For the first time in nearly a decade, a Golden Gopher football player was named a Walter Camp All-American.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation announced its 2014 All-America teams on Friday, and Gophers sophomore tight end Maxx Williams was named to the second team. Williams is the first Gopher to be honored by Walter Camp since offensive lineman Greg Eslinger was named to the first team in 2005, according to GopherSports.com.
The accolades have been pouring in for Williams. They are:
- All-Big Ten First Team by the coaches and media
- Big Ten Tight End of the Year
- John Mackey Award finalist
- Capital One Academic All-American
- CBS Sports All-America Second Team
Williams was one of three finalists for the Mackey Award, which is given to the best tight end in the nation. The winner was Florida State’s Nick O’Leary, who also was named a Walter Camp first-team All-American. CBS Sports notes that O’Leary caught 47 passes for 614 yards and six touchdowns.
Williams enters Minnesota’s upcoming game against Missouri in the Citrus Bowl with 29 receptions for 471 yards and seven touchdowns.
Four Big Ten players were named to the Walter Camp All-America First Team:
- Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
- Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana
- Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa
- Joey Bosa, DL, Ohio State
Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah, Maryland kicker Brad Craddock, Michigan State defensive lineman Shilique Calhoun and Michigan State defensive back Trae Waynes were named to the second team.
