University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Gainwell Earns Sporting News All-America Honors
Dec 17, 2019 | Football
Click HERE to see the full Sporting News All-American team
MEMPHIS – Freshman running back Kenneth Gainwell was named to the Sporting News' All-America team, Tuesday. Gainwell was named a second team honoree at the list's athlete position after a season that saw him earn American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year and unanimous first team all-conference honors.
Gainwell, a native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, had a breakout season for Memphis. He ranks first among the nation's freshmen with 1,338 rushing yards. Thanks to an additional 512 receiving yards, Gainwell currently ranks eighth in the nation in all-purpose yards (1,850) and was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award.
His 12 rushing touchdowns leads the Tiger roster and he has added an additional three scores on receptions. Against Tulane earlier this season, Gainwell became the first FBS player in over 20 seasons to record over 200 yards receiving and 100 yards rushing in the same game. He also set the Memphis freshman record of seven 100-yard rushing games this season after stepping in as the Tigers' primary back following a game one injury to returning 1,000-yard back Patrick Taylor.
Gainwell is the first Memphis freshman to earn All-America honors. His honor marks the fourth straight year the Tigers have had one of the major All-America honorees on the roster. Darrell Henderson (2018) and Anthony Miller (2017) were NCAA Consensus All-Americans and Tony Pollard was a 2017 Walter Camp All-American after receiving FWAA Freshman All-America honors in 2016.
Gainwell and his Tiger teammates will make the program's first appearance in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on December 28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (home of the Dallas Cowboys). Tickets for the event are on sale at www.GoTigersGoTix.com.
MEMPHIS – Freshman running back Kenneth Gainwell was named to the Sporting News' All-America team, Tuesday. Gainwell was named a second team honoree at the list's athlete position after a season that saw him earn American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year and unanimous first team all-conference honors.
Gainwell, a native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, had a breakout season for Memphis. He ranks first among the nation's freshmen with 1,338 rushing yards. Thanks to an additional 512 receiving yards, Gainwell currently ranks eighth in the nation in all-purpose yards (1,850) and was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award.
His 12 rushing touchdowns leads the Tiger roster and he has added an additional three scores on receptions. Against Tulane earlier this season, Gainwell became the first FBS player in over 20 seasons to record over 200 yards receiving and 100 yards rushing in the same game. He also set the Memphis freshman record of seven 100-yard rushing games this season after stepping in as the Tigers' primary back following a game one injury to returning 1,000-yard back Patrick Taylor.
Gainwell is the first Memphis freshman to earn All-America honors. His honor marks the fourth straight year the Tigers have had one of the major All-America honorees on the roster. Darrell Henderson (2018) and Anthony Miller (2017) were NCAA Consensus All-Americans and Tony Pollard was a 2017 Walter Camp All-American after receiving FWAA Freshman All-America honors in 2016.
Gainwell and his Tiger teammates will make the program's first appearance in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on December 28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (home of the Dallas Cowboys). Tickets for the event are on sale at www.GoTigersGoTix.com.
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