Four Aggies Named Freshman All-Americans

by Beergut on Dec 9, 2009 2:04 PM CST Comment 13 comments

Three Aggie true freshmen have been named freshman All-Americans following the 2009 regular season. Wide receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu has been named freshman All-American by Phil Steele (first team) and CollegeFootballNews (third team). RB Christine Michael, the Big 12 offensive freshman of the year, has been named to the third team freshman All-American team by both Phil Steele and CFN. Offensive guard Patrick Lewis, a true freshman from Louisiana, was named to the second team freshman All-American offense by CFN.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Kyle Mangan was named to the CFN freshman All-American third-team defense. Mangan finished the season with 63 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. With Mangan and Michael Hodges manning the middle, our two-deep is set for the next few years at middle linebacker.

The accolades for EZ and Michael were somewhat expected, because they have been phenomenal this season, but seeing Lewis receive some recognition for his stellar play is a nice change. The offensive line solidified after Lewis was made a starter before the Texas Tech game, and Lewis was a mauler in the middle, helping make the interior line a strength for the Aggie offense. The Aggies rushed for an average of 190.4 yards per game, and Lewis helped pave the way for that ground game. In the six games preceding Lewis being named a starter, the offensive line gave up 16 sacks, including 10 combined in the two games preceding Tech, against Oklahoma State and Kansas State . After Lewis was named a starter, the line gave up 11 sacks for the rest of the year, and that was with playing two of the top defenses in the nation in Oklahoma and texas. Clearly, the Lousiana Mauler has become an integral part of our offensive line, and will be fun to watch the next three years in Aggieland.

I honestly can't remember the last time we had four freshmen make an All-American team. The accolades and recognition these players are receiving should answer any questions people had about Coach Sherman's ability to recruit; more importantly, it means the future is bright for the Aggie football team.

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Great to see some young A&M players receive accolades. It makes for a hopeful future.

by ambivalent on Dec 9, 2009 2:19 PM CST reply actions

Not to bash our own players, but I’m not sold on Hodges. He is decent against the run but really struggles against the pass. Mangan is the opposite although his play against the run is improving. Lewis will be a NFL player. He is an example of one the gurus got right.

by miketag on Dec 9, 2009 3:15 PM CST via mobile reply actions

fuller + ez = scary

i think a valid argument could be made that a&m will have the best receivung core in the country next year. everything is in place for yall to make a&m a national power, its just a matter of taking that next step

by wishiwasalonghorn on Dec 9, 2009 3:48 PM CST reply actions

The offense should be great with those two and Tannehill at receiver, Johnson as QB, and Michael/Gray in the backfield. The O line came together near the end of the season and will only improve with an extra month of practice + summer in S&C. A&M appears to be recruiting a great O line class. The O line was a huge deficiency the past couple of years, but it looks to be well on its way to recovery.

The defense should be improved in 2010, but they will likely still give up some scary yards next season against good teams. Still, the future looks brighter and there looks to be far fewer questions going into 2010 compared to going into 2009.

by ambivalent on Dec 9, 2009 3:53 PM CST up reply actions

I think national power may be overstating it,

but A&M definitely has a great group of talented you players on offense. I’m outright envious of that trio of WR’s. And Johnson should be everybody’s All-American next year. I certainly can’t think of anyone I’d put in front of him.

The defense, now that is a different story…

by ctex80 on Dec 9, 2009 4:52 PM CST up reply actions

forgot bout tannehill

he is great too. i am no aggie fan and love watching them loose like any true horn fan, but im a realist as well. most people, including some aggie fans, may think im crazy for saying this, but johnson could be the # 1 qb taken in next years draft. add that with the possibility of miller returning, who, in my oppinion, is the most underated defensive player in the country (how someone gets 17 sacks and goes relatively unnoticed on the national scene is beyond me) and aggie land could be on the verge of something special. …………………

by wishiwasalonghorn on Dec 9, 2009 4:42 PM CST reply actions

Just need to get better on the lines. I think our secondary will be much improved next year which will help the defense immensely

by miketag on Dec 9, 2009 5:06 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Next year certaintly could be a chance for us to rise up and take a shot at winning the South

of course, the defense has to come a good, long ways for that to happen

Feliz says his greatest thrill was striking out Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz, one of his heroes. Yet, when he called to tell his parents, his mother had a request: Strike out New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, too.
"So when I did that," Feliz says, "I told my mom, 'There you go. There's your present. Don't ask me to strike anyone else out, OK?'

by blalock84 on Dec 10, 2009 12:53 AM CST up reply actions

If you look at who is returning, OU and A&M look like they have an advantage over everyone. I expect OU to be picked by most to win the south followed by tu then A&M

by miketag on Dec 10, 2009 1:23 AM CST reply actions

Yeah i see A&M taking OSU’s spot as the dark horse of the south next season. If A&M gets over the wild inconsistency of this year which comes with youth. Then A&M could be scary good on offense and at least middle of the pack on d. We have the talent and were recruiting more. I think sherman is making the moves well see how next year works out.

by The Calvinator on Dec 10, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions