GWU's Johnston Named First-Team All-America By The Associated Press
December 12, 2007 | Football
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Gardner-Webb's Brian Johnston was named
first-team Associated Press All-America Wednesday afternoon,
marking the second year in a row Johnston has been honored by the
Associated Press.
Johnston (San Diego, Calif. / Madison HS) has been named first-team
All-America this season by the American Football Coaches
Association (AFCA), the Walter Camp Football Foundation and now the
Associated Press. Johnston has a tremendous chance to become the
Bulldogs' first consensus All-America since teammate Harold Wells
in 2004.
The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Johnston was a second-team Associated Press
All-America in 2006.
As a senior in 2007, Johnston was named Big South Defensive Player
of the Year for the second time in two seasons, compiling 74 total
tackles (37 solo), a school and conference-record 24.0 tackles for
loss, 6.0 quarterback sacks and 22 quarterback hurries. He finished
ranked No. 2 nationally in tackles for loss on the season, and
established new Big South Conference career records for sacks
(20.5) and tackles for loss.
Johnston is also the Gardner-Webb career leader in tackles for loss
and quarterback pressures, and finished his career as the top
tackling defensive lineman in school history with 268 stops.
Since Gardner-Webb's move to the Division I FCS level prior to the
2000 season, five men have been honored with membership on the
Associated Press All-America Team: Tory Atkins (2001, 2nd Team),
Mario Williams (2003 2nd Team), Graham Whitlock (2003 2nd Team),
Harold Wells (2004 1st Team) and Brian Johnston (2006 2nd Team,
2007 1st Team).
In its 38 seasons of senior college football, nine men have earned
Associated Press All-America honors. In addition to the five
mentioned above, Jeff Parker (1987), Rodney Robinson (1992), Gabe
Wilkins (1993) and Bo Shannon (1998) have earned that
distinction.
Gardner-Webb's Associated Press All-America
Selections
Jeff Parker, PK, 1987 Associated Press Little All-America 1st
Team
Rodney Robinson, WR, 1992 Associated Press Little All-America 1st
Team
Gabe Wilkins, DE, 1993 Associated Press Little All-America 1st
Team
Bo Shannon, LB, 1998 Associated Press Little All-America 2nd
Team
Tory Atkins, LB, 2001 Associated Press I-AA All-America 2nd
Team
Mario Williams, FS, 2003 Associated Press I-AA All-America 2nd
Team
Graham Whitlock, P, 2003 Associated Press I-AA All-America 2nd
Team
Harold Wells, DE, 2004 Associated Press I-AA All-America 1st
Team
Brian Johnston, DE, 2006 Associated Press FCS All-America 2nd
Team
Brian Johnston, DE, 2007 Associated Press FCS All-America 1st
Team
