The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 8/8 Football's Brooks named AP Midseason All-American
10.18.2023 | Football
Texas RB Jonathon Brooks was named to the Associated Press Midseason All-America First Team; defensive linemen Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat tabbed second-team honorees.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas sophomore running back Jonathon Brooks was selected as a first-team Midseason All-American by the Associated Press, the organization announced on Wednesday. Senior defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat and junior defensive lineman Byron Murphy II were named to the second team.
Brooks leads Power 5 running backs and is fourth nationally averaging 121.0 rushing yards per game, while ranking sixth in the FBS in all-purpose yards (141.17 ypg) and ninth in rushing yards (726). He leads the Big 12 Conference in rushing yards per game, all-purpose yards, rushing touchdowns (6) and total touchdowns (7), is second in rushing yards per carry (6.72) and third in rushing yards. He has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last four games, including a career-high 218-yard outing against a Kansas defense that entered play allowing just 92 rushing yards per game. Over the four-game stretch, he has totaled 617 yards on 82 carries (7.5 ypc) with five touchdowns, while also catching seven passes for 75 yards. On the year, he has five rushes of at least 30 yards, including two of over 60, and a 37-yard touchdown reception. The Hallettsville, Texas native has also earned first-team Midseason All-American honors from ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic, FOX Sports and USA Today.
Sweat has registered 18 tackles (eight solo) with four tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup and four quarterback hurries. He has been a key cog in the center of the Texas defensive line that is allowing just 112.3 rushing yards per game (27th in the nation). A native of Huntsville, Texas, Sweat also received first-team Midseason All-American accolades from The Athletic, was a second-team selection by FOX Sports and received honorable mention recognition from ESPN.
Murphy has totaled 15 tackles (seven solo) with 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks to go along with three quarterback hurries. He has also contributed on the offensive side of the ball, slotting in to block on jumbo packages. The DeSoto, Texas native hauled in a 1-yard touchdown pass against Wyoming, the fourth Longhorn lineman in program history to score an offensive touchdown.
The Longhorn defense is 25th in the nation in total defense (323.3 ypg) and allowing only 16.3 points per game (16th). Texas leads the Big 12 Conference and is eighth nationally in third down conversion percentage allowed (28.4%) and ranks 18th in fourth down conversions allowed (33.3%). UT has yielded a Big 12-leading 101 first downs, 14th-fewest in the nation.
Texas returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 21 with a Big 12 Conference road matchup at Houston. The Longhorns and Cougars will kick off at 3:00 p.m. CT with the game airing on FOX.
