SI.com Names Four Frogs All-Americans
12/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 15, 2009
NEW YORK -- SI.com has announced TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes and center Jake Kirkpatrick as first-team All-Americans with quarterback Andy Dalton and offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse receiving honorable-mention accolades.
TCU and Alabama are the only schools with more than one first-team selection.
Hughes is just the second two-time consensus All-American in TCU history, joining center Darrell Lester from the 1934-35 campaigns. Hughes is the 2009 recipient of the Lott Trophy and Ted Hendricks Award. He has 11 1/2 sacks among 15 tackles for loss as TCU tops the nation in defense for the fourth time in the last 10 seasons.
Kirkpatrick was one of six finalists for the Rimington Trophy, presented to the nation's top center. He did not play football until his senior year of high school and is in his first season as a starter. The junior from Tyler, Texas, sets the blocking scheme on every play for the Horned Frogs and did not allow a sack this season.
Dalton, the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year, ranks fourth nationally in pass efficiency with a 159.59 rating. He is also one of 10 finalists for the Manning Award, honoring the nation's top quarterback. Dalton has 29 career victories as a starting quarterback, tying him with Slingin' Sammy Baugh for the most in TCU history.
Dalton received votes for the Heisman Trophy. He has completed a TCU single-season record 62.4 percent of his passes with 22 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He is fourth on the team with 522 yards rushing on a 4.9 per carry mark.
Newhouse, who has started all but one game over the last three seasons, helps anchor an offensive line that has paved the way for TCU to rank in the top-five nationally in scoring offense (40.7 points per game), total offense (469.1 yards per game) and rushing offense (256.5 yards per game).
The Horned Frogs have set single-season school records for points scored (488) and total offense (5,629 yards).
