Three Frogs Named To AP All-America Team
12/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 14, 2010
NEW YORK -- TCU safety Tejay Johnson, linebacker Tank Carder and center Jake Kirkpatrick have been voted to The Associated Press All-America teams.
Johnson is a first-team selection, while Carder and Kirkpatrick represent the Horned Frogs on the second team.
Johnson was one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the nation's best defensive back. The senior from Garland, Texas, is a first-team selection on four different All-America teams.
Kirkpatrick is the recipient of the 2010 Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center.
Johnson ranks third on TCU with 56 tackles. The senior from Garland, Texas, tops the Horned Frogs with three interceptions while tying for the team lead with three forced fumbles. He also has three pass breakups.
A junior from Sweeny, Texas, Carder is fourth on the Horned Frogs with 54 tackles, including 6 1/2 for loss. He has 2 1/2 sacks. Carder is tied for second on TCU with five pass breakups while adding an interception and fumble recovery.
Johnson and Carder are keys to a TCU defense that leads the nation in total defense (215.4 yards) for the third straight season. The Horned Frogs also rank first in scoring defense (11.4 points), pass defense (126.3 yards), fewest first downs allowed per game (11.3), opponent third-down percentage (21.9) and three-and-outs forced per game (6.4). TCU is third in run defense (89.2 yards).
Kirkpatrick sets the blocking scheme on each play for the third-ranked, undefeated and Rose Bowl-bound Horned Frogs.
Kirkpatrick, a senior from Tyler, Texas, is the anchor of a TCU offensive line that paves the way for the Horned Frogs to rank fourth nationally in scoring offense (43.3 points per game), eighth in rushing (261.2 yards per game) and ninth in total offense (491.5 yards per game).
TCU has allowed just nine sacks this season, tied for the seventh-lowest total in the nation.
