Frogs Place Two On Walter Camp All-America Team
12/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 9, 2010
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- TCU safety Tejay Johnson and center Jake Kirkpatrick have been selected to the first-team Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America team.
The nation's oldest All-America team was announced live Thursday night on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN. Johnson and Kirkpatrick were in attendance in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
It's the first time TCU has had two first-team Walter Camp All-Americans in the same year. It's also the first time the Mountain West Conference has had a member institution with two first-team Walter Camp All-Americans in the same campaign.
TCU, Auburn and Oklahoma State were the only teams with more than one Walter Camp All-American this season.
The Walter Camp All-America team is selected by the head coaches and media relations directors of the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools.
Kirkpatrick is the 2010 recipient of the Rimington Trophy, presented to the nation's best center. Johnson was one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back.
Johnson, who has started TCU's last 37 games, has been singled out by Horned Frog head coach Gary Patterson for his on-field leadership.
A senior from Garland, Texas, Johnson is the anchor of a TCU defense that leads the nation in total defense (215.4 yards) for the third straight season. It represents all three years Johnson has been a starter. The Horned Frogs also rank first in scoring defense (11.4 points), pass defense (126.3 yards), fewest first downs allowed per game (11.3), opponent third-down percentage (21.9) and three-and-outs forced per game (6.4). TCU is third in run defense (89.2 yards).
Johnson ranks third on TCU with 56 tackles. He tops the Horned Frogs with three interceptions while tying for the team lead with three forced fumbles. He also has three pass breakups.
Kirkpatrick sets the blocking scheme on each play for the third-ranked, undefeated and Rose Bowl-bound Horned Frogs.
Kirkpatrick, a senior from Tyler, Texas, is the anchor of a TCU offensive line that paves the way for the Horned Frogs to rank fourth nationally in scoring offense (43.3 points per game), eighth in rushing (261.2 yards per game) and ninth in total offense (491.5 yards per game).
TCU has allowed just nine sacks this season, tied for the seventh-lowest total in the nation.
