Tight end Dallin Holker was named a First-Team All-American by College Football Network, and a Second-Team All-American by the Associated Press, FWAA, USA TODAY, and Sports Illustrated. Edge rusher Mohamed Kamara earned Second-Team All-America from College Football Network and the FWAA. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Nuer Gatkouth was named to The Athletic’s Freshman All-America Team.
Keep in mind the AP All-American Team has yet to be announced, and Holker or Kamara could land there, too.
Colorado State star tight end Dallin Holker the most decorated Ram
Holker was arguably the best tight end in the nation this year.
In fact, his 64 receptions and 767 yards were most among all tight ends in the nation this year. He also scored six times through the air, and ran a touchdown in as well.
Not only were the numbers impressive, but one of those touchdowns was legendary.
The Rams had never beaten Boise State until this year, and Holker’s Hail Mary catch gave Colorado State the win in Week 7.
Still, most every publication put Georgia tight end Brock Bowers on their First Team. Bowers finished the year with 56 receptions for 714 yards and 6 touchdowns. However, he did play for the bigger program in Georgia, the defending back-to-back National Champions.
Bowers and Holker are going head-to-head tonight—along with Ohio State’s Code Stover—for the John Mackey Award. That’s given to the top tight end in the nation. For comparison’s sake, Stover had 41 receptions for 576 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Simply, Holker’s numbers are better than the other two, but will he win?
The Mackey Award winner will be announced tonight during ESPN’s College Awards Show which starts at 5 p.m. MT.
Of note: College Football Network also gave him Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Mohamed Kamara enjoys a legendary season for the Rams
Kamara was a disrupting factor like we haven’t seen in Fort Collins since Shaquil Barrett a decade ago.
The extraordinary edge finished with 56 total tackles, 13 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass defended. That fumble recovery was crucial in the win over Middle Tennessee State, too.
His 13 sacks landed him in a tie for third-most in the nation behind Javon Solomon (16) and Trey Moore (14). Colorado State’s Kamara also was named All-Conference by the Mountain West as well as Defensive Player of the Year.
Nuer Gatkouth is a star in the making
Losing Kamara next year will hurt CSU’s defense, but at least they sill have Gatkouth on the line.
The freshman played in 10 games this year, and enjoyed 53 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, an interception, forced a fumble, and broke up two passes.