COLLEGE STATION – Three Aggies earned All-America honors from Phil Steele Publications released today. Senior punter Shane Tripucka led the way with third-team All-America honors, followed by senior safety Armani Watts and junior all-purpose player Christian Kirk named to the fourth-team All-America squad.
Tripucka, from Allen High School, helped the Aggies lead the SEC in net punting at 43.4 yards per kick. His overall punting average was 46.1 with 30 kicks of 50-plus yards. Tripucka killed 23 of his kicks inside the 20 and forced 33 fair catches. The senior ranks second in the NCAA in net punting, behind only Ray Guy award winner Michael Dickson of Texas. Additionally, Tripucka ranks fifth in the country in gross punting average at 46.1 yards per punt. Tripucka's season average ranks fifth on the all-time Texas A&M list, while his career average of 44.6 yards per punts stands third in the record books.
Watts, from Forney, Texas, was recognized for a strong senior season that included 87 tackles, including 10.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and two blocked kicks in 12 regular season games. Watts posted double-digit tackles in four games, including a season-high 13 vs. UCLA. Perhaps his biggest play of the season was his pickoff in the end zone that clinched the Aggies' 50-43 overtime win over Arkansas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Kirk, a junior from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, is the active FBS career leader in punt return average with 22.8 yards per return. He is the only SEC player to have both a punt return for a touchdown and a kickoff return for a touchdown in 2017. Kirk holds the Texas A&M school record for career punt returns for a touchdown (six) as well as the most punt returns for touchdowns in a single season (three in 2016). As a wide receiver, Kirk has had at least two receptions in every game he has played for Texas A&M (38 straight entering the 2017 Belk Bowl).
The Aggies will face Wake Forest on Dec. 29 in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the Belk Bowl. Kick is scheduled for 12 noon central/1 pm eastern and will be televised by ESPN.
Tripucka, from Allen High School, helped the Aggies lead the SEC in net punting at 43.4 yards per kick. His overall punting average was 46.1 with 30 kicks of 50-plus yards. Tripucka killed 23 of his kicks inside the 20 and forced 33 fair catches. The senior ranks second in the NCAA in net punting, behind only Ray Guy award winner Michael Dickson of Texas. Additionally, Tripucka ranks fifth in the country in gross punting average at 46.1 yards per punt. Tripucka's season average ranks fifth on the all-time Texas A&M list, while his career average of 44.6 yards per punts stands third in the record books.
Watts, from Forney, Texas, was recognized for a strong senior season that included 87 tackles, including 10.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and two blocked kicks in 12 regular season games. Watts posted double-digit tackles in four games, including a season-high 13 vs. UCLA. Perhaps his biggest play of the season was his pickoff in the end zone that clinched the Aggies' 50-43 overtime win over Arkansas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Kirk, a junior from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, is the active FBS career leader in punt return average with 22.8 yards per return. He is the only SEC player to have both a punt return for a touchdown and a kickoff return for a touchdown in 2017. Kirk holds the Texas A&M school record for career punt returns for a touchdown (six) as well as the most punt returns for touchdowns in a single season (three in 2016). As a wide receiver, Kirk has had at least two receptions in every game he has played for Texas A&M (38 straight entering the 2017 Belk Bowl).
The Aggies will face Wake Forest on Dec. 29 in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the Belk Bowl. Kick is scheduled for 12 noon central/1 pm eastern and will be televised by ESPN.