All-American teams snub Greg Rousseau because of 6-6 Miami football team
Defensive end Greg Rousseau was a force for the Miami football team in 2019. The redshirt freshman was left off the majority of the All-American teams released this week likely because the Hurricanes finished 6-6 in 2019.
Redshirt freshman defensive end Greg Rousseau finished ninth nationally in tackles for loss per game and tied for second in sacks per game. The accomplishments Rousseau had on the field for the Miami football team are remarkable considering he did not become a starter until the Hurricanes’ sixth game of the season.
College football All-American teams are headlined by players from ultra-successful teams or players having such dominant seasons that there is no way to keep them off the team. Rousseau had legendary performances this season in back to back games against Pittsburgh and Florida State with a combined seven sacks.
Rousseau did not make the majority of the All-American teams announced this week. It was expected and understandable that he would have finished behind Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, but the other defensive end named as first, second and third-team All-Americans were questionably ahead of Rousseau.
Some fans have questioned how good Rousseau was aside from the victories by the Miami football team over Pittsburgh and Florida State. Rousseau recorded 15 tackles, eight TFLs and seven sacks in the victories over the Panthers and Seminoles. The rest of the season Rousseau still had 39 tackles, 10 TFLs and seven sacks.
Miami Hurricanes Football
Those numbers came in 10 games. Rousseau played a limited amount of snaps in the first five games of the season for the Miami football team in 2019. What he can accomplish with a full season as a starter in 2020 is intriguing. Rousseau had better numbers this season than several All-Americans at DE.
ESPN only named one All-American team. Young was joined on the mothership’s All-American team at DE by James Lynch of Baylor. Lynch finished the season with 18.5 TFLs12.5 sacks, five pass breakups and three forced fumbles. In addition to the 18 TFLs and 14 sacks, Rousseau posted one PBU, two forced fumbles and one recovery.
Young and Lynch were also the first-team ends on the AP All-American team. A.J. Epenesa of Iowa and Curtis Weaver from Boise State were the second team ends. Bradlee Anae from Utah and Alex Highsmith of Charlotte were the third-team All-American ends for the AP. All but Espensa had similar numbers to Rousseau.
Espensa had modest numbers compared to Rousseau and the other All-Americans. The Iowa junior had 45 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, nine sacks three PBUs and three forced fumbles. Anae finished 2019 with 35 tackles, 13.5 TFLs and 12.5 sacks. Weaver had 50 tackles, 19.5 TFLs, 13.5 sacks, one interception, three PBUs and one FF.
On an evolving Charlotte team that finished 7-5 this season, Highsmith had numbers that mostly exceeded what Rousseau put up. Highsmith finished his senior season with 68 tackles, 21.5 TFLs, 15 sacks, three PBUs and two forced fumbles. Highsmith has situated himself to be a high NFL draft pick in 2020.
Anae, Lynch and Young were all named first-team all-American by the Sporting News. Rousseau was named second-team All-American by the Sporting News. Marlon Davidson of Auburn, Jaylen Twyman from Pitt and Quincy Roche of Temple were the other three defensive linemen.
Playing both end and tackle, Davidson recorded 45 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, and one PBU, forced fumble and fumble recovery. In his sophomore campaign, Twyman had 38 tackles, 12.0 TFLs and 10.5 sacks. Roche was a menace with 44 tackles, 18 TFLs, 13 sacks, five PBUs and two FR and FF.
dark. Next. Rousse could be 2020 Heisman Trophy finalist
The 6-6 record by the Miami football team likely held Rousseau back from recognized by the AP and ESPN for his incredible season. Rousseau was the only All-American DL on a team without a winning record. Kudos to the Sporting News. If Rousseau duplicates his numbers in 2020 he will be a consensual All-American.