Temple University Athletics
Matakevich Adds AutoNation FWAA First Team All-America Honors
12.14.15 | Football, T. Matakevich - All-American Candidate
PHILADELPHIA – Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich has been named first team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). The senior has had quite a week, winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award – both given to the nation's best defensive player. He also garnered first team All-America by Associated Press, USA Today and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Matakevich was the only player from the American Athletic Conference to garner first team recognition on the 2015 AutoNation FWAA All-America Team and, was just one of two players from outside the Power 5 conferences - Northern Illinois defensive back Shawun Lurry (Mid-American Conference) – to make its first-team.
Since 1945, the FWAA All-America Team has been among the five teams used to formulate the NCAA's annual consensus All-America team, which will be announced Thursday. Since the 2002 season, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press, Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation have joined the FWAA as the five designated selectors by the NCAA.
Matakevich is the first-ever Temple defensive player to earn first-team All-America honors and the first at any position to earn the nod since Paul Palmer in 1986. He also was the recipient of the Walter Camp Football Foundation Connecticut Player of the Year award. Matakevich, the American Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, is also a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and Senior CLASS Award.
The Stratford, Conn., native is the only FBS players to lead his team in tackles every game of the 2015 season. He is college football's active leader with 481 career tackles, and is ninth all-time on the NCAA career list. This season, Matakevich has racked up 126 total tackles, and became just the seventh college football player to have four seasons over 100 tackles. He also leads the nation in interceptions among linebackers with a career-high five and also reached career-highs in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (15.0).
Matakevich and the Owls will wrap up the 2015 season in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl against Toledo on Tuesday, December 22. Kickoff is 7:00 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN. For tickets and package information, visit owlstix.com.
2015 AUTONATION FWAA ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB - Deshaun Watson, Clemson
RB - Dalvin Cook, Florida State; Leonard Fournette, LSU; Derrick Henry, Alabama
WR - Corey Coleman, Baylor; Josh Doctson, TCU
OL - Spencer Drango, Baylor; Joshua Garnett, Stanford; Jason Spriggs, Indiana; Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
C - Ryan Kelly, Alabama
DEFENSE
DL - Myles Garrett, Texas A&M; Shaq Lawson, Clemson; Carl Nassib, Penn State; A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
LB - Tyler Matakevich, Temple; Reggie Ragland, Alabama; Joe Schobert, Wisconsin
DB - Jeremy Cash, Duke; Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida; Desmond King, Iowa; Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois
SPECIALISTS
K - Ka'imi Fairbairn, UCLA
P - Tom Hackett, Utah
KR - Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
PR - William Likely, Maryland
Matakevich was the only player from the American Athletic Conference to garner first team recognition on the 2015 AutoNation FWAA All-America Team and, was just one of two players from outside the Power 5 conferences - Northern Illinois defensive back Shawun Lurry (Mid-American Conference) – to make its first-team.
Since 1945, the FWAA All-America Team has been among the five teams used to formulate the NCAA's annual consensus All-America team, which will be announced Thursday. Since the 2002 season, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press, Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation have joined the FWAA as the five designated selectors by the NCAA.
Matakevich is the first-ever Temple defensive player to earn first-team All-America honors and the first at any position to earn the nod since Paul Palmer in 1986. He also was the recipient of the Walter Camp Football Foundation Connecticut Player of the Year award. Matakevich, the American Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, is also a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and Senior CLASS Award.
The Stratford, Conn., native is the only FBS players to lead his team in tackles every game of the 2015 season. He is college football's active leader with 481 career tackles, and is ninth all-time on the NCAA career list. This season, Matakevich has racked up 126 total tackles, and became just the seventh college football player to have four seasons over 100 tackles. He also leads the nation in interceptions among linebackers with a career-high five and also reached career-highs in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (15.0).
Matakevich and the Owls will wrap up the 2015 season in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl against Toledo on Tuesday, December 22. Kickoff is 7:00 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN. For tickets and package information, visit owlstix.com.
2015 AUTONATION FWAA ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB - Deshaun Watson, Clemson
RB - Dalvin Cook, Florida State; Leonard Fournette, LSU; Derrick Henry, Alabama
WR - Corey Coleman, Baylor; Josh Doctson, TCU
OL - Spencer Drango, Baylor; Joshua Garnett, Stanford; Jason Spriggs, Indiana; Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
C - Ryan Kelly, Alabama
DEFENSE
DL - Myles Garrett, Texas A&M; Shaq Lawson, Clemson; Carl Nassib, Penn State; A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
LB - Tyler Matakevich, Temple; Reggie Ragland, Alabama; Joe Schobert, Wisconsin
DB - Jeremy Cash, Duke; Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida; Desmond King, Iowa; Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois
SPECIALISTS
K - Ka'imi Fairbairn, UCLA
P - Tom Hackett, Utah
KR - Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
PR - William Likely, Maryland
Players Mentioned
LB
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