Two Sooners Named To FWAA Freshman All-America Team
Posted on: January 6, 2014
Image via Sooner Sports
The Football Writers Association of America released their Freshman All-America team Monday afternoon which included Oklahoma linebacker Dominique Alexander and cornerback Zack Sanchez. The two Sooners selected were the only representatives from the Big 12.
Alexander finished second, to Frank Shannon, on the team in tackles with 80 tackles after being forced into the lineup following the loss of Corey Nelson. Meanwhile, Sanchez would start from the season opener on despite speculation from many that Arizona transfer Cortez Johnson would fill that spot opposite Colvin. Sanchez went on to finish with 46 tackles on the year, two interceptions (including one for a pick six), and double digit passes defended.
Their selection is obviously a testament to the not only their individual performances and development throughout the season, but also a testament to how well the entire Oklahoma defense played this season.
And with plenty of young talent returning, on both sides of the ball, for the Sooners in 2014, the future appears to be very bright for this Oklahoma football program.
19 Comments
Well deserved for both guys. Sanchez is a fighter that doesn’t give up even when he’s been beat a few times. Alexander got better and better as the year went on. When he gains more experience, strength and weight he’s gonna be a nice ILB
Great things lie ahead!! Good to be a Sooner!!
And was their star rating coming out of HS? Evaluation and development!
Coach Mike is great at developing corners!
good lookin for the hometown boi! Northside in the house grew up right down the street from me. congrats to Dirty sanchez too
Jordan. You keep up all this good work, and they’ll have to make you a “real” Brainiac!!
haha, yeah right.
I’m serious. I think you do an excellent job!!!!
He is excellent!
I very much appreciate the kind words!
Well deserved by both, look out next year!
That’s awesome, both well deserved.
Sweet. Well deserved recognition. Defense could be really nasty next year. Gotta love it!
Hardly surprising to those that followed the Sanchez and Dom. Hopefully they’ll make All-Americans next fall
Good stuff, Jordan.
By the way, did you have Murdock proofread before submitting this time? 😉
Unfortunately, I did not. His “integrity” is out of my price range, so I just had to risk it this time.
People have been ragging on Sanchez all year. I was always high on him. I think he’s great in man coverage. Granted, his tackling was Deion Sanders worthy in the Sugar Bowl, but for the most part he was locked down on the WR in coverage. He has that memory loss that a CB needs. He doesn’t let a bad play make him gun shy and he doesn’t let a good play make him complacent. I think he has a chance to be really special.
Yeah, the thing about corners (as I’m sure you know) is more often than not you’re only getting noticed if you’re getting beat. This year of experience Sanchez just got will be invaluable towards his development over the next three years.
Seems to me that the play of the linebackers was one of the highlights of this season, from the impressive play of Nelson early on, to Shannon and Alexander stepping up to replace his contributions once he went down. Now Alexander gets Freshman All-American.
This makes me wonder if the fan critics were mistaken in raking the linebacker coach over the coals and Stoops in turn for using horrible judgement in selecting him. I notice that all the love online seems to be going to the other guys, so I’m asking: Do we in fact have a quality linebacker coach or is he just riding on the coattails of Bedenbaugh, Boulware, and M. Stoops?