Watkins Named First-Team All-American By AFCA

CLEMSON, S.C. (CU SID) — Sammy Watkins has been named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.  With the selection, Watkins becomes the first football player in Clemson history to be named a first-team All-American by at least one service in three different years.  

Watkins was named a first-team All-American as a freshman all-purpose player by the Associated Press in 2011.  He was just the fourth true freshman in college football history to be named a first-team AP All-American.

In 2012 Watkins was  named a first-team All-American by College and Pro Football Weekly.   He had been  named a second-team All-American by Associated Press, the Walter Camp Foundation and many others this year, but the announcement by the AFCA on Wednesday was his first first-team selection.

This year, Watkins has 85 receptions for 1237 yards and 10 touchdowns.  He  has seven 100-yard receiving games this year and 14 for his career.  He needs just four receptions in the Discover Orange Bowl against Ohio State to establish a Clemson season record for receptions. 

For his career his 224 receptions are fourth in ACC history and his 3164 career receiving yards rank fifth.