The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
06.30.2017 | Football
OL Connor Williams earned first-team distinction while LB Malik Jefferson was on the second team.
AUSTIN, Texas – Two Texas Football players have been named preseason All-Americans by the Sporting News. Junior offensive lineman Connor Williams was named a first-team All-American at left tackle, while junior linebacker Malik Jefferson was recognized on the second team.
Williams, a native of Coppell, Texas, was a consensus first team All-American in 2016. He was only the fourth sophomore in UT history to receive first-team All-America honors. Williams was also named a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best interior lineman in college football. He started all 11 games in which he played during his sophomore campaign and has started 23 of a possible 24 contests during his career. Williams was a freshman All-American in 2015, and looks to become the first offensive lineman since OL Justin Blalock in 2006 to earn postseason first-team All-American recognition from Sporting News.
Jefferson, a native of Mesquite, Texas, was named second team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press in 2016 as well as being named as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, which is awarded annually to the nation's best linebacker. This year he looks to become the second linebacker in UT history to earn Sporting News postseason first-team All-American honors, a distinction only Derrick Johnson (2004) has earned. Jefferson was a freshman All-American in 2015 while also being named honorable mention All-Big 12 and the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. He played in 11 games a season ago, starting nine, while totaling 62 tackles which was good for third on the team.
