Jack Conklin Named Sporting News First-Team All-American
12/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. â€" Michigan State junior offensive tackle Jack Conklin has been named a first-team All-American by Sporting News. The Sporting News All-America Team, which dates back to 1934, was announced on Tuesday.
Previously, Conklin has earned All-America honors from USA TODAY (first team), Associated Press (second team), Football Writers Association of American (second team), Walter Camp (second team), and SI.com (honorable mention). Conklin is the first Spartan offensive tackle to be named a first-team All-American since Flozell Adams in 1997.
A first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media, Conklin was named Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week a team-best four times (Western Michigan, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State) during the regular season. Although he missed two games (Purdue, Rutgers) with a leg injury, Conklin still collected 65.5 knockdowns and graded out a winner in eight of his 10 regular-season games.
The Plainwell, Michigan, native began his junior season by being named the Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week against Western Michigan, and followed that effort with a team-best 9.5 knockdowns in the win over No. 7 Oregon.
After missing two games, Conklin registered a Big Ten Championship level grade for his performance in the win at No. 12 Michigan, which included 7.5 knockdowns, to earn Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week laurels. He picked up the award for the second week in a row with eight knockdowns vs. Indiana.
Following MSU's 17-14 win at No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 21, Conklin again was named the Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week as Michigan State rushed for 203 yards against the nation's third-ranked defense and ended the defending National Champion Buckeyes' 23-game winning streak. In the regular-season finale at Penn State, Conklin compiled 8.5 knockdowns and the Spartans held the Nittany Lions without a sack for the first time all season.
Conklin has seen action in 38 career games, including 37 starts (34 at left tackle, three at right tackle). A three-year starter, Conklin has helped the Spartans to two Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015) and two bowl wins (2014 Rose, 2015) during his time in the starting lineup, in addition to a berth in the College Football Playoff this season. With a healthy offensive line, the Spartans have averaged 188.3 rushing yards per game over the last three contests, including wins over No. 2 Ohio State, Penn State and No. 4 Iowa.
Michigan State, which finished No. 3 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, will face No 2 Alabama (12-1 overall, 7-1 SEC) in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, with the semifinal scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It marks MSU's second-straight appearance in the Cotton Bowl Classic, as the Spartans rallied from a 20-point deficit for a 42-41 win over No. 4 Baylor in 2015.
