Boise State’s Thompson makes All-America team
Safety Darian Thompson earned his second All-America honor of the season Sunday, being named to the Associated Press All-America Third Team.
Thompson was an All-America honorable mention by Sports Illustrated on Thursday, and has now earned All-American recognition in two straight seasons. Last year he was named to CBSSports.com’s All-America Second Team. He is the second Bronco defensive player to earn All-America honors two seasons in a row, joining cornerback Kyle Wilson (2008-09).
A redshirt senior, Thompson leads the Broncos with five interceptions in 2015, tied for 17th in the FBS — four behind national leader Shawun Lurry of Northern Illinois. It is also tied for third in the Mountain West.
This year the Lancaster, Calif., native is second on the team with 63 tackles (team-high 35 solo) and tied for third with 7.5 tackles-for-loss.
Despite missing Boise State’s final two games due to injury, Thompson was named to the All-Mountain West First Team for a second-consecutive season.
Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry of Alabama and finalists Deshaun Watson of Clemson and Christian McCaffrey of Stanford highlight the first team. Here are the teams:
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Offense
Quarterback: Deshaun Watson, sophomore, Clemson. Running backs: Derrick Henry, junior, Alabama; Leonard Fournette, sophomore, LSU. Tackles: Taylor Decker, senior, Ohio State; Spencer Drango, senior, Baylor. Guards: Joshua Garnett, senior, Stanford; Landon Turner, senior, North Carolina. Center: Jack Allen, senior, Michigan State. Receivers: Corey Coleman, junior, Baylor; Josh Doctson, senior, TCU. Tight end: Hunter Henry, junior, Arkansas. All-purpose player: Christian McCaffrey, sophomore, Stanford. Kicker: Ka’imi Fairbairn, senior, UCLA.
Defense
Ends: Shaq Lawson, junior, Clemson; Carl Nassib, senior, Penn State. Tackles: A’Shawn Robinson, junior, Alabama; Andrew Billings, junior, Baylor. Linebackers: Reggie Ragland, senior, Alabama; Tyler Matakevich, senior, Temple; Jaylon Smith, junior, Notre Dame. Cornerbacks: Desmond King, junior, Iowa; Vernon Hargreaves III, junior, Florida. Safeties: Jeremy Cash, senior, Duke; Vonn Bell, junior, Ohio State. Punter: Tom Hackett, senior, Utah.
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Quarterback: Baker Mayfield, junior, Oklahoma. Running backs: Dalvin Cook, sophomore, Florida State; Ezekiel Elliott, junior, Ohio State. Tackles: Jack Conklin, junior, Michigan State; Ronnie Stanley, senior, Notre Dame. Guards: Sebastian Tretola, senior, Arkansas; Pat Elflein, junior, Ohio State. Center: Ryan Kelly, senior, Alabama. Receivers: Will Fuller, junior, Notre Dame; JuJu Smith-Schuster, sophomore, Southern California. Tight end: Jake Butt, junior, Michigan. All-purpose player: Morgan Burns, senior, Kansas State. Kicker: Jake Elliott, junior, Memphis.
Defense
Ends: Joey Bosa, junior, Ohio State; DeForest Buckner, senior, Oregon. Tackles: Robert Nkemdiche, junior, Mississippi; Sheldon Day, senior, Notre Dame. Linebackers: Joe Schobert, senior, Wisconsin; Kentrell Brothers, senior, Missouri; Eric Striker, senior, Oklahoma. Cornerbacks: Jourdan Lewis, junior, Michigan; Jalen Ramsey, junior, Florida State. Safeties: Trae Elston, senior, Mississippi; Jayron Kearse, junior, Clemson. Punter: Drew Kaser, senior, Texas A&M.
THIRD TEAM
Offense
Quarterback: Keenan Reynolds, senior, Navy. Running backs: Royce Freeman, sophomore, Oregon; Larry Rose III, sophomore, New Mexico State. Tackles: Jason Spriggs, senior, Indiana; Vadal Alexander, senior, LSU. Guards: Dan Feeney, junior, Indiana; Joe Thuney, senior, North Carolina State. Center: Austin Blythe, senior, Iowa. Receivers: Laquon Treadwell, junior, Mississippi; Roger Lewis, sophomore, Bowling Green. Tight end: Austin Hooper, junior, Stanford. All-purpose player: Jakeem Grant, senior, Texas Tech. Kicker: Aidan Schneider, sophomore, Oregon.
Defense
Ends: Shilique Calhoun, senior, Michigan State; Myles Garrett, sophomore, Texas A&M. Tackles: Jonathan Bullard, senior, Florida; Kenny Clark, junior, UCLA. Linebackers: Su’a Cravens, junior, Southern California; Blake Martinez, senior, Stanford; Anthony Walker, sophomore, Northwestern. Cornerbacks: Mackensie Alexander, sophomore, Clemson; Shawun Lurry, sophomore, Northern Illinois. Safeties: Eddie Jackson, junior, Alabama; Darian Thompson, senior, Boise State. Punter: Hayden Hunt, junior, Colorado State.
This story was originally published December 13, 2015 at 11:38 PM with the headline "Boise State’s Thompson makes All-America team."