AP All-Americans
Congratulations (for the second day in a row!) to Daymeion Hughes and DeSean Jackson, who today were both named 1st team AP All-Americans, Jackson as the 1st team’s ‘All-Purpose Player’. Both should go on to productive (and well-paid) NFL careers.
Speaking of future NFL stars, conspicuously absent from the All-America teams was Marshawn Lynch. And I don’t mean absent from the first team — Marshawn couldn’t even crack the third team! Not making the first team is no shame; both running back selections (Arkansas’ Darren McFadden and West Virginia’s Steve Slaton) had fabulous years. The second team was also a tough nut to crack, with Ray Rice of Rutgers and Mike Hart of Michigan being selected. But the third team? Now, while Ian Johnson of Boise State and Garrett Wolfe of Northern Illinois both had nice seasons, they both played far inferior competition. You can’t tell me that either back had a better year than Marshawn, or that they would have put up better numbers against the same teams Cal played. Nice stories both, but Marshawn was better.
Still, you’d have to say this season ranks as a disappointment for the one-time Heisman Hopeful. He battled through injuries and an inexperienced offensive line, but failed to show up down the stretch. A great season sure, and Pac-10 Offensive player of the year, but given the promise shown his first two seasons, you’d have to say we all expected a bit more. Well, he gets one last chance to lead Cal to glory - bring on Texas A&M!
