The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Derrick Johnson selected to Walter Camp Football Foundation All America Team
12.12.2003 | Football
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- University of Texas junior LB Derrick Johnson has earned a spot on the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-American team, the foundation announced today. Johnson, who became the first Longhorn ever to earn a spot among the Butkus Award finalists (nation's top LB) earlier this year, is the first UT linebacker since Tommy Nobis in 1965 to earn a spot on the Walter Camp All-America squad.
A 2002 first-team All-Big 12 selection, Johnson leads the Longhorns in tackles (116), solo tackles (75), tackles for loss (18), and fumble recoveries (3), while recording two sacks, seven pass breakups and a caused fumble on the season. His four interceptions in 2003 are a UT season record for linebackers while his eight career picks also are a Longhorn linebacker best. He's leading a defense that ranks 23rd nationally in total defense (327.3 ypg).
The Walter Camp All-America team is selected by the head coaches and sports information directors of the 117 Division 1-A football schools and certified by the New Haven-based accounting firm of Scillia, Dowling and Natarelli Advisors LLC.
Walter Camp, "The Father of American Football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp - a former Yale University athlete and football coach - is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation - a New Haven based all-volunteer group - was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Award recipients and members of the 2003 Walter Camp All-America team will be honored at the organization's national awards banquet on February 14, 2004 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven.
