The first All-America teams of the 2014 postseason are starting to filter out, and three Ole Miss Rebels were recognized on the CBS Sports All-America teams Wednesday.
Senior cornerback Senquez Golson was named to the first team, while sophomore defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and senior free safety Cody Prewitt made the second team.
Golson becomes the 56th first team All-America selection in Ole Miss football history and the 48th individual in program history to earn the honor. The Pascagoula, Mississippi, native is the first Ole Miss cornerback to earn that status since Ken Lucas in 2000.
It’s the second straight year that a Rebel has earned first team All-America status. Prewitt was a first-team selection by the Associated Press, USA Today and Lindy’s Magazine last year.
The trio has helped Ole Miss become the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense, allowing 13.8 points per outing with a nation-low 18 touchdowns given up.
Golson was previously named first team All-SEC by the AP and league coaches. He was one of three unanimous choices by the AP. A finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the national defensive player of the year, he leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with nine interceptions. His theft in the back of the end zone sealed the Rebels’ 23-17 win over No. 1 Alabama. He also has 41 tackles, three TFLs, eight pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.
Nkemdiche, an AP All-SEC first team pick, anchors a formidable defensive line that has created many of the Rebels’ 28 turnovers and 19 interceptions, which rank top 15 nationally. The monster athlete from Loganville, Georgia, was also a Rotary Lombardi Award semifinalist and a midseason All-America and All-SEC pick.
Prewitt has once again been the leader of the Ole Miss defense from his free safety spot. The Bay Springs, Mississippi, native is among the team leaders with 60 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, two interceptions and two pass breakups. A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, he has also forced a fumble and recovered one, as well as returned a 75-yard interception for a touchdown in a road win at Texas A&M.
More All-America teams are expected to be released in the next couple of weeks.
Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Information