Leonard Earns First Team All-America Honors
Dec 15 | Football
PISCATAWAY, NJ - Rutgers fullback Brian Leonard has been named to Pro Football Weekly's All-America First Team for the second consecutive year, it was announced today.
The 6-2, 235-pound junior from Gouverneur, NY, has rushed for 694 yards and 10 TDs, and has also caught 49 passes for 470 yards and five touchdowns, for the Scarlet Knights in 2005. Leonard helped the Scarlet Knights to a 7-4 mark overall, and a third place finish in the BIG EAST Conference. Rutgers will face Arizona State in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 27 in Phoenix.
Leonard, a Doak Walker Award candidate in 2004 and 2005, has rushed for 2,306 yards in three seasons at Rutgers, sixth best all-time. The two-time All-BIG EAST Conference selection has 230 career points, second all-time on the Rutgers scoring list. The talented fullback is tied for second in the BIG EAST in receptions per game (4.45), fifth in the Conference in all purpose yards (105.8 per game) and scoring (8.2 points per game) and seventh in rushing. Also regarded as a crushing blocker, in 2005 he combined with freshman running back Ray Rice (1,012 yards) to rush for 1,706 yards, the second best rushing tandem in Rutgers history.
The PFW All-America Team was selected Pro Football Weekly personnel analyst Nolan Nawrocki, who consulted with NFL evaluators and put in hours of film study to select players based on talent, production and value to their team. Other All-American qualities such as leadership, resiliency, toughness, competitiveness and character were weighed heavily.
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Vince Young, Texas, Jr.
FB Brian Leonard, Rutgers, Jr.
RB Reggie Bush, USC, Jr.
RB Laurence Maroney, Minnesota, Jr.
TE Vernon Davis, Maryland, Jr.
WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech, So.
WR Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame, Jr.
C Nick Mangold, Ohio State, Sr.
OG Davin Joseph, Oklahoma, Sr.
OG Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia, Sr.
OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia, Sr.
OT Joe Thomas, Wisconsin, Jr.
DEFENSE
DE Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State, Sr.
DE Mario Williams, North Carolina State, Jr.
DT Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State, Sr.
DT Kyle Williams, LSU, Sr.
ILB Patrick Willis, Mississippi, Jr.
OLB A.J. Hawk, Ohio State, Sr.
OLB Chad Greenway, Iowa, Sr.
CB Kelly Jennings, Miami (Fla.), Sr.
CB Alan Zemaitis, Penn State, Sr.
FS Michael Huff, Texas, Sr.
SS Donte Whitner, Ohio State, Jr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Mason Crosby, Colorado, Jr.
P Danny Baugher, Arizona, Sr.
KR Cory Rodgers, Texas Christian, Jr.
PR Maurice Drew, UCLA, Jr.
HEAD COACH
Joe Paterno, Penn State
