Baker, Thornhill Named Football News' All-Americans
11/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 26, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State senior tight end Chris Baker, the school's career record-holder for receptions by a tight end with 126, has been named second-team All-American by the Football News while senior linebacker Josh Thornhill has earned third-team All-America honors by the same publication. The Football News' All-America Teams will be announced in its Dec. 15 issue.
Baker, a 6-foot-3, 263-pounder from Saline, Mich., ranks third on the team in receptions with 33 for 488 yards (14.8 avg.) and four touchdowns in 2001. He had a season-high seven catches for 76 yards vs. Penn State, including a 2-yard TD toss from Jeff Smoker. Baker caught six passes for 76 yards vs. Minnesota, including a 5-yard TD grab from Smoker. He had five receptions for a career-best 99 yards vs. Northwestern.
Baker, who has started 45 consecutive games at tight end, has caught at least one pass in 22 straight games. He ranks among the Spartans' all-time leaders in receptions (tied for fifth with 126), receiving yards (12th with 1,621) and TD catches (tied for ninth with 13).
"Chris Baker's productivity as a tight end speaks for itself," Michigan State head coach Bobby Williams said. "What separates Chris from other tight ends is his big-play ability. He's such a valuable offensive weapon because he can catch and run. Chris is so fundamentally sound that he always has his hands in position to make the catch. He even makes the tough catches look easy. Chris has earned such a great reputation as a pass-catcher that his blocking ability is sometimes overlooked."
Thornhill, a 6-2, 239-pound middle linebacker from Lansing, Mich., leads the Spartans in tackles with 118 (89 solos, 29 assists). The Butkus Award semifinalist also leads the defense in production points with 197 and ranks second in tackles for losses with 13 for 25 yards.
Thornhill has started 38 consecutive games and currently ranks fifth on MSU's all-time tackles chart with 385 career stops. He has 22 career double-figure games in tackles.
"Josh Thornhill has been the model of consistency throughout his career," Williams said. "The greatest compliment I can pay Josh is that he never takes a down off. He goes all out every play both in practices and in games. Josh is a respected leader because he's one of the team's hardest workers, both on and off the field. He also has the ability to make all the players around him play better."