Dec. 15, 2009

NEW YORK -Baylor senior center J.D. Walton was selected to The Associated Press All-America first team, the news organization announced Tuesday. Walton is the 47th Baylor player to earn All-America honors, the first selected to the AP team since Daniel Sepulveda in 2006 and the first non-special teams player honored by the service since Santana Dotson in 1991.

"I'm very excited and honored to represent Baylor on an All-America team," Walton said. "This has been one of my goals since I started playing football. Seeing Smooth (Jason Smith) get All-America honors last year made me realize that it was a possibility for me. Thanks to Coach (Art) Briles, Coach (Randy) Clements and all of our offensive linemen and the whole team."

"This is a big-time honor for J.D., for Baylor University and for the Baylor football program," head coach Art Briles said. "The reason J.D. is receiving these accolades is because of his dedication, his effort and his teamsmanship that he displayed this year."

Walton, one of six finalists for the 2009 Rimington Trophy and the No. 1-rated NFL Draft prospect at the center position among seniors by ESPN's Mel Kiper, recorded 112 knockdowns in 12 games this season (9.3 per game). He earned a coach's grade of 90 percent or higher in nine of 12 games with no grade lower than 86 percent.

The senior from Allen, Texas, earned first-team All-Big 12 honors from Rivals.com, second-team All-Big 12 honors by the league's coaches, Phil Steele, the San Antonio Express-News and the Waco Tribune-Herald and All-Big 12 honorable mention honors by the AP. He has been invited to the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine games. Walton was also on watch lists for this year's Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award.

Walton finished his career with 36 consecutive starts at Baylor after transferring from Arizona State in 2006. He was selected honorable mention All-Big 12 in 2008 by the AP after anchoring an offensive line that generated 2,349 rushing yards, the most at Baylor since 1981, as well as 29 rushing touchdowns.

Walton was one of seven Big 12 players - and five offensive players - named to the AP All-America first team.

BAYLOR FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA QUICK FACTS
Last BU All-American: 2008 OT Jason Smith (FWAA)
Last BU AP All-American: 2006 P Daniel Sepulveda
Last BU All-American, non-kicker (any outlet): 1995 S Adrian Robinson
Last BU AP All-American, non-kicker: 1991 DT Santana Dotson
Last BU All-American on offense (any outlet): 1983 WR Gerald McNeil
Last BU AP All-American on offense: 1983 WR Gerald McNeil

WALTON 2009 HONORS
All-America, 1st team (AP) 2009 Rimington Trophy finalist
All-Big 12, 1st team (Rivals.com)
All-Big 12, 2nd team (coaches, Phil Steele, S.A. Express-News, Waco Tribune-Herald)
All-Big 12, honorable mention (AP)
Baylor Co-Offensive MVP
Senior Bowl invitee
East-West Shrine game invitee
2009 Outland Trophy watch list
2009 Rotary Lombardi Award watch list

ALL-TIME BAYLOR FOOTBALL ALL-AMERICANS
Wesley Bradshaw, halfback 1921
Barton Koch, guard 1930
Frank James, end 1933
Jim Tom Petty, end 1933
Joe Jack Pearce, back 1933
Billy Patterson, quarterback 1938
Sam Boyd, end 1938
Bob Nelson, center 1940
Jack Russell, end 1940
Jack Wilson, halfback 1940
J.D. Ison, end 1949
Adrian Burk, quarterback 1949
Bill Athey, defensive guard 1951
Ken Casner, defensive tackle 1951v Stanley Williams, end 1951
Larry Isbell, quarterback 1951
Jerry Coody, halfback 1952
L.G. Dupre, halfback 1952
Jack Sisco, center 1952
James Ray Smith, offensive tackle 1953, 1954
Bill Glass, offensive guard 1956
Ronnie Bull, halfback 1960, 1961
Don Trull, quarterback 1963
Lawrence Elkins, flanker 1963, 1964
Greg Pipes, defensive tackle 1967
Roger Goree, defensive tackle 1972
Derrel Luce, linebacker 1974
Aubrey Schulz, center 1974
Mike Hughes, offensive tackle 1975
Gary Green, defensive back 1976
Gary Don Johnson, nose guard 1976
Mike Singletary, linebacker 1978, 1979, 1980
Frank Ditta, offensive guard 1980
Walter Abercrombie, running back 1980
Vann McElroy, free safety 1981
Charles Benson, defensive end 1982
Mark Adickes, offensive tackle 1983
Gerald McNeil, wide receiver 1983
Thomas Everett, free safety 1985, 1986
Robert Blackmon, strong safety 1989
James Francis, linebacker 1989
Robin Jones, defensive end 1991
Santana Dotson, defensive tackle 1991
Adrian Robionson, safety 1995
Daniel Sepulveda, punter 2004, 2005, 2006
Joe Pawelek, linebacker 2008
Jason Smith, offensive tackle 2008
J.D. Walton, center 2009

2009 ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB - Colt McCoy, Texas
RB - Toby Gerhart, Stanford
RB - Mark Ingram, Alabama
WR - Golden Tate, Notre Dame
WR - Jordan Shipley, Texas
OT - Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
OT - Trent Williams, Oklahoma
OG - Michael Johnson, Alabama
OG - Mike Iupati, Idaho
C - J.D. Walton, BAYLOR
TE - Aaron Hernandex, Florida
All-Purpose - C.J. Spiller, Clemson
PK - Leigh Tiffin, Alabama

DEFENSE
DE - Jerry Hughes, TCU
DE - Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
DT - Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
DT - Terrence Cody, Alabama
LB - Rolando McClain, Alabama
LB - Greg Jones, Michigan State
LB - Eric Norward, South Carolina
CB - Joe Haden, Florida
CB - Javier Arenas, Alabama
S - Earl Thomas, Texas
S - Eric Berry, Tennessee
P - Drew Butler, Georgia