Football Writers Association of America Jan. 11, 2016
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mike Griffith
517-281-9593
15th annual team features 19 true freshmen
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FWAA NAMES 2015 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM

DALLAS (FWAA) – The 15th annual Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team has a southern feel to it and includes four players who will help decide the College Football Playoff National Championship tonight in Glendale, Ariz.

Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley and cornerback Marlon Humphrey face off against Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt when their teams meet at University of Phoenix Stadium. Ridley and Humphrey are among eight players from the Southeastern Conference on the Freshman All-America team, the most of any conference. Alabama and Clemson led the list with two players each, along with fellow SEC member Missouri and Texas.

The Big 12 had five players on the team, with the Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC earning three slots. Each of the Division I conferences is represented on the team along with Notre Dame. There are 24 different schools represented on the 29-man team.

The First Year Coach of the Year went to Houston’s Tom Herman, who guided the Cougars to a 13-1 record and a 38-24 win over Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Herman was the offensive coordinator at Ohio State during its 2014 national championship season, and drew praise from the FWAA panel with his high-scoring attack that took Houston to the American Athletic Conference title in his first season.

Incoming FWAA president Mark Anderson led the 10-person panel of nationally-prominent writers that represent each of the FBS conferences in the selecting the team. Both true freshmen (19 players) and redshirt freshmen (10 players) were considered for the team and are so noted on the list below.

OFFENSE (12)
Pos. Player, School Ht. Wt. Hometown
QB • Josh Rosen, UCLA 6-4 210 Manhattan Beach, Calif.
RB • Saquon Barkley, Penn State 5-11 222 Coplay, Pa.
RB • Myles Gaskin, Washington 5-9 192 Lynnwood, Wash.
RB Mike Warren, Iowa State 6-0 200 Lawton, Okla.
WR • Penny Hart, Georgia State 5-9 170 Buford, Ga.
WR Richie James, Middle Tennessee 5-9 171 Sarasota, Fla.
WR • Calvin Ridley, Alabama 6-1 188 Coconut Creek, Fla.
OL William Clapp, LSU 6-5 303 New Orleans, La.
OL • Will Noble, Houston 6-4 290 Leander, Texas
OL • Mitch Hyatt, Clemson 6-5 295 Suwanee, Ga.
OL Max Scharping, Northern Illinois 6-6 311 Green Bay, Wis.
OL • Connor Williams, Texas 6-5 283 Coppell, Texas
DEFENSE (12)
Pos. Player, School Ht. Wt. Hometown
DE  Walter Brady, Missouri 6-3 255 Florence, Ala.
DE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech 6-5 256 St. Francisville, La.
DT • Terry Beckner Jr., Missouri 6-4 300 East St. Louis, Ill.
DT • Christian Wilkins, Clemson 6-4 315 Springfield, Mass.
LB T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin 6-1 238 Lake Villa, Ill.
LB • Dre Greenlaw, Arkansas 6-0 222 Fayetteville, Ark.
LB • Malik Jefferson, Texas 6-3 232 Mesquite, Texas
DB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama 6-1 192 Hoover, Ala.
DB Kareem Orr, Arizona State 5-11 195 Chattanooga, Tenn.
DB Jabrill Peppers, Michigan 6-1 205 East Orange, N.J.
DB • Andrew Wingard, Wyoming 6-0 194 Arvada, Colo.
DB • Jordan Whitehead, Pittsburgh 5-11 185 Aliquippa, Pa.
SPECIALISTS (5)
Pos. Player, School Ht. Wt. Hometown
K • Justin Yoon, Notre Dame 5-10 185 Nashville, Tenn.
P • Austin Seibert, Oklahoma 5-10 210 Belleville, Ill.
AP • Christian Kirk, Texas A&M 5-11 200 Scottsdale, Ariz.
KR • Kavontae Turpin, TCU 5-9 152 Monroe, La.
PR • Antonio Callaway, Florida 5-11 198 Miami, Fla.
HEAD COACH
Tom Herman, Houston (Finalists: Jim Harbaugh, Michigan and Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh).
• Denotes true freshman

Celebrating its 75th season, the Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization, consists of more than 1,400 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com or 214-870-6516.

All-Time FWAA Freshman All-America Teams
• 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014

2015 FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA COMMITTEE
Mark Anderson, Las Vegas Review Journal (MWC) Ron Higgins, NOLA.com (SEC)
Mark Blaudschun, AJerseyGuy.com (ACC) Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star (Big 12)
Andrew Greif, OregonLive.com (Pac-12) Doug Smock, Charleston Gazette (American Athletic)
Mike Griffith, MLive Media Group (Big Ten/Independents) Phil Stukenborg, Memphis Commercial Appeal (C-USA)
Tommy Hicks, Call News (Sun Belt) John Wagner, Toledo Blade (MAC)