Yankey Headlines AP All-Americans

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford left guard David Yankey highlights four Cardinal football players named to the Associated Press 2013 All-America team. Yankey earned first team honors while Trent Murphy and Ty Montgomery earned second team honors with Shayne Skov earning a spot on the third team.

Yankey has been named All-America by every publication to date with the only the American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association of America remaining among the major national honor award groups. Yankey has a chance at becoming a unanimous selection with Murphy and Montgomery are both vying for consensus status with those two lists pending. 

Yankey, a senior offensive guard and consensus All-American in 2012, has led one of the best position groups in the country this season as the Stanford offensive line ranked fourth nationally for fewest tackles for loss allowed/game (3.69) and 16th nationally for fewest sacks allowed/game (1.15). Yankey also helped pave the way for Gaffney to rush for over 100 yards in nine games this season.

Murphy, a fifth-year senior outside linebacker, leads the nation in sacks with 14.0, 1.5 more than any other player. He also ranks sixth nationally with 1.7 tackles for loss/game, while his 21.5 tackles for loss are third most.

Murphy’s 14.0 sacks currently rank tied for fourth on Stanford’s single season list with Kailee Wong (1996) and Riall Johnson (1999). Murphy’s total is the most by a Stanford player since 2000 when Johnson tallied 15 sacks. Murphy had two or more sacks in five different games this season and recorded at least one sack in nine of 13 contests.

All said and done, the team co-captain has totaled 58 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, one interception returned 30 yards for a touchdown, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one blocked kick while helping lead the Cardinal to the 100th Rose Bowl Game against Michigan State on Jan. 1.

Skov earned Athlon’s Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honor as the catalyst behind Stanford’s defense, which many consider to be the most physical in the nation. Skov led the Pac-12 in tackles with exactly 100 including 56 solo efforts. He logged 10.0 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two recoveries. Like all big playmakers, Skov shined under the spotlight with 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks in a three-point win over Washington. He forced two fumbles and posted nine tackles against Oregon and epitomized the Stanford defense with his efforts during a goal-line stand against Arizona State in the Pac-12 Football Championship Game.

Montgomery, a junior wide receiver and kick returner, led the nation in kickoff return average, recording a 31.2 average through 13 games. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, including a 99-yard return on the opening kickoff against Washington and a 100-yard return at Utah. He also had a breakout season as a receiver with 937 yards and 10 touchdowns. He currently ranks ninth nationally in all-purpose yards/game (161.0).

Stanford’s All-America Scorecard*
First Team
David Yankey, Associated Press, Walter Camp, Sporting News, USA Today, ESPN, Athlon 
Ty Montgomery, Walter Camp, Sporting News, USA Today, Athlon
Trent Murphy, Walter Camp, Sporting News, USA Today, ESPN
Ed Reynolds, Athlon

Second Team
Tyler Gaffney, USA Today
Trent Murphy, Associated Press, Athlon
Ty Montgomery, Associated Press

Third Team
Tyler Gaffney, Athlon
Shayne Skov, Associated Press, Athlon

*through Dec. 17