Bowling Green’s Jones named 1st team All-American; Senior defensive tackle honored on 2 different lists

12/15/2012

BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University’s Chris Jones received two more All-American honors Friday, earning a spot on the first team selected by the Football Writers Association of America and by Phil Steele magazines.

Jones, a senior defensive tackle for the Falcons, was named to the Associated Press All-American third team on Tuesday.

“This is an extreme honor,” Jones said. “The personal recognition I appreciate, but Bowling Green's program is getting recognition as well.

“It’s a really cool feeling. It's nothing I can complain about. But all I can think about is that it's such an honor.”

The senior from Brownsburg, Ind., is just the second Falcon to be named to the FWAA team. The other was Freddie Barnes, who was selected as a wide receiver in 2009.

Jones is the first BG player to earn berths on multiple All-American teams since 1994, when kicker Brian Leaver was chosen first team All-American by Football News magazine and the Associated Press.

Jones, who was named to the All-Mid-American Conference first team and MAC defensive player of the year, currently ranks third in the nation with 12.5 sacks and is tied for seventh with 19.0 tackles for loss, both career bests.

This season he also has 41 tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, five quarterback hurries, and a pass break-up. Jones had a sack in 8-of-12 games and recorded a tackle for loss in 10 contests.

“Having this as a goal of mine, to be an All-American, and to achieve it is mind-blowing,” he said. “I know how difficult it is, especially for people coming from a quote-unquote mid-major college. To see my name up there with guys from Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, and the SEC schools is pretty cool.”

Jones is part of a Falcons defensive unit that ranks seventh in the nation in total defense (289.7), seventh in pass defense (173.0), ninth in scoring defense (15.8), and 15th in rush defense (116.7). BG also ranks sixth on third downs (28.5%) and ninth in sacks (37.0).

“Our defense is No. 1 in the MAC, and I think people seeing that gave me a boost towards this award,” Jones said.

Jones is one of two Mid-American Conference players honored by the FWAA, joining kickoff returner Dri Archer of Kent State. This is the first time more than one MAC player has been on the team in the award’s 69-year existence.