SDSU FOOTBALL'S DONNEL PUMPHREY NAMED SPORTING NEWS SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN

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Aztec senior picks up third career All-America honor

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 7, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey was named a 2016 Sporting News Second-Team All-American, the publication announced Wednesday. The Aztec senior was one of just four running backs to appear on both the first and second-team lists, which included 26 players apiece.

With his award, Pumphrey garnered the third All-America accolade of his career after receiving honorable mention by Sports Illustrated in 2014 and 2015. He also becomes the first SDSU player to collect All-America honors from the Sporting News since Gavin Escobar earned freshman distinction in 2010.

Pumphrey, the first San Diego State player to win two league offensive player-of-the-year awards in program history, has compiled a school-record 2,018 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 330 carries (6.1 avg.) this season, while adding a team-high 26 catches for 205 yards (7.9 avg.). One of four players in FBS to lead his team in rushing yards and catches, Pumphrey is ranked second in the country in rushing yards (2,018), rushing yards per game (155.2) and all-purpose yards (2,229), despite not playing in the fourth quarter in four of the past seven games.

A finalist for the Doak Walker Award (top running back), and semifinalist for the Maxwell Award (college player of the year) and Walter Camp Player-of-the-Year award, Pumphrey had a streak of nine games with at least 100 rushing yards earlier this season, the second longest in school history and the longest in MW history. Pumphrey is the first offensive player in MW history with three first-team honors (2014-16) and the third player overall, joining former Aztecs Kirk Morrison (2002-04) and Leon McFadden (2010-12).

Against Wyoming in the MW Championship game on Dec. 3, Pumphrey ran for 110 yards on 25 carries with one touchdown to help SDSU claim its second straight conference title and 21st in program history.

With his total, Pumphrey surpassed Ricky Williams for second place on the all-time NCAA FBS rushing list with 6,290 yards.

Pumphrey and the Aztecs (10-3) will square off against Houston (9-3) in the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 12:30 p.m. PT. The game will be played at Sam Boyd Stadium and will be broadcast nationally by ABC.


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