Selvie, Jenkins honored as AFCA All-Americans

USF sophomore defensive end George Selvie and senior cornerback Mike Jenkins, who have helped the Bulls to a 9-3 season and Sun Bowl berth, were honored Thursday as first-team All-America selections by the American Football Coaches Association.

More impressively, Selvie and Jenkins were the only Big East players among 25 players honored, and the only players from Florida schools. Selvie is the second-youngest player on the team in terms of class; Texas Tech freshman receiver Michael Crabtree is the only other player who is not a junior or senior.

Selvie leads the nation with 31.5 tackles for loss and ranks second with 14.5 sacks, while Jenkins is one of the nation's top senior cornerbacks and is projected to be a first-round NFL Draft selection in April. Selvie has already been named a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America by virtue of his being named a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, given to the nation's top defensive player. He'll attend the Nagurski awards banquet in Charlotte, N.C., this weekend.

Selvie and Jenkins are the first USF players honored as first-team All-Americans since the Bulls moved to Division I-A football in 2001. Punter Tony Umholtz was named a first-team I-AA All-American by the Associated Press in 1999, and kicker Bill Gramatica was a first-team I-AA honoree by the AFCA in 1998.

Comments

[Brian]

Congratulations to both of these players. I am really glad to see that Mike gained the honor as well.

[RTB]

A testament to not only the hard work of these players, but to the coaching staff that helped in their development and put them in positions where they would be successful.

The fact that no player from the 'big 3' made the selection is another indicator that 'star' recruiting rankings do not an All-American make.

[Sanjay]

Congrats to both guys.

Guess the AFCA was not told that they didn't have enough stars out of high school to qualify.

[Sanjay]

Congrats to both guys.

Guess the AFCA was not told that they didn't have enough stars out of high school to qualify.

[Bigg Tipp]

is there a link?

[Sandro]

Congradulations to both of those guys. They really deserve every award they get.

GO BULLS !!!

[Aaron]

http://www.afca.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9300&ATCLID=1329519

[G.A.]

Aaron beat me to it. Added a link to the story as well. Thanks.

[Adam]

Selvie is the Super Sophomore. Only soph. in the group.

This is huge for Jenkins and Selvie, and also for USF.

[DELdaBULL]

I guess coaches don't know to throw to Jenkins' side of the field. He is such a bad DB (sarcasm).

[andres]

Cee, where you at bud? LOL GO BULLS.... Im excited.... BRING ON USC!!!!! I hope they lose against UCLA. GO BULLS!

[Dave W]

Well earned respect for both guys. I think that this will certainly help "sell" the program to recruits. Come to USF and be an All-American!

It's also funny to notice that Mike made it and Trae didn't, despite Trae having the better stats, on paper. In my opinion, Mike is by far the superior player; and while Trae is good, I think the AFCA got it right.

[steve oneal]

Congrats to both Selvie and Jenkins! A great honor for both of these young men and some nice recognition for the USF program. I guess the AFCA doesn't share the opinions of Cee and Ari. But then again that is no surprise is it? GO BULLS!

[cee]

Great accomplishment for a 1-star recruit. How about Coach Leavitt going after some real athletes...

[steve oneal]

What are real athletes Cee? Would that be ALL AMERICANS, NFL players,what? You are the DUMBEST person to ever post on here. What, are you pissed that none of your players(ucf or wvu,whichever) made All American? It was nice not seeing yoir dumb--s posts on here. We all know you're not a USF grad or fan. Heck you're probably not even a graduate of any university, HCC or any other comm college for that matter. You're lack of common sense or any signs of intelligence is quite evident. GO BULLS!

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I think Trae Williams is better than Jenkins.

Always have always will.

[steve oneal]

What Ari, not even any congrats to Selvie or Jenkins? No props to USF for 1st time 1st team All Americans? You still pissed about the 3 losses? Are you going to El Paso or is it not enough of an accomplishment by our team to go to Sun Bowl? GO BULLS!

[andres]

The funny part about cee is that he hides behind an alias on the internet and trashes the bulls with the inteligence of a 1st grader.... how pathetic can your life get man?

[andres]

Ari, i think it depends on what your running... ill take Mike on 1-1 coverage but in zone ill take Trae... i dont think USF will see a corner tandum like them for a while but that is on discredit to the program... these corners were just that good...

[Ari Hinkelberger]

The true and only first team All America Team is the AP All America team.

We haven't even completed the whole college football season..

I bet Selvie makes that list.. That's the real All America Team. Probably the hardest one to make.

[see]

What's a better accomplishment than first team all-american cee?

oh yeah a BCS title game

Leavitt will get us there with time.

[Dave W]

Before this year, I liked Mike just a little bit more than Trae- I always thought Mike was a better tackler, didn't give up as many big catches, and was faster, whereas Trae made a lot more big plays. In fact, Mike didn't make big plays at all, he was just solid. After this season, where he's had 3 "holy crap" moments- the INT TD, the Kickoff TD, and the Cincy guy he knocked out, I put Mike way over Trae. Mike's bigger, faster, and more technically sound.

That said, Trae still makes more big plays, and andres is right- it'll be a while before we have two incredibly talented guys at CB at the same time. Hopefully Trae gets some honorable mention love somewhere.

[steve oneal]

Ari if Jenkins makes the so called ONLY all American team will they be idiots then also? I think the coaches know just a little bit about the abilities of players. Maybe as much as a journalist, don't you think? I think Trae is also a fine player and should get a chance in NFL. I'm happy anytime a USF player or the program receives recognition for doing well. GO BULLS!

[Ari Hinkelberger]

We are a better football team than Uconn, Rutgers and Cinci..

We shouldn't have lost any of those games.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I am watching this Rutgers UL game and I can't believe we lost to Rutgers. They stink.

Uconn stinks too.

We should have never lost to either of those teams.

Damn Damn

[Tampabaysportsfanatic]

It is tough to go through a season undefeated in college football unless you are Hawaii and play absolutely no one.

[cee]

I am a graduate of USF and a strong financial supporter. This is the reason I'm so upset with CJL for dragging this great institution into the ground with all of these thugs like Selvie.

[Jonny]

1-star recruits that turn into All-Americans are STILL ALL-AMERICANS!

And do you know Selvie? I do. I take great offense to you calling him a thug. I would be willing to bet you don't know him. Why don't you shut your mouth if you're going to be putting out lies and BS about good guys like Selvie...

And Jenkins is a good guy too...

[steve oneal]

ow huge Cee? Me, I'm just a scholar bull level donor. Have been for 7 years, look in any bulls football program and there it is Steve O'Neal. Now if you were any kind of fan you would be happy with the program and the way it is heading. But you are an IMPOSTER and a dumb-ss one at that. What is the basis of your facts alleging Mr. Selvie as a thug? I might be wrong but I've never heard of Selvie getting in trouble. So please enlighten me with your facts about Selvie's criminal thug background. I've asked you in the past what if any sports program at USF is ok in your opinion? Answer the questions with some actual facts or shut your pathetic piehole Mr Money Man big donor. Evidently it isn't enough financial support for anyone at USF to listen to you. GO BULLS and Coach Jim Leavitt!!

[steve oneal]

You go Johnny! Cee has been exposed as a fan of another school who apparently gets all worked up by taunting USF fans. It might even work if he knew his _ss from ahole in the ground. I referenced cee as a fan of another school because he does not exibit much in the way of intelligence(especially for an alleged college grad). GO BULLS and COACH JIM LEAVITT!!

[steve oneal]

Ari you are right. We should not have lost those 3 games but WE DID LOSE THEM! This is still one of the best seasons we have ever had and now a chance to play a pac10 team in the sun bowl. I think that is quite an accomplishment and USF should be congratulated on a great season so far and hopefully we win at sun bowl and it will most definitely be our BEST SEASON(10 wins) so far in our short history. GO BULLS!!

[G.A.]

A player's star rating out of high school has nearly zero relevance to his ability to earn All-America status.

You could argue that a player who is unable to get into a major college would have trouble getting the exposure needed to merit All-America consideration, but George Selvie certainly isn't that player. He got a scholarship to a BCS program, established himself as a starter, then took his game to another level this season.

I'd wager that less than 10 percent of the people voting for Selvie on All-America lists are aware of how many stars he had out of high school. They're voting based on performance on the field in college, which is a far more relevant determination of a player's value and status.

Ari's right, in that the AP All-America team is more recognized, but Selvie made a good point Thursday, saying that he values the opinions of coaches more than he values those of reporters. This isn't an obscure magazine or website posting its A-A team; it's the same coaches who vote to determine the national champion.

And again, if you're going to spell words incorrectly here, they really shouldn't be words like "intelligence."

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I think what will be more interesting is where Grothe stands within the conference teams.

You have four VERY good QB's in Brian Mauk, Pat White, Brian Brohm and Matt Grothe.

Could Grothe actually be "3rd Team All Big-East?"

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Excuse me BEN mauk.

[DELdaBULL]

You go GA. El Paso here I come!

[DELdaBULL]

With the little lady (soon to be wife)!

[Rob]

Who is this cee? Someone needs to ban him. Go Bulls!!!

[G.A.]

Congrats DELdaBULL. I would not expect to see Grothe on first- or second-team all-Big East lists. I'd think Pat White is on most first teams, with Ben Mauk and Brian Brohm battling for second team. Grothe's been invaluable to USF with his passing and running, but his turnovers put him behind the rest of the league's top QBs statistically. Consider total TDs (pass + rush) vs. INTs.

Pat White, WVA: 26-4
Ben Mauk, CIN: 30-6
Brian Brohm, LOU: 33-12
Matt Grothe, USF: 23-12

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I think you are right Greg..

I think the surprise of the league has actually been Ben Mauk. They guy has been a total stud this year.

Have to figure Pat White is going to the be the first team QB and Brohm the second and Mauk the third.

Very odd considering how much of a hero Grothe is to USF and how he is the #1 guy that every team facing USF tries to stop.

[nybullsfan]

If Oregon and ASU both win, and USC loses tomorrow, does that make ASU a lock for the Rose, Oregon in the Holiday, and we get USC?

[cee]

a thug program is a program that is known for having players getting in trouble with the law.. something our players have a propensity for. carlton hill is performing sexual acts in his high school, josh julmiste is hanging out with a bunch of gang bangers, and dont even get me started on brian fisher. we are nothing but a renegade program and these subjective all-american lists do not factor in the potential for imprisonment for these players.

[G.A.]

Cee, those two players aren't part of the program now, and I'm not sure what the relevance is to two players earning All-America honors. Do you know of an All-American list that isn't subjective?

[steve oneal]

It does no good to ask Cee a question, he will not answer because he has no answer. He will spout a bunch of hate for a school that he PRETENDS to be an alumni of. I have asked repeatedly for Cee to name ONE thing at USF he likes and he can't because he's never been there. Cee you are the ultimate LIAR and the most PATHETIC dumb-ss that ever has posted here. GO BULLS AND COACH JIM LEAVITT!!

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Greg,

There is a basketball game tonight against UCF if you didn't know....

B-ball coverage has been sparse....