University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pittsburgh's Preseason Honors Continue To Build
6/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Pittsburgh's Preseason Honors Continue To Build
6/7/2001
PITTSBURGH-The University of Pittsburgh continues to garner preseason national recognition as three of its players have been named All-Americans by Athlon Sports College Football.
Junior wide receiver Antonio Bryant was named a first team All-American, while junior free safety Ramon Walker was named to the second team. Senior defensive end Bryan Knight was named a third-team All-American.
Bryant (Miami, Fla./Northwestern) has been named a first team All-American by five publications this summer. In addition to Athlon, he has also been honored by Preview Sports College Football, Football Action, Playboy and Lindy's 2001 College Football.
Walker (Akron, Ohio/John R. Buchtel) is also a multiple honoree and was named an All-American by Football Action. Knight (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's) also received national accolades from Lindy's.
A 2001 Heisman Trophy candidate, 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.
The 6-2, 230-pound Knight was one of the most productive defensive linemen in college football last season and was selected first team All-Big East and a Football News All-American. A candidate for the Lombardi Award (nation's top lineman or linebacker), he set a conference record last season with 26 tackles for losses and ranked second in the country in that category with an average of 2.36 per game. He also emerged as one of the nation's top pass rushers and led Pittsburgh with 11.5 sacks. His 1.05 sacks per game ranked ninth nationally.
Pittsburgh opens the 2001 season at its new home, the city's North Shore football stadium, this Sept. 1 versus East Tennessee State. For ticket information call (800) 643-PITT or (412) 648-PITT.
