CMU's Antonio Brown
The AON Insurance Football Writers Association of America 2007 Freshman All-American Team was announced January 7 and for the third consecutive year, the Mid-American Conference had multiple players named to the prestigious postseason squad by the nation's football writers.
Over the past three years, seven MAC players have received recognition by being named FWAA Freshman All-America which only announces a first-team. This season the committee received a record 104 nominations for the award.
Named to the 2007 FWAA Freshman All-America team from the MAC were true freshman wide receiver/kick return specialist Antonio Brown of the two-time conference champion Central Michigan Chippewas and strong safety Alex Kube of Northern Illinois.
Brown was named as Athlete, a special designation in recognition of the All-MAC and MAC Freshman of the Year's dual achievements as both a wide receiver and return specialist. Brown set a new MAC freshman record this past season with 2,075 all-purpose yards while also setting a school record with 98 receptions in the 2007 campaign which ranks fifth all-time in the MAC. His 909 receiving yards were the fifth-most in school history. Brown also averaged 27.7 yards per kick return and returned one kick for a 90-yard touchdown against Northern Illinois.
Brown entered the season as a walk-on.
 Northern Illinois strong safety Alex Kube was named to the 2007 FWAA Freshman All-American squad after leading the Huskies with 111 tackles this past season. His 111 tackles ranked second nationally among all freshmen. He became the first freshman to lead Northern Illinois in tackles in 31 years and recorded double digits in tackles seven times. His average of 10.7 tackles per game ranked seventh in the MAC and placed him in the top thirty nationally.
The Big East topped all conferences with five players on the squad, while the ACC, Big 12 and Pac-10 each boast four members. Twelve of the 28 freshman All-America selections are true freshman.
In addition, Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski was named the top first-year coach at his school.
The team and coach are selected by a group of writers led by FWAA vice-president Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Both true freshmen and redshirt freshmen were considered for the team and are so noted.
Below is the complete team as selected by the FWAA:
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2007 AON INSURANCE FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
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OFFENSE
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Pos.
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Player, School
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Ht.
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Wt.
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Hometown
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QB
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Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
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6-4
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214
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Oklahoma City, Okla.
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RB
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Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
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5-11
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207
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Belford, N.J.
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RB
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• LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh
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5-11
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200
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Harrisburg, Pa.
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RB
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Harvey Unga, BYU
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6-0
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221
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Provo, Utah
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WR
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Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
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6-3
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208
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Dallas, Texas
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WR
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Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
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6-1
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185
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Kirkwood, Mo.
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TE
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James Casey, Rice
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6-4
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245
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Azle, Texas
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OL
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• Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
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6-7
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262
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Hawthorn Woods, Ill.
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OL
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• Anthony Davis, Rutgers
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6-6
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350
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Piscataway, N.J.
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OL
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• Rodney Hudson, Florida State
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6-2
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285
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Mobile, Ala.
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OL
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• Matt Murphy, UNLV
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6-3
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265
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Lake Forest, Calif.
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C
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Ryan McMahon, Florida State
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6-3
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275
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Rome, Ga.
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DEFENSE
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Pos.
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Player, School
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Ht.
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Wt.
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Hometown
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DL
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Everson Griffen, USC
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6-3
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265
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Avondale, Ariz.
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DL
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Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh
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6-5
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250
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Coral Springs, Fla.
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DL
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• Ian Williams, Notre Dame
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6-2
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300
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Altamonte Springs, Fla.
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DL
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Colby Whitlock, Texas Tech
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6-2
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281
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Noble, Okla.
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LB
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• Greg Jones, Michigan State
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6-1
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220
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Cincinnati, Ohio
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LB
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Scott Lutrus, Connecticut
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6-3
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220
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Brookfield, Conn.
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LB
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• Rolando McClain, Alabama
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6-4
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255
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Decatur, Ala.
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DB
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• Eric Berry, Tennessee
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5-11
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195
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Fairburn, Ga.
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DB
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• Omar Bolden, Arizona State
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5-11
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200
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Ontario, Calif.
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DB
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Alex Kube, Northern Illinois
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6-1
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203
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Cary, Ill.
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DB
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Tavious Polo, Florida Atlantic
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5-10
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160
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Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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DB
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Deunta Williams, North Carolina
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6-2
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195
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Jacksonville, N.C.
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SPECIALISTS
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Pos.
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Player, School
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Ht.
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Wt.
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Hometown
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|
P
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Keenyn Crier, Arizona
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6-1
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200
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Spring, Texas
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K
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Thomas Weber, Arizona State
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6-1
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202
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Downey, Calif.
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KR
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• Max Suter, Syracuse
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5-11
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190
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Ruffs Dale, Pa.
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ATH
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• Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
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5-11
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175
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Miami, Fla.
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First-year Coach of the Year: Jeff Jagodzinski, Boston College
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• Indicates true freshmen
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The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of nearly 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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 gameday operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.
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