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Dorsey, Steltz Named AP First-Team All-Americans

by LSUsports.net (@LSUsports)
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Dorsey, Steltz Named AP First-Team All-Americans

BATON ROUGE — Glenn Dorsey put his name alongside LSU greats Tommy Casanova, Billy Cannon and Gaynell Tinsley on Tuesday as he became just the fourth player in school history to be named a first-team All-America by the Associated Press twice during his career.

Joining Dorsey on the 2007 AP All-America teams for the Tigers were safety Craig Steltz, who was a first team selection, and linebacker Ali Highsmith, who earned a spot on the second team.

Dorsey, who was also a first-team AP All-America in 2006, earned the honor again this year after leading the second-ranked Tigers to the Southeastern Conference title and a berth in the BCS National Championship Game. LSU will face Ohio State for the BCS National Championship on Jan. 7 in New Orleans.

Tinsley was LSU’s first two-time AP All-American, earning the distinction as an end in 1935 and 1936. Cannon, the 1959 Heisman Trophy Winner, followed Tinsley by being a first-team AP All-America as a running back in 1958 and 1959, while Casanova was a first-team AP All-America as a defensive back in 1969 and 1970.

“This is a tremendous honor to be named alongside some of the great players in LSU history as a repeat All-American,” Dorsey said. “To have my name mentioned in the same sentence as Billy Cannon and Tommy Casanova brings a smile to my face.

“I have to give all the credit to my teammates and coaches because without them and what we’ve done on the field as unit, this award would not be possible.”

In 13 games this year, Dorsey has been the key to an LSU defense that ranks among the top 10 in the nation in three categories, including a No. 3 rating in total defense. Despite battling knee and lower back ailments for the last half of the season, Dorsey still managed 64 tackles, 11.5 tackles for losses and six sacks.

Dorsey, a senior defensive tackle from Gonzales, La., also added four quarterback hurries and four pass breakups for the 11-2 Tigers.

The AP distinction caps a senior season for Dorsey that has seen him capture four national awards ? the Lombardi, Outland, Nagurski and Lott ? on his way to becoming the most decorated defender in school history. Only Cannon can claim to have won more awards in his career than Dorsey.

Steltz joined Dorsey on the first unit after leading the Tigers with 97 tackles and ranking first in the conference with six interceptions. Steltz, who was also one of three finalists for the Thorpe Award, which goes to the top defensive back in college football, added five tackles for losses and seven pass breakups for the Tigers in 2007.

Highsmith, a three-year starter at linebacker for LSU, ranks second on the team with 93 total tackles, including 7.5 tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks. He also had nine quarterback hurries, eight pass breakups and forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.

As a unit, LSU’s defense  recorded a total of 32 sacks and forced 31 turnovers.

LSU’s AP All-Americans

Glenn Dorsey (DT, 2006, ’07)
Craig Steltz (S, 2007)
LaRon Landry (S, 2006)
Marcus Spears (DE, 2004)
Chad Lavalais (DT, 2003)
Josh Reed (WR, 2001)
Anthony McFarland (NG, 1998)
Chad Kessler (P, 1997)
Alan Faneca (OG, 1997)
Kevin Faulk (AP, 1996)
Nacho Albergamo (C, 1987)
Michael Brooks (LB, 1985)
Tyler LaFauci (OG, 1973)
Mike Anderson (LB, 1970)
Tommy Casanova (CB, 1969, ’70)
Jerry Stoval (HB, 1962)
Roy “Moonie” Winston (OG, 1961)
Billy Cannon (HB, 1958, ’59)
Sid Fournet (T, 1954)
Ken Kavanaugh, Sr. (E, 1939)
Gaynell “Gus” Tinsley (E, 1935, ’36)

2007 Associated Press All-America Football Teams

FIRST TEAM

Offense
Quarterback –
Tim Tebow, sophomore, 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Florida.
Running backs – Darren McFadden, junior, 6-2, 215, Arkansas; Kevin Smith, junior, 6-1, 211, Central Florida.
Wide receivers – Michael Crabtree, freshman, 6-3, 208, Texas Tech; Jordy Nelson, senior, 6-2, 213, Kansas State.
Tackles – Jake Long, senior, 6-7, 313, Michigan; Anthony Collins, junior, 6-5, 320, Kansas.
Guards – Duke Robinson, junior, 6-5, 330, Oklahoma; Martin O’Donnell, senior, 6-5, 305, Illinois.
Center – Steve Justice, senior, 6-4, 284, Wake Forest.
Tight end – Martin Rucker, senior, 6-6, 255, Missouri.
All-purpose player – Jeremy Maclin, freshman, 6-1, 185, Missouri.
Kicker – Thomas Weber, freshman, 6-1, 202, Arizona State.

Defense
Ends –
Chris Long, senior, 6-4, 280, Virginia; George Selvie, sophomore, 6-4, 242, South Florida.
Tackles – Glenn Dorsey, senior, 6-2, 303, LSU; Sedrick Ellis, senior, 6-2, 305, Southern California.
Linebackers – Dan Connor, senior, 6-3, 233, Penn State; James Laurinaitis, junior, 6-3, 240, Ohio State; Jordan Dizon, senior, 6-0, 220, Colorado.
Cornerbacks – Aqib Talib, junior, 6-2, 195, Kansas; Antoine Cason, senior, 6-0, 185, Arizona.
Safeties – Craig Steltz, senior, 6-2, 209, LSU; Jamie Silva, senior, 5-11, 210, Boston College.
Punter – Kevin Huber, junior, 6-1, 210, Cincinnati.

SECOND TEAM

Offense
Quarterback –
Chase Daniel, junior, Missouri.
Running backs – Ray Rice, junior, Rutgers; Mike Hart, senior, Michigan.
Wide receivers – Mario Manningham, junior, Michigan; Harry Douglas, senior, Louisville.
Tackles – Ryan Clady, junior, Boise State; Sam Baker, senior, Southern California.
Guards – Robert Felton, senior, Arkansas; Anthony Parker, junior, Tennessee.
Center – Jonathan Luigs, junior, Arkansas.
Tight end – Fred Davis, senior, Southern California.
All-purpose player – Felix Jones, junior, Arkansas.
Kicker – Austin Starr, junior, Indiana.

Defense
Ends –
Vernon Gholston, junior, Ohio State; Lawrence Jackson, senior, Southern California.
Tackles – Terrill Byrd, junior, Cincinnati; James McClinton, senior, Kansas.
Linebackers – J Leman, senior, Illinois; Curtis Lofton, junior, Oklahoma; Ali Highsmith, senior, LSU.
Cornerbacks – Brandon Flowers, junior, Virginia Tech; Malcolm Jenkins, junior, Ohio State.
Safeties – Patrick Chung, junior, Oregon; William Moore, junior, Missouri.
Punter – Durant Brooks, senior, Georgia Tech.

The AP All-America voting panel is: Alex Abrams, The Morning New of Northwest Arkansas; Jimmy Burch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Mike Dearmond, The Kansas City Star; Doug Doughty, The Roanoke Times; Eric Hansen, The South Bend Tribune; Kirk Herbstreit, WBNA-AM/ESPN; John Heuser, The Ann Arbor News; Aditi Kinkhabwala, The Bergen (N.J.) Record; Neal McCready, Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register; Dave Morrison, Beckley Register-Herald; Kevin Pearson, The Press-Enterprise; Mike Prater, Idaho Statesman.