Taplin Named True Freshman All-American
12/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 3, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State defensive end Greg Taplin has been named True Freshman All-American by Rivals.com.
Taplin, who appeared in all 11 games in 2000 including three starts, recorded 21 tackles (10 solos, 11 assists), including two for losses (6 yards). The 6-foot-5, 257-pound rookie from Hollywood, Fla., turned in his best performance in his first career start vs. Northwestern, registering a season-high eight tackles (3-5), including a sack (5 yards). Taplin was credited with three stops vs. Notre Dame.
Jeff Smoker, the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Spartans since 1982, earned honorable mention honors from Rivals.com. Smoker directed three game-winning drives in the fourth quarter this season (vs. Illinois, Notre Dame and Missouri) and played a key role in all five of the team's wins in 2000.
Smoker, who appeared in nine games in 2000 including six starts, completed 103-of-197 throws (.523) for 1,365 yards with six touchdowns and seven interceptions. The 6-3, 201-pound signal caller from Manheim, Pa., earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors after accounting for 241 total yards and two scores in MSU's 30-10 upset win over ninth-ranked Purdue. His 68-yard TD strike to Herb Haygood on a fourth-and-10 play with 1:58 left gave the Spartans a 27-21 victory over No. 16 Notre Dame.
2000 Rivals.com True Freshman All-America Team
Offense DefenseQB Phillip Rivers, N.C. State DL Terrell Suggs, Arizona StateRB Rich Alexis, Washington DL Kalen Thornton, TexasRB Clarence Farmer, Arizona DL Greg Taplin, Michigan StateWR Roy Williams, Texas DL Alain Kashama, MichiganWR Ryan McGuffey, Wyoming LB Jonathan Vilma, MiamiWR John Standeford, Purdue LB John Garrett, BaylorTE Robert Johnson, Auburn LB Gilbert Gardner, PurdueOL Mike Munoz, Tennessee DB Stuart Schweigert, PurdueOL Antonio Hall, Kentucky DB Shauntae Spencer, PittsburghOL Reggie Sampay, Arizona DB DeAndre Eiland, South CarolinaOL Travell Wharton, South Carolina DB Benny Sapp, IowaOL Kirk Chambers, Stanford
Special TeamsKR Derrick Johnson, WashingtonK Billy Bennett, GeorgiaP Cody Scates, Texas A&M
Honorable Mention
Quarterbacks: Craig Ochs, Colorado, Luke McCown, Louisiana Tech, Matt LoVecchio, Notre Dame, Ryan Schneider, Central Florida, Casey Clausen, Tennessee, Jeff Smoker, Michigan State, Timmy Chang, Hawaii. Running Backs: Musa Smith, Georgia, Mike Williams, Arizona State, Chris Perry, Michigan, Mewelde Moore, Tulane, Renaldo Works, Oklahoma, D.J. Williams, Miami, Brandon Holmes, Arkansas, Marcus Houston, Colorado. Wide Receivers: Justin Robbins, Washington, Tab Perry, UCLA, BJ Johnson, Texas, Keary Colbert, Southern Cal, Roger Jordan, Northwestern. Tight End: Alex Holmes, Southern Cal. Offensive Line: Marwan Hage, Colorado, Kwame Harris, Stanford. Defensive Line: Spencer Johnson, Auburn, Antwan Odom, Alabama, Tai Tupai, Washington State. Linebackers: Marques Harris, Colorado, Travis Harris, Florida, Larry Stevens, Michigan. Defensive Backs: Keith Lewis, Oregon, Greg Carothers, Washington. Kick Returners: Wes Welker, Texas Tech, Kenneth Johnson, Southern Miss. Punter: Austin Hebert, N.C. State.