signed with Turkish team Darüşşafaka of the EuroLeague, where he played three seasons, leading it to the playoffs in 2016-17. He also played for the Turkish National Team in 2018 after receiving a Turkish passport. During the EuroCup regular season in 2017-18, Wilbekin was named the league MVP. After Darüşşafaka won the championship, he was also named the EuroCup Finals MVP.

After that season, he signed a two-year deal with Israeli Euro League team Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he has played ever since. Now a veteran, he has become one of the most dominant players in the Euro League. This past January, he signed a three-year extension with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Wilbekin was a part of four-straight Elite Eight teams and went from being a defense-first role player as a freshman to the premier player in the conference as a senior. Though he never made it in the NBA, that alone is more than enough to make Wilbekin one of the top players from the late-Billy Donovan era.

Countdown to Texas football: Best to wear No. 55

In returning to the countdown to kickoff series, Longhorns Wire remembers the best wear number 55 Connor Williams.

We are 55 days away from the scheduled kickoff of the 2020 college football season. Despite the Big Ten and PAC 12 announcing conference only schedules, the Big 12 remains with a full slate of games for most of their teams. The Longhorns still have South Florida, Louisiana State and Texas-El Paso on the schedule. In continuing the kickoff series, Longhorns Wire looks at the best to wear number 55. Currently Willie Tyler wears the number. He redshirted his sophomore year in 2019 after transferring from Iowa Western Community College.

Connor Williams, Offensive Tackle (2015-17)

JKevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Connor Williams played three season for the Texas Longhorns before entering into the 2018 NFL Draft and forfeiting his remaining eligibility. He played and started 28 games during that time. He would start every game at left tackle as a freshman. He would earn Freshman All-American honors from three publications for his play.

In his sophomore season, Williams would be even better. He would start 11 games at left tackle for Texas. He earned consensus first team All-American honors. He became only the fourth sophomore in Longhorns history to earn that honor. The others were Earl Thomas, Hub Bechtol and Russell Erxleben.

As a junior in 2017, Williams found himself on the Maxwell Trophy, Outland Trophy and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watchlists in the preseason. He would be listed on the pre-season All-American team as well as All-Big 12. He would only start five games that year due to injuries. He would declare for the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Dallas area native would get to stay home when the Dallas Cowboys selected him in the second round. In two years for the Cowboys, Williams played in 24 games, starting 21. He would be named starter at left guard his rookie year. In his second season, Connor would start 11 games and missed time due to arthroscopic knee surgery. Upon his return he would tear his ACL and be placed on the injured reserve.

Heading into 2020, Williams will once again have to battle for a starting spot with another Connor coming off injury. Williams and McGovern are both vying for starting roles at either center or left guard.

Accomplishments:

  • 2015 Freshman All-American
  • 2016 Consensus All-American
  • 2016 First-team All-Big 12
  • 2018 NFL Draft second round selection
  • 2017 Outland Trophy Semifinalist

USC All-American linebacker Damon Bame passed away

Damon Bame was an All-American who played guard and linebacker for the USC Trojans in 1962 and 1963.

Former USC Trojan Damon Bame, a two-time All-American and member of the 1962 national championship squad, has passed away from heart disease.

He was 77 years old.

Bame joined the Trojans as a transfer from Glendale Junior College in 1962. He lettered as both a guard on offense and a linebacker on defense over the next two seasons.

Bame was named an All-American in both seasons at USC, while also garnering All-Conference awards and being named USC’s linemen of the year award in both years.

Bame was instrumental in USC’s 11-0 season in 1962, which ended with a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin. He had four interceptions that season, and was part of a defense that allowed just 92 total points all season, an average of 8.4 points per game.

Bame ended up becoming an assistant football coach, working at San Jose State, Long Beach State and New Mexico while also working a stint in the World Football League with the Hawaii team.

He ended up serving as a high school head football coach for a few years as well before working in the recycling industry before retirement.

Our condolences go out to Bame and his family.

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Lindy’s Names Notre Dame’s Offensive Line Best in Country

As college football presumably creeps closer to a new season, it’s time for the outside experts to rank everything possible.

As college football presumably creeps closer to a new season, it’s time for the outside experts to rank everything possible. That includes the best units at every position. In the opinion of at least one publication, Notre Dame is the best in one area.

In its annual preview issue, Lindy’s has ranked Notre Dame as having the best offensive line. Bryan Driskell of Irish Illustrated has highlighted the paragraph indicating this honor. The paragraph mentions the five returning starters for the Irish’s unit, four of which are pro prospects: Robert Hainsey, Liam Eichenberg, Tommy Kraemer, Aaron Banks and Jarrett Patterson. Special mention is given to backup Josh Lugg.

Eichenberg already has been named a preseason second team All-American. With him and a few others ranked among the best in the country at their respective positions, it won’t be shocking if a few more media outlets follow suit in high praise for the O-line. Regardless, if this unit is as good as advertised, Ian Book’s going to have an easy final season in South Bend.

DeVonta Smith named Walter Camp preseason 1st team All-American

On Thursday, Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith was named to Walter Camp’s preseason All-American list. 

On Thursday, Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith was named to Walter Camp’s preseason All-American list.

Devonta Smith recorded an impressive 68 receptions for 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns, one of which sparked a second-half comeback against the Michigan Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl last season.

Jan 7, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) catches a pass against Clemson Tigers cornerback A.J. Terrell (8) during the third quarter during the 2019 College Football Playoff Championship game at Levi’s Stadium. Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Last year, Smith split reps with Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy, both of which were first-round draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. This has the potential to be Smith’s best season yet.

Alabama also had five players named to Walter Camp’s second-team preseason All-Americans list as well: running back Najee Harris, linebacker Dylan Moses, cornerback Patrick Surtain, left tackle Alex Leatherwood, and kick returner/wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

Alabama’s six total players named to both the first and second team All-American lists were the most of any school.

Here are the full lists of the  2020 Walter Camp preseason All-America Teams

First Team Offense

WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU

WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama

TE Kyle Pitts, Florida

OL Penei Sewell, Oregon

OL Cole Van Lanen, Wisconsin

OL Samuel Cosmi, Texas

OL Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma

OL Wyatt Davis, Ohio State

QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State

RB Travis Etienne, Clemson

PK Keith Duncan, Iowa

First Team Defense

DL Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon 6-5

DL Gregory Rousseau, Miami Fla.

DL Marvin Wilson, Florida State

DL Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh

LB Micah Parsons, Penn State

LB Hamilcar Rashed, Oregon State

LB Carlton Martial, Troy

DB Shaun Jolly, Appalachian State

DB Jevon Holland, Oregon

DB Elijah Molden, Washington

DB Derek Stingley, LSU

P Max Duffy, Kentucky

KR Rondale Moore, Purdue

Second Team Offense

WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State

WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State

OL Alex Leatherwood, Alabama

OL Walker Little, Stanford

OL Trey Smith, Tennessee

OL Rashawn Slater, Northwestern

OL Nolan Laufenberg, Air Force

QB Justin Fields, Ohio State

RB Jaret Patterson, Buffalo

RB Najee Harris, Alabama

PK Matt Trickett, Kent State

Second Team Defense

DL Chris Rumph II, Duke

DL Levi Onwuzurike, Washington

DL Carlos Basham, Wake Forest

DL Quincy Roche, Miami (FL)

LB Nick Bolton, Missouri

LB Dylan Moses, Alabama

LB Paddy Fisher, Northwestern

DB Paulson Adebo, Stanford

DB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama

DB Trevon Moehrig, TCU

DB Shaun Wade, Ohio State

P Trenton Gill, North Carolina State

KR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

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Bryce Elder named second team All-American

SP Bryce Elder was named to the Collegiate Baseball 2020 All-American second-team. Elder had four starts, going 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA for UT.

Before Texas’ baseball season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Longhorns were 14-3 and in the midst of a four-game winning streak. Big 12 play was just a week away and Texas was one of the favorites to win the conference.

Starting pitcher Bryce Elder was one of the stars for the Longhorns, being named to the Collegiate Baseball 2020 All-American second-team. Elder had four starts, going 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA.

His best game of the season came in the first game of the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic against No. 11 LSU. Playing at Minute Maid Park, Elder went 6.1 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits. Adding 10 strikeouts, it was his second double-digit strikeout effort, also having 11 against Boise State.

While no Big 12 player made the first team, three others made the second team along with Elder. Relief pitchers Haylen Green of TCU and Micah Dallas of Texas Tech made it, while second baseman Brian Klien from Texas Tech was the only positional player in the team.

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Where are they now: Joe Thomas

The post-draft football lull continues as we continue the “where are they now” series with a look at the college, professional and…

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The post-draft football lull continues as we continue the “where are they now” series with a look at the college, professional and post-football career of legendary offensive tackle Joe Thomas.

Thomas was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin and committed to play for the Badgers after shining as a four-star recruit and the No. 18 offensive line prospect in his class coming out of high school.

He didn’t only play offensive line in high school, though, as he was also ranked by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as a first-team all-state defensive lineman and by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association as the 2002 Defensive Player of the Year.

Thomas then arrived in Madison in 2003 and began his career as a tight end while he added weight and transitioned to the college level.

During the remainder of his college career, 2004-2006, Thomas started for the Badgers at left tackle during a total of 38 contests and finished his time in Madison having been named as a first-team All-American twice, to the first-team All-Big Ten twice and won the Outland Trophy awarded to the nation’s best interior lineman as a senior in 2006.

His college production and NFL Combine results were enough for the Cleveland Browns to draft Thomas No. 3 overall in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Despite the fact that it’s challenging for offensive linemen to enter the public eye as they never touch the football and aren’t drafted in fantasy leagues, especially so for one on a bad team for his whole career, Thomas became widely known as one of the greatest left tackles to ever play the game.

He did this through, over the course of 10.5 years, playing in an NFL record 10,363 consecutive snaps before a tricep tear in 2017 eventually ended his season and his career. That’s playing every snap from when he entered the league, playing his first game in September of 2007 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, to when he got injured on October 22, 2017 against the Tennessee Titans. Ten full seasons and seven weeks of never missing an offensive snap.

There’s a saying that the best ability is availability. Thomas was a perfect embodiment of that statement, impressively doing it at a position where players face contact on every play and often miss time with leg injuries and concussions.

As icing on an impressive cake, Thomas’ 11-year NFL career finished with six All-Pro nominations and ten Pro Bowl appearances, the only offensive lineman ever to do so. During that 11-year career he also allowed only 30 sacks in over 6,600 pass-blocking snaps and was recently named to NFL.com’s 2010’s All-Decade Team along with fellow Badger J.J. Watt.

Though he isn’t eligible for the Hall of Fame until 2023, he will be a sure-fire first ballot nominee as he puts a wrap on one of the greatest careers at his position in the history of the league.

In the two years since his retirement Thomas has lost 50 pounds and has transitioned to work in the NFL media both for Uninterrupted.com, for whom he hosts a podcast with his former teammate Andrew Hawkins, and for NFL Network for whom he’s an NFL analyst and regular contributor to their Thursday Night Football broadcasts.

The embodiment of Wisconsin football, Thomas will soon become only the third Wisconsin representative in the Pro Football Hall of Fame joining Elroy Hirsch and Mike Webster as he continues to work as a member of the NFL media and in close relation to everything football.

Cassius Winston named John R. Wooden Award All-American

Michigan State point guard Cassius Winston has been named a Wooden Award All-American, placing in the top 10 in voting for the award.

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The Wooden Award is college basketball’s highest honor, and the Wooden Award All-American team is comprised of the top ten vote-getters for that award. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced the 2020 John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy’s All-American Team during SportsCenter on ESPN. Cassius Winston was one of those players and received yet another All-American honor.

Winston has already become just the second player in Michigan State history to earn All-American honors in consecutive years, following only Mateen Cleaves.

Here is the entire team:

  • Udoka Azubuike (Kansas)
  • Devon Dotson (Kansas)
  • Malachi Flynn (San Diego State)
  • Luka Garza (Iowa)
  • Markus Howard (Marquette)
  • Filip Petrusev (Gonzaga)
  • Myles Powell (Seton Hall)
  • Payton Pritchard (Oregon)
  • Obi Toppin (Dayton)
  • Cassius Winston (Michigan State)

Azubuike, Garza, Howard, Powell, and Toppin made the top five in Wooden Award voting. Voting took place between March 16 and March 23.

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Cassius Winston named Senior Class Award First-Team All-American

Cassius Winston has been named a First-Team Senior Class Award All-American for his efforts on and off the basketball court.

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We all know how good Cassius Winston is on a basketball court, but the Michigan State point guard is also renowned for his achievements off the court in the community and in the classroom. For his accomplishments both on the court and off of it, Winston has been named a Senior Class Award First-Team All-American.

Here is the entire Senior Class Award All-American First-Team:

  • Udoka Azubuike, Kansas
  • Markus Howard, Marquette
  • Sam Merrill, Utah State
  • Myles Powell, Seton hall
  • Cassius Winston, Michigan State

Winston has been very involved in the local community, taking part in the Miracle League of Mid-Michigan Accessible Trick-or-Treat at local hospitals, participating in Habitat Thru Humanity with Michigan State athletics, being an activist for heart screenings for students at the Heilmann Community Center in Detroit, and he was also a leader on campus in supporting women and helping the campus recover after Michigan State’s sexual assault and abuse scandal back in 2018.

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Cassius Winston named Second-Team All-America by NABC

The National Association of Basketball Coaches has named Cassius Winston a Second-Team All-American. Read more details here.

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The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) has announced its selections for the 2019-20 All- America Team. This year, Cassius Winston has been named to the second-team. He joins Devon Dotson from Kansas, Malachi Flynn from San Diego State, Filip Petrusev from Gonzaga, and Myles Powell from Seton Hall.

Yet again, Cassius Winston finds himself ranked amongst the elite talent in college basketball. There are only two other Big Ten players on these All-America teams. This includes Iowa’s Luka Garza (First-Team) and Maryland’s Jalen Smith (Third-Team).

Remember, the NABC recently released its All-District Teams selections and Cassius Winston was named to the First-Team in District 7. You can check out the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-America teams here.

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