Dec. 3, 2009
WACO, Texas – Georgia Tech junior defensive end Derrick Morgan was named first team AFCA All-American, the American Football Coaches Association announced today.
The honors continue to roll in for Morgan, who earlier this week was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, first team All-ACC and a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award.
Georgia Tech has produced a first team All-American in each of the last five seasons. Michael Johnson (AFCA) in 2008, punter Durant Brooks (multiple sources) in 2007, and Calvin Johnson (multiple sources) in 2005 and 2006. Morgan is the third Yellow Jacket defensive end in the last 25 years to earn first team All-American honors, joining Johnson and Pat Swilling in 1985.
Morgan leads the ACC and ranks sixth nationally in sacks (12.5). He is three sacks shy of breaking the Georgia Tech single-season record of 15.0 sacks by Pat Swilling in 1985.
The Coatesville (Pa.) native also leads the ACC and ranks tied for 17th nationally in tackles for loss (17.0). He has two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles this season.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special, according to the AFCA, is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
The 2009 AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team is made up of 14 seniors, 8 juniors and 3 sophomores.
2009 AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team
Offense
WR Golden Tate, Notre Dame
WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
TE Dennis Pitta, BYU
OL Mike Johnson, Alabama
OL Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
C Chris Hall, Texas
OL Trent Williams, Oklahoma
OL Mike Iupati, Idaho
QB Colt McCoy, Texas
RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford
Defense
DL Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
DL Jerry Hughes, TCU
DL Jared Odrick, Penn State
DL Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
DL Brian Price, UCLA
LB Rolando McClain, Alabama
LB Greg Jones, Michigan State
DB Eric Berry, Tennessee
DB Joe Haden, Florida
