November 29, 2004
Texas A&M University led all schools with four freshmen being named to either the first or second team Rivals.com Freshman All-America squad.
Defensive tackle Joseph "Red" Bryant and center Chris Yoder were tabbed to the first-team unit and safety Japhus Brown and defensive end Jason Jack were named to the second-team squad.
All four young men were redshirt freshmen who helped the Aggies post a 7-4 regular-season record and await word on which bowl trip the team will make.
"I am proud of these young men and they definitely helped our team get better this year," Aggie Head Coach Dennis Franchione said. "All of our team approached off-season and summer workouts with a greater intensity and focus and it paid dividends this fall. We had 17 first-time starters crack the starting lineup and many others played key roles in our depth. I mentioned many times how this group of redshirt freshmen brought a certain air of confidence to the competition for positions, as well as competing hard on game days."
Bryant, from Jasper High School, started every game this season as a defensive tackle and made 33 stops including 3.5 for losses with 1.5 quarterback sacks. He broke up two passes and was a force in the middle as the Aggies' run defense improved a great deal from 2003.
Yoder, from Kingwood High School, started all 11 games at center and graded out well averaging 10 knockdowns per game including a season-high 18 knockdowns against Clemson. The Aggie offense ranked among the country's best as far as balance between the run and the pass.
Brown, from Edna High School, made nine starts at safety for the Aggies and led the team with three interceptions and recorded 58 tackles.
Jack, from Humble High School, started 10 games at defensive end and gave the Aggies a strong push on the outside of the formation and was strong enough to play the running game. He ended the regular season with 48 tackles with six coming behind the line of scrimmage.
Rivals.com 2004 Freshman All-America First Team
OFFENSE
QB-- Chad Henne, Michigan
RB-- Michael Hart, Michigan
RB-- Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
WR-- Dwayne Jarrett, USC
WR-- Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
TE-- Zach Miller, Arizona State
OT-- Sam Baker, USC
OT-- Jake Long, Michigan
C-- CHRIS YODER, TEXAS A&M
OG-- Charlston Gray, North Carolina
OG-- Martin O'Donnell, Illinois
DEFENSE
DE-- Wallace Gilberry, Alabama
DE-- Quentin Groves, Auburn
DT-- JOSEPH "RED" BRYANT, TEXAS A&M
DT-- Tony Jenkins, Syracuse
LB-- Brian Toal, Boston College
LB-- Dan Connor, Penn State
LB-- Brandon Siler, Florida
CB-- Roshaun Fellows, Tennessee
CB-- Antoine Cason, Arizona
S-- Anthony Reddick, Miami
S-- Ko Simpson, South Carolina
SPECIALISTS
P-- Chris MacDonald, Arizona State
PLK- Travis Bell, Georgia Tech
PR-- Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State
KR-- Prentiss Elliott, Oklahoma State
Util-- Michael Bumpus, Washington State
Rivals.com 2004 Freshman All-America Second Team
OFFENSE
QB-- Erik Ainge, Tennessee
RB-- Jamario Thomas, North Texas
RB-- Marshawn Lynch, California
WR-- Todd Blythe, Iowa State
WR-- Ernie Wheelwright, Minnesota
TE-- Martin Rucker, Missouri
OT-- Barry Richardson, Clemson
OT-- Matt Brim, Wake Forest
C-- Adam Spieker, Missouri
OG-- Will Arnold, Florida
OG-- Peter Graniello, Arizona
DEFENSE
DE-- JASON JACK, TEXAS A&M
DE-- Lawrence Jackson, USC
DT-- Chris Norwell, Illinois
DT-- Ricky Abren, Kentucky
LB-- Jonathan Abbate, Wake Forest
LB-- Jordon Dizon, Colorado
LB-- Josh Williams, Arkansas State
CB-- Jonathan Hefney, Tennessee
CB-- Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh
S-- JAPHUS BROWN, TEXAS A&M
S-- Justin Harrison, Illinois
SPECIALISTS
P-- Kenneth DeBauche, Wisconsin
PLK- Connor Barth, North Carolina
PR-- Danny Amendola, Texas Tech
KR-- Chris Davis, Duke
Util.-- Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech