WACO, Texas – After an outstanding junior season, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne has been named to the 2011 AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Team announced by the American Football Coaches Association on Monday morning.
Claiborne, a native of Shreveport, becomes the second straight AFCA All-American cornerback from LSU as Patrick Peterson was a recipient last season. Claiborne is also a finalist for the Thorpe Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The Thorpe goes to the nation’s top defensive back, while the Nagurski is presented to college football’s best defensive player.
Claiborne has totaled 46 tackles — 28 of them solo — and six interceptions, which ranks him No. 9 nationally. He also has 12 passes defended and six pass break ups. Claiborne has tallied two touchdowns this season – a 99-yard kickoff return at West Virginia and a 45-yard interception return that put the finishing touches on LSU’s SEC Championship victory over Georgia on Saturday.
The AFCA All-America team, established in 1945, is selected exclusively by the head football coaches in each division. It’s the only All-America team that is chosen specifically by coaches. Claiborne becomes the 11th first-team All-America selection at LSU under head coach Les Miles.
Claiborne and the Tigers set a school record for wins with a 13-0 mark. No. 1 LSU will face No. 2 Alabama in a rematch for the BCS National Championship on Jan. 9, 2012 in New Orleans.
2011 AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Team
Offense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
WR Justin Blackmon* 6-1 215 Jr. Oklahoma St. Mike Gundy Ardmore, Okla. (Plainview)
WR Jordan White 6-0 215 Sr. Western Michigan Bill Cubit Cleveland, Ohio (North Ridgeville)
TE Orson Charles 6-3 241 Jr. Georgia Mark Richt Tampa, Fla. (Plant)
OL Kevin Zeitler 6-4 315 Sr. Wisconsin Bret Bielema Waukesha, Wis. (Lutheran)
OL Barrett Jones 6-5 311 Jr. Alabama Nick Saban Memphis, Tenn. (Evangelical Christian)
C Peter Konz 6-5 315 Jr. Wisconsin Bret Bielema Neenah, Wis. (Neenah)
OL David DeCastro 6-5 310 Sr. Stanford David Shaw Bellevue, Wash. (Bellevue)
OL Levy Adcock 6-6 322 Sr. Oklahoma St. Mike Gundy Claremore, Okla. (Sequoyah)
QB Andrew Luck 6-4 235 Sr. Stanford David Shaw Houston, Texas (Stratford)
RB Trent Richardson 5-11 224 Jr. Alabama Nick Saban Pensacola, Fla. (Escambia)
RB Montee Ball 5-11 210 Jr. Wisconsin Bret Bielema Wentzville, Mo. (Timberland)
Defense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
DL Jerel Worthy 6-3 310 Jr. Michigan St. Mark Dantonio Huber Heights, Ohio (Wayne)
DL Alex Okafor 6-4 260 Jr. Texas Mack Brown Pflugerville, Texas (Pflugerville)
DL Whitney Mercilus 6-4 265 Jr. Illinois Ron Zook Akron, Ohio (Garfield)
DL Melvin Ingram 6-2 276 Sr. South Carolina Steve Spurrier Hamlet, N.C. (Richmond County)
LB Dont’a Hightower 6-4 260 Jr. Alabama Nick Saban Lewisburg, Tenn. (Marshall County)
LB Jarvis Jones 6-3 241 So. Georgia Mark Richt Columbus, Ga. (Carver)
LB Lavonte David 6-1 225 Sr. Nebraska Bo Pelini Miami, Fla. (Northwestern)
DB Mark Barron 6-2 218 Sr. Alabama Nick Saban Mobile, Ala. (St. Paul’s)
DB Morris Claiborne 6-0 185 Jr. LSU Les Miles Shreveport, La. (Fair Park)
DB Markelle Martin 6-1 198 Sr. Oklahoma St. Mike Gundy Wichita Falls, Texas (Rider)
DB DeQuan Menzie 6-0 198 Sr. Alabama Nick Saban Columbus, Ga. (Carver)
Specialists
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
P Shawn Powell 6-4 235 Sr. Florida St. Jimbo Fisher Rome, Ga. (Darlington Prep)
PK Randy Bullock 5-9 212 Sr. Texas A&M Mike Sherman Klein, Texas (Klein)
AP LaMichael James* 5-9 195 Jr. Oregon Chip Kelly Texarkana, Texas (Liberty-Eylau)