STEPHENVILLE – Zimari Manning, B.J. Jefferson, Prince Robinson and Daniel McCants have another All-America honor to add to their resumes as they were named All-American by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) on Thursday.
Manning was a first team selection while Jefferson, Robinson and McCants claimed second team honors. Tarleton’s four All-Americans rank second in the nation, trailing only Slippery Rock’s 5. The Lone Star Conference also had the most All-Americans with eight.
Manning becomes the first player in Tarleton history to be a three-time first team All-American. The Long Beach native showcased one of the best individual seasons in program history as the Harlon Hill finalist now has his third All-American first team award in as many weeks along with the same honors from the AFCA and Associated Press. Manning was also named the D2CCA Super Region 4 Offensive Player of the Year, the first in Tarleton history to win the award. He’s also received the LSC Wide Receiver of the Year and first team All-LSC. Manning is the first wide receiver in school history to earn first team All-America honors, which he’s done twice. Manning had the best season by a wide-out in the country as the senior led all of college football at any level in the regular season in yards and touchdowns. Manning finished with 1,462 yards and 22 touchdowns on just 68 receptions. Manning set the Tarleton record for single-season yards and touchdowns and tied the LSC record for TDs in a season.
Jefferson had one of the top seasons by a defender in the country to earn his second career All-America honor. Jefferson is the first defensive lineman in school history to receive D2CCA All-America honors. Earlier this week, Jefferson was also named first team All-America by the Associated Press. Jefferson was the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year and runner up for the Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year award, becoming the first in school history to be a finalist for the award. The first team All-LSC defensive lineman and three-time LSC Defensive Player of the Week winner ranked No. 3 in the nation in tackles for loss with 25.5. Jefferson also posted a team-leading 95 tackles, 8 sacks, 13 QB hurries, one interception, one forced fumble and one recovery this season.
Robinson will go down as one of the top defensive backs in school history after being named the Lone Star Conference Defensive Back of the Year and D2CCA first team All-Region. Now he’s a two-time All-American after being named first team All-American by the Associate Press and second team D2CCA. The senior from Houston led the nation in the regular season with three interception returns for scores and had four total interceptions this season. Robinson led the LSC with 17 passes defended and 13 pass breakups and added 57 total tackles for a pass defense that ranked No. 3 nationally in team passing efficiency on defense at 90.2. Robinson joins teammates Devin Hafford and Jai Edwards (2018) as the only Texans in school history to receive multiple All-American honors.
McCants, who finished his career as the second-leading rusher in program history with 3,216 rushing yards since 2015, was tabbed an All-America second team running back. It’s the second All-America honor this week for McCants, who took home second team All-America from the Associated Press on Wednesday. The senior from Killeen led the nation in yards per carry this season (8.9) and rushed for 1,457 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 164 carries in 10 games. McCants was named the LSC Offensive Back of the Year, All-LSC First Team, D2CCA All-Region First Team, and now adds his second All-America award to his all-time resumé. McCants is second running back in school history to receive two All-America awards (Derrick Ross (2004-05) and the first to have two second team awards.
All four of these Texans were also named to the Associated Press All-America teams yesterday. It’s the third All-America award for Manning, who was also an AFCA First Team selection.
ABOUT THE D2CCA
The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.
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