Big East Football: Conference Puts Two on AP All America Teams
The Associated Press All-America team was announced yesterday and the Big East was only able to put two players on any of the three teams.
Cincinnati Bearcats defensive tackle Derek Wolfe was named to the second team and West Virginia junior Tavon Austin was named a third-team selection as an all-purpose player.
For a conference looking for a little respect, only placing two players on the All-America teams is not the way to get it. Alabama by themselves placed seven players on the rosters.
Derek Wolfe was honored last week as the co-Big East defensive player of the year and Tavon Austin was named the special teams player of the year.
Wolfe led the Big East and ranks sixth nationally in tackles for loss with 19.5. He is third in the conference and 12th in the nation in sacks. Not bad stats for a defensive tackle. He is also fourth on the team with 64 tackles.
Wolfe becomes the sixth All-American for the Bearcats in the past five seasons.
Tavon Austin was not only a stud on special teams, but was also one of the best receivers in the Big East. He had 89 receptions for 1,063 yards and four touchdowns on offense, but made the all-America team because of his special teams play.
Austin ranked seventh in the nation with 191.2 all-purpose yards a game. He returned 31 kickoffs for 821 yards, including two touchdowns. He was also one of the best punt returners in the country.
While these are the only two All-Americans the conference can boast about, that does not mean the Big East has necessarily had a down season. They are much improved over the past few years and the talent may not be as top heavy, but it is deeper than in years past.
