SEATTLE — Shaq Thompson, Danny Shelton and Hau’oli Kikaha walked off the practice field Tuesday chatting about the history the Washington trio had made.
For the first time in school history, the Huskies placed three players on The Associated Press All-America first team.
“They are special. Probably my first reaction is, they finally got it right,” Washington coach Chris Petersen said. “I think these things are so political so often. A lot of these awards go to the best player on the best teams and those type of things, but I think these are three guys that are truly deserving.”
The three players selected for the first team tied for the most of any school. Oregon couldn’t match that total. Neither could Alabama or Ohio State. The only two teams to place three players on the first team: Florida State and Washington.
The three are the first Washington players selected to the AP first team since wide receiver Reggie Williams in 2002. Washington had never placed more than two on the first team, the last time coming in 1997.
“To be able to be called an All-American with Shaq and Hau’oli is one of the highest achievements,” Shelton said, “and to be able to finish this season with a bowl game is just the cherry on top of a milkshake.”
Kikaha’s selection was likely the most obvious after he led the country in sacks with 18 during the regular season. Shelton also stood out with 89 tackles and nine sacks playing defensive tackle and facing double teams most of the season.
Thompson was the hardest to pinpoint, which is why it wasn’t surprising he was named the all-purpose player. Thompson started the season on defense, switched to being a full-time running back for three games in late October and November, then went back to the defensive side exclusively for the final three games.
Thompson finished with 456 yards rushing, 71 tackles and six total touchdowns, including four defensive scores. The question that remains for Thompson is whether the junior will make himself available for the NFL draft.
Thompson said he has not made a decision yet and will talk with coaches and family after the Huskies play Oklahoma State in the Cactus Bowl on Jan. 2. Thompson reiterated his desire to play on the defensive side in the pros.
“We’ll see. I’m just focused on this last game,” Thompson said.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback — Marcus Mariota, junior, 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, Oregon
Running backs — Melvin Gordon, junior, 6-1, 213, Wisconsin; Tevin Coleman, junior, 6-1, 210, Indiana.
Tackles — Brandon Scherff, senior, 6-5, 320, Iowa; Spencer Drango, junior, 6-6, 310, Baylor.
Guards — Tre Jackson, senior, 6-4, 330, Florida State; Laken Tomlinson, senior, 6-3, 320, Duke.
Center — Reese Dismukes, senior, 6-3, 296, Auburn.
Tight End — Nick O’Leary, senior, 6-3, 247, Florida State.
Wide receivers — Amari Cooper, junior, 6-1, 210, Alabama; Rashard
Higgins, sophomore, 6-2, 188, Colorado State.
Kicker — Roberto Aguayo, sophomore, 6-1, 203, Florida State.
All-purpose player — Shaq Thompson, junior, 6-1, 228, Washington.
DEFENSE
Ends — Joey Bosa, sophomore, 6-5, 278, Ohio State; Vic Beasley, senior, 6-3, 235, Clemson.
Tackles — Malcolm Brown, junior, 6-2, 320, Texas; Danny Shelton, junior, 6-2, 339, Washington.
Linebackers — Scooby Wright III, sophomore, 6-1, 246, Arizona; Hau’oli Kikaha, senior, 6-3, 246, Washington; Paul Dawson, senior, 6-2, 230, TCU.
Cornerbacks — Senquez Golson, senior, 5-9, 176, Mississippi; Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, senior, 5-10, 195, Oregon.
Safeties — Landon Collins, junior, 6-0, 222, Alabama; Gerod Holliman, sophomore, 6-2, 213, Louisville.
Punter — Tom Hackett, junior, 5-11, 187, Utah.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Trevone Boykin, junior, TCU
Running backs — James Conner, sophomore, Pittsburgh; Ameer Abdullah, senior, Nebraska.
Tackles — La’el Collins, senior, LSU; Andrus Peat, junior, Stanford.
Guards — Arie Kouandjio, senior, Alabama; A.J. Cann, senior, South Carolina.
Center — Hroniss Grassu, senior, Oregon.
Tight End — Maxx Williams, sophomore, Minnesota.
Wide receivers — Kevin White, senior, West Virginia; Rashad Greene, senior, Florida State.
Kicker — Brad Craddock, junior, Maryland.
All-purpose player — Tyler Lockett, senior, Kansas State.
DEFENSE
Ends — Shane Ray, junior, Missouri; Nate Orchard, senior, Utah.
Tackles — Leonard Williams, junior, Southern California; Robert Nkemdiche, sophomore, Mississippi.
Linebackers — Eric Kendricks, senior, UCLA; Benardrick McKinney, junior, Mississippi State; Jaylon Smith, sophomore, Notre Dame.
Cornerbacks — Vernon Hargreaves III, sophomore, Florida; Jacoby Glenn, sophomore, Central Florida.
Safeties — Jalen Ramsey, sophomore, Florida State; Cody Prewitt, senior,Mississippi.
Punter — JK Scott, freshman, Alabama.
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — J.T. Barrett, redshirt freshman, Ohio State.
Running backs — Jay Ajayi, junior, Boise State; Samaje Perine, freshman, Oklahoma.
Tackles — Cedric Ogbuehi, senior, Texas A&M; Jake Fisher, senior, Oregon.
Guards — Shaquille Mason, senior, Georgia Tech; Ben Beckwith, senior, Mississippi State.
Center — Jack Allen, junior, Michigan State.
Tight End — Clive Walford, senior, Miami.
Wide receivers — Justin Hardy, senior, East Carolina; Nelson Agholor, junior, Southern California.
Kicker — Josh Lambert, sophomore, West Virginia.
All-purpose player — J.J. Nelson, senior, UAB.
DEFENSE
Ends — Shawn Oakman, junior, Baylor; Randy Gregory, junior, Nebraska.
Tackles — Michael Bennett, senior, Ohio State; Eddie Goldman, junior, Florida State.
Linebackers — Denzel Perryman, senior, Miami; Mike Hull, senior, Penn State; Eric Striker, junior, Oklahoma.
Cornerbacks — Trae Waynes, junior, Michigan State; Kendall Fuller, sophomore, Virginia Tech.
Safeties — Kurtis Drummond, senior, Michigan State; Su’a Cravens, sophomore, Southern California.
Punter — Austin Rehkow, sophomore, Idaho.
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