University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Bryant and Walker Garner Preseason All-America Honors
3/31/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Bryant and Walker Garner Preseason All-America Honors
3/31/2001
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh's Antonio Bryant, considered the premier wide receiver in college football and a 2001 Heisman Trophy candidate, has been named to two more preseason All-America Teams.
Preview Sports College Football as well as Football Action both lauded Bryant as a first team All-American. It is the fourth preseason honor for the junior, who was also named an All-American by Playboy and Lindy's 2001 College Football. Football Action also named junior defensive back Ramon Walker as a first team All-American at the free safety position.
The Panthers as a team have also garnered recognition. Preview Sports listed Pittsburgh 24th in its 2001 preseason rankings and third in the Big East Conference (behind Miami and Virginia Tech, picked first and second, respectively).
"Factor in a top-notch recruiting class, the brand-new 65,000-seat North Shore stadium and one of the college game's most fertile offensive minds in (Walt) Harris and it's easy to see why folks in (Pittsburgh) are excited," the publication said.
Football Action (which did not have a Top 25 listing) picked Pittsburgh to finish second in the Big East behind Miami.
Bryant is coming off a spectacular sophomore campaign in which he earned consensus All-America honors and was selected the winner of the prestigious Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver.
Bryant led the nation in receiving last year with an average of 130.2 yards per game. His 1,302 total receiving yards (on 68 catches) set a Big East record and ranked third in the country. Bryant had an amazing seven triple-digit receiving yardage performances in 2000, including a career-high 222 yards versus Boston College, and caught 13 touchdowns.
Walker has earned All-Big East honors in each of his first two seasons and has recorded double-digit tackles in 13 of his 19 career games. He led the Panthers in tackles in 1999, his freshman season, with 131 stops in 11 games and earned All-Big East first-team recognition. Last year, despite playing in only seven games, Walker recorded 56 tackles and was named second team All-Big East.
Pittsburgh opens the 2001 season at its new home, the city's North Shore football stadium, this Sept. 1 versus East Tennessee State. The Panthers will host six games overall with additional opponents including South Florida (Sept. 8), Alabama-Birmingham (Sept. 15), Miami (Sept. 27), Syracuse (Oct. 13) and Virginia Tech (Nov. 3).
For ticket information call (800) 643-PITT or (412) 648-PITT
