The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Jeffcoat, Fera named AFCA All-Americans
12.18.2013 | Football
Jeffcoat now a consensus All-American
Texas place-kicker Anthony Fera and defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat were named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America Team which was announced Wednesday.
Already named a Walter Camp and Associated Press first team All-American, Jeffcoat is now considered a consensus first team All-American by landing on the AFCA team. The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News are the other two officially recognized organizations by the NCAA. Jeffcoat is UTs 45th consensus All-American, while this is the 53rd time a Longhorn has reached consensus All-America status (eight players have done it twice). He is one of five defensive end consensus All-Americans in school history (Carlton Massey, 1953; Bill Atessis, 1970; Tony Brackens, 1995; Brian Orakpo, 2008).
This marks Fera's second selection to an All-America first team. He was named to the Walter Camp team last week.
Jeffcoat is the only defensive lineman in the FBS to lead his team in tackles (80). Tony Brackens (1994) was the last defensive end to lead UT in tackles. He has also been named the AP Big 12 Player of the Year and the Ted Hendricks Award winner.
The senior is averaging 1.0 sack per game this season, a mark which ranks third in the FBS, while he is fifth among defensive linemen with 0.25 fumbles recovered per game. Jeffcoat also has a team-best 21 tackles for loss and 18 quarterback pressures.
He is the fifth Texas defensive end named an AFCA All-American, joining Alex Okafor (2011), Brian Orakpo (2008), Tony Brackens (1995) and Bill Atessis (1970).
Jeffcoat ranks tied for third on Texas' career TFL list with 59 and eighth in sacks with 26.5. His 12 sacks this season are the second most by a Longhorn in the last 29 seasons (Okafor – 12.5 in 2012).
Fera is just the second Longhorn place-kicker to make the AFCA team, joining Jeff Ward in 1986. Fera has connected on 20 of 22 field goals, including a streak of 15 consecutive that matched Phil Dawson's school record. His 90.9 percent field-goal accuracy is currently the second best for a season in UT history and is tied for the fourth-best mark nationally this season (minimum 15 attempts).
