2006 AP ALL-AMERICA TEAM

Posluszny, Jarrett repeat on AP team

Associated Press

NEW YORK » Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny and Southern California receiver Dwayne Jarrett overcame adversity to become two-time Associated Press All-Americans.

Posluszny and Jarrett were selected to the first-team for the second consecutive season yesterday, joining Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden on the AP's honor roll.

Smith, the senior quarterback, is one of three Ohio State players on the first team, along with defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock and linebacker James Laurinaitis. Big Ten rival Michigan matched the Buckeyes for the most first-teamers with defensive end LaMarr Woodley, cornerback Leon Hall and offensive tackle Jake Long.

Smith and the top-ranked Buckeyes will play Florida in the national title game Jan. 8 in Arizona. The Gators were represented on the first-team by safety Reggie Nelson.

Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, who finished third behind Smith and McFadden in the Heisman voting, made the second-team.

Posluszny is the first Penn State linebacker to be a two-time AP All-American, quite a feat considering Linebacker U. has produced the likes of LaVar Arrington, Shane Conlan and Jack Ham.

Posluszny returned to Penn State for his senior season after injuring his knee in the Orange Bowl in January. Playing with a bulky brace and trying to adapt to a new position, Posluszny needed a few games to get comfortable in 2006.

"Things were a lot tougher this year," the senior said.

Posluszny finished the regular season with 108 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles. He became the second two-time winner of the Chuck Bednarik Award as national defensive player.

Mississippi's Patrick Willis, the Butkus Award winner, is the other All-American linebacker.

Joining McFadden in the backfield is West Virginia's Steve Slaton, a sophomore, like McFadden, who was third in the nation in rushing at 144.4 yards per game.

Jarrett's season was complicated by an early season shoulder injury that forced him to miss a game and limited him in several others. But when the 6-foot-5 junior was at full strength, he was USC's best weapon. He caught 58 passes for 773 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson, another junior and big-time NFL prospect, is the other All-American receiver. He caught 13 touchdown passes.

Minnesota senior Matt Spaeth is the tight end. Long is joined on the offensive line by Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas, the Outland Trophy winner. Justin Blalock of Texas and Josh Beekman of Boston College are the guards and West Virginia's Dan Mozes is the center.

UCLA's Justin Medlock, who leads the nation with 26 field goals, is the first-team kicker, and California receiver DeSean Jackson, who returned four punts for touchdowns, was selected as an all-purpose player.

2006 AP All-America Team

By The Associated Press

First team

OFFENSE
Quarterback -- Troy Smith, 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, senior, Ohio State.
Running backs -- Darren McFadden, 6-2, 212, sophomore, Arkansas; Steve Slaton, 5-10, 195, sophomore, West Virginia.
Wide receivers -- Calvin Johnson, 6-5, 235, junior, Georgia, Tech; Dwayne Jarrett, 6-5, 210, junior, Southern California.
Tight end -- Matt Spaeth, 6-7, 265, senior, Minnesota.
Tackles -- Jake Long, 6-7, 313, senior, Michigan; Joe Thomas, 6-8, 313, senior, Wisconsin.
Guards -- Josh Beekman, 6-2, 318, senior, Boston College; Justin Blalock, 6-4, 335, senior, Texas.
Center -- Dan Mozes, 6-4, 290, senior, West Virginia.
Kicker -- Justin Medlock, 6-0, 197, senior, UCLA.
All-purpose player -- DeSean Jackson, 6-0, 178, sophomore, California.
DEFENSE
Ends -- LaMarr Woodley, 6-2, 269, senior, Michigan; Gaines Adams, 6-5, 265, senior, Clemson.
Tackles -- Glenn Dorsey, 6-2, 299, junior, LSU; Quinn Pitcock, 6-3, 295, senior, Ohio State.
Linebackers -- Paul Posluszny, 6-2, 238, senior, Penn State; Patrick Willis, 6-2, 240, senior, Mississippi; James Laurinaitis, 6-3, 244, sophomore, Ohio State.
Cornerbacks -- Leon Hall, 5-11, 193, senior, Michigan; Daymeion Hughes, 6-0, 188, senior, California.
Safeties -- LaRon Landry, 6-2, 202, senior, LSU; Reggie Nelson, 6-1, 175, junior, Florida.
Punter -- Daniel Sepulveda, 6-3, 230, senior, Baylor.

Second team

OFFENSE
Quarterback -- Brady Quinn, senior, Notre Dame.
Running backs -- Ray Rice, sophomore, Rutgers; Mike Hart, junior, Michigan.
Wide receivers -- Jarrett Dillard, sophomore, Rice; Jeff Samardzija, senior, Notre Dame.
Tight end -- Zach Miller, junior, Arizona State.
Tackles -- Sam Baker, junior, Southern California; Arron Sears, senior, Tennessee.
Guards -- Ben Grubbs, senior, Auburn; T.J. Downing, senior, Ohio State.
Center -- Ryan Kalil, senior, Southern California.
Kicker -- Arthur Carmody, junior, Louisville.
All-purpose player -- Ted Ginn. Jr., junior, Ohio State.
DEFENSE
Ends -- Justin Hickman, senior, UCLA; Mkristo Bruce, senior, Washington State.
Tackles -- Alan Branch, junior, Michigan; Amobi Okoye, senior, Louisville.
Linebackers -- Dan Connor, junior, Penn State; Ameer Ismail, senior, Western Michigan; David Harris, senior, Michigan.
Cornerbacks -- Aaron Ross, senior, Texas; Ryan Smith, senior, Florida.
Safeties -- Eric Weddle, senior, Utah; Michael Griffin, senior, Texas.
Punter -- Durant Brooks, junior, Georgia Tech.

Third Team

OFFENSE
Quarterback -- Colt Brennan, junior, Hawaii.
Running backs -- Ian Johnson, sophomore, Boise State; Garrett Wolfe, senior, Northern Illinois.
Wide receivers -- Robert Meachem, junior, Tennessee; Johnnie Lee Higgins, senior, UTEP.
Tight end -- Jonny Harline, senior, BYU.
Tackles -- Levi Brown, senior, Penn State; Tony Ugoh, senior, Arkansas.
Guards -- Kurt Quarterman, senior, Louisville; Nathan Bennett, senior, Clemson.
Center -- Jonathan Luigs, sophomore, Arkansas.
Kicker -- Mason Crosby, senior, Colorado.
All-purpose player -- Sammie Stroughter, junior, Oregon State.
DEFENSE
Ends -- Quentin Moses, senior, Georgia; Anthony Spencer, senior, Purdue.
Tackles -- Jay Alford, senior, Penn State; Eric Foster, junior, Rutgers.
Linebackers -- H.B. Blades, senior, Pittsburgh; Rufus Alexander, senior, Oklahoma; Brandon Siler, junior, Florida.
Cornerbacks -- Dwight Lowery, junior, San Jose State; Brandon Flowers, sophomore, Virginia Tech.
Safeties -- Tra Battle, senior, Georgia; Tom Zbikowski, senior, Notre Dame.
Punter -- Jeremy Kapinos, senior, Penn State.