DALLAS — In the midst of the best receiving season in Southeastern Conference history, LSU record-setting wide receiver Josh Reed was named to the Football Writers Association of America All-America Team, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Reed, a junior from Rayne, La., was honored along with Florida’s Jabar Gaffney as wide receivers on the offensive side of the team. Reed and Gaffney are joined by Wisconsin’s Lee Evans as finalists for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to college football’s best receiver.
With the All-America honor, Reed joined elite company among LSU wide receivers. He became the sixth receiver (or end) in school history to earn such an honor, joining Wendell Davis, Eric Martin, Gaynell (Gus) Tinsley, Ken Kavanaugh Sr. and current LSU Sports Network color analyst Doug Moreau. Reed also became the 41st First-Team All-American in school history.
The 5-11, 205-pounder has found ways to get behind every defensive formation he’s faced this season while getting in front of all followers in the national rankings. Reed leads the nation in receiving yards per game (149.4), ranks second in yards (1,494), third in receptions per game (8.0), tied for sixth in receptions (80), 10th in all-purpose yards per game (161.4) and 14th in all-purpose yards (1,614). He leads the SEC in all of the above categories as the Tigers head into their final regular-season game against Auburn at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday on ESPN.
Reed will play his seventh nationally televised game on Saturday and will shatter the 32-year-old conference record for receiving yards (132.9). Should LSU beat Auburn, Reed would have a chance to play a 12th game in the SEC Championship that will count statistically toward his record-setting season.
On Nov. 3 against Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Reed set school and conference records with 19 receptions for 293 yards, both marks placing in the NCAA Top 15 all-time.
Of Reed’s 80 receptions in 2001, an amazing 63 have been for first downs. He leads the nation with nine 100-yard performances this season and holds the school record with 16 in only 24 games as a wide receiver (began his career as a running back).
Players from nine conferences are represented on the team which is selected by the nine-person FWAA All-America committee.
2001 Football Writers Association of America All-America Team
Nov. 28, 2001
| OFFENSE | ||||
| QB | Antwaan Randle El, Indiana | 5-10 | 194 | Sr. |
| RB | Travis Stephens, Tennessee | 5-9 | 190 | Sr. |
| RB | Luke Staley, BYU | 6-1 | 218 | Jr. |
| WR | Josh Reed, LSU | 5-11 | 205 | Jr. |
| WR | Jabar Gaffney, Florida | 6-1 | 202 | So. |
| TE | Daniel Graham, Colorado | 6-3 | 245 | Sr. |
| C | LeCharles Bentley, Ohio State | 6-2 | 300 | Sr. |
| OL | Toniu Fonoti, Nebraska | 6-4 | 340 | Jr. |
| OL | Joaquin Gonzalez, Miami | 6-5 | 292 | Sr. |
| OL | Bryant McKinnie, Miami | 6-9 | 335 | Sr. |
| OL | Mike Pearson, Florida | 6-7 | 292 | Jr. |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| DL | Alex Brown, Florida | 6-4 | 254 | Sr. |
| DL | Dwight Freeney, Syracuse | 6-2 | 250 | Sr. |
| DL | John Henderson, Tennessee | 6-7 | 290 | Sr. |
| DL | Julius Peppers, North Carolina | 6-6 | 285 | Jr. |
| LB | Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma | 6-3 | 235 | Sr. |
| LB | E.J. Henderson, Maryland | 6-2 | 238 | Jr. |
| LB | Robert Thomas, UCLA | 6-2 | 237 | Sr. |
| DB | Quentin Jammer, Texas | 6-1 | 200 | Sr. |
| DB | Troy Polamalu, USC | 5-10 | 210 | Jr. |
| DB | Edward Reed, Miami | 6-0 | 198 | Sr. |
| DB | Roy Williams, Oklahoma | 6-0 | 215 | Jr. |
| SPECIALISTS | ||||
| K | Seth Marler, Tulane | 6-0 | 178 | Jr. |
| P | Dave Zastudil, Ohio | 6-5 | 215 | Sr. |
| KR | Luke Powell, Stanford | 5-8 | 165 | Jr. |