The NCAA recognizes College Football All-America Teams selected by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News (TSN), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation to determine consensus All-Americans. THE 2007 ALL-AMERICAN TEAM LSU DT Glenn Dorsey -- AP, FWAA, WCFF, TSN, AFCA S Craig Steltz -- AP, FWAA, WCFF OHIO STATE OL Kirk Barton -- AFCA LB James Laurinaitis -- AP, FWAA, WCFF, TSN, AFCA ========================================= 2007 Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America Team LSU First Team DT Glenn Dorsey S Craig Steltz Second Team (nobody) OHIO STATE First Team LB James Laurinaitis Second Team DE Vernon Gholston CB Malcolm Jenkins ========================================= 2007 FWAA All-America Team LSU DT Glenn Dorsey S Craig Steltz OHIO STATE LB James Laurinaitis ========================================= 2007 TSN All-America Team LSU DT Glenn Dorsey OHIO STATE LB James Laurinaitis 2007 TSN Freshman All-America Team LSU S Chad Jones OHIO STATE DT Cameron Heyward ========================================= 2007 AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team LSU DL Glenn Dorsey OHIO STATE OL Kirk Barton LB James Laurinaitis ========================================= 2007 Associated Press All-America Team LSU First Team DT Glenn Dorsey S Craig Steltz Second Team LB Ali Highsmith Third Team (nobody) OHIO STATE First Team LB James Laurinaitis Second Team DE Vernon Gholston CB Malcolm Jenkins Third Team OT Kirk Barton
All-American Craig Steltz Out of high school, Scout.com ranked him the #3 safety prospect in the US (4 star) and Rivals.com ranked him the #11 safety in the US (4 star). He went to one of the largest high schools we have in Louisiana (an all-boy school at that) and played RB, S and kick returner (his longest two kick returns were a 98-yard return and a 91-yard return). He was first-team all-state as a senior. At LSU, Steltz wasn't a full time starter until this year. During his sophomore and junior seasons, he was only a starter on our nickel and dime packages (he had 1 INT, 40 tackles in 2005 and 4 INTs, 42 tackles in 2006). But Steltz had an incredible season this year: 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 6 interceptions, 7 pass break-ups, 97 tackles.
I think some may be surprised at how good Steltz will be in the NFL. I love watching the guy. Every time he stepped in last year, he was somewhere around the ball either breaking up a pass, intercepting the ball, or making a stop. This season was even better. I'm so glad to see him as a 1st team All-American and Thorpe runner-up...
Just to clarify, Heyward is a DE. Most projected him inside, but with losing the starting DE & the main backup nicked up all year, Heyward slid into the starting spot outside and performed well. I think Jenkins would have received more pub if he had stayed at CB. They move him to safety in nickel formations (to move Russell closer to the line - nickelback, and free up Jenkins to attack). He's merely good at safety imo.
Here are some statements about Steltz from Buckeye fans on BuckeyePlanet since 2004: OWUBuckeye51 (Join Date: Feb 2004) "Great hitter" jlb1705 (Join Date: Mar 2004) "Steltz is probably a better safety than anyone OSU has" DaytonBuck (Join Date: Mar 2004) "LSU's defense scares the bejeusus out of me... Steltz I imagine shot gunning beers at a party and going crazy." ================================================== ==== Here are some statements about Steltz from more recent Buckeye fans on BuckeyePlanet: RoscoeParrish (Join Date: Jun 2007) "Steltz [is a] playmaker" (buckeye poster) -- couldn't get name -- could only find a reply that didn't quote the original poster, who was no doubt, a Buckeye "Steltz is a hitter no doubt I'd love him in Scarlet and Gray" ================================================== ==== Here are some statements about Steltz from LSU fans on BuckeyePlanet: GeauxTigers (Join Date: Jan 2007) "Steltz is the playmaker on defense ... loves to make big hits but is a smart safety." 86Tiger (Join Date: Dec 2007) "in zone do not leave your receiver out to dry with Steltz as a hitman. He is put a few guys out, including himself in three games." All-American Craig Steltz, #16
Wasn't Chad Jones on the actual First Team? Edit: Nevermind, he was Freshman All-America. LSUSports.net got it wrong. They said he was First Team All-America.
