Jody Owens, left, was one of three Bobcats honored on Monday as All-Americas
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcat Trio Lands on Sports Network All-America Team
12/19/2011 2:44:00 PM | Football
Burbank, Minter, Owens join Akpla as All-America Bobcats in 2011
Three Bobcats landed Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision All-America honors Monday, as voted on by a national panel of Sports Information Directors, media members and other dignitaries.
Juniors Jody Owens, a linebacker, and defensive tackle Zach Minter – both unanimous First Team All-Big Sky selections – and senior offensive tackle Conrad Burbank each earned Sports Network All-America honors. Owens landed on the defensive unit's second team, while the other two were third team choices.
Owens posted a superb junior season, leading the Bobcats with 105 tackles and 17 tackles-for-loss. He led or shared the team lead in tackles eight times, including 11 in the win over New Hampshire. The Mesquite, Tex., product also registered five sacks, an interception, a pass breakup, a recovered fumble, and two quarterback hurries in MSU's 13 games.
One of the most productive interior linemen in the FCS, Minter led Big Sky defensive tackles with 10 tackles-for-loss and 7.5 sacks in 2011. His three tackles-for-loss and two sacks led the team in its narrow road victory against Northern Colorado, with the TFL mark matching the highest single-game figure by a Bobcat this year.
A three-year starter on MSU's lauded offensive front, he helped pave the way for the nation's 17th-rated offense in terms of yards. One of four seniors on the Bobcat offensive line, Burbank helped form the core of an offense that produced an All-America receiver in Elvis Akpla, a 1,000-yard rusher in Cody Kirk, and the 16th-rated passer in the FCS in DeNarius McGhee.
These three Bobcats join Elvis Akpla, who was named AP All-America last week to give the program its most different All-Americas since 2004, when five Bobcats were honored.
Juniors Jody Owens, a linebacker, and defensive tackle Zach Minter – both unanimous First Team All-Big Sky selections – and senior offensive tackle Conrad Burbank each earned Sports Network All-America honors. Owens landed on the defensive unit's second team, while the other two were third team choices.
Owens posted a superb junior season, leading the Bobcats with 105 tackles and 17 tackles-for-loss. He led or shared the team lead in tackles eight times, including 11 in the win over New Hampshire. The Mesquite, Tex., product also registered five sacks, an interception, a pass breakup, a recovered fumble, and two quarterback hurries in MSU's 13 games.
One of the most productive interior linemen in the FCS, Minter led Big Sky defensive tackles with 10 tackles-for-loss and 7.5 sacks in 2011. His three tackles-for-loss and two sacks led the team in its narrow road victory against Northern Colorado, with the TFL mark matching the highest single-game figure by a Bobcat this year.
A three-year starter on MSU's lauded offensive front, he helped pave the way for the nation's 17th-rated offense in terms of yards. One of four seniors on the Bobcat offensive line, Burbank helped form the core of an offense that produced an All-America receiver in Elvis Akpla, a 1,000-yard rusher in Cody Kirk, and the 16th-rated passer in the FCS in DeNarius McGhee.
These three Bobcats join Elvis Akpla, who was named AP All-America last week to give the program its most different All-Americas since 2004, when five Bobcats were honored.
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