Stokes, Morton Joined by Freshman Merten on AP All-American Team

Southland football fans knew that receivers J.J. Stokes of UCLA and Johnnie Morton of USC had outstanding seasons. Now all of America knows it.

Stokes, Morton and UCLA kicker Bjorn Merten were named to the Associated Press All-American first team Wednesday.

Morton set a Pacific 10 record with 1,373 receiving yards and tied the conference record with 78 catches. Stokes had 17 touchdown receptions, tying the Pac-10 mark, including a 95-yarder.

Merten made 20 of 25 field-goal attempts and became only the fourth freshman to make the first team, joining running backs Tony Dorsett, Herschel Walker and Marshall Faulk.

Faulk made the team for the third consecutive year, the first player to do that since Walker from 1980-82. Faulk led the nation with 24 touchdowns.

Florida State’s Charlie Ward, who is expected to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday, is the first-team quarterback.

Ward directed top-ranked Florida State’s offense, which led the NCAA in scoring with a 43.2-point average. Ward was the nation’s fourth-leading passer, completing 69% for 3,032 yards, 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

Joining Ward and Faulk in the backfield is Northern Illinois’ LeShon Johnson, the nation’s leading rusher with a 179.6-yard average. Johnson twice gained over 300 yards in a game and finished with the fourth-highest rushing total (1,976 yards) in NCAA history.

Lombardi Award winner Aaron Taylor and Rob Waldrop made the team for the second consecutive year.

Taylor, an offensive tackle from Notre Dame, anchored a line that opened holes for the country’s sixth-best rushing attack. Waldrop, a nose guard for Arizona, spearheaded a defense that gave up an NCAA-low 30.1 yards per game on the ground.

Another record-setter, Wyoming’s Ryan Yarborough, joined Stokes and Morton at wide receiver. Yarborough caught 67 passes for 1,512 yards to become the NCAA’s all-time leader in receiving yardage leader with 4,357. He finished second in touchdown catches with 42.

The all-purpose player is Alabama’s David Palmer, who was used as a runner, receiver, quarterback, punt returner and kickoff returner. Palmer set school records with 61 receptions for 1,000 yards and gained more than 100 all-purpose yards in every game.

UCLA linebacker Jamir Miller made the second team. Offensive tackle Vaughn Parker of the Bruins was named to the third team.

Local All-Americans

J.J. STOKES, WIDE RECEIVER, UCLA

Rec Yds Avg TD Long 68 1,005 14.8 17 95

*JOHNNIE MORTON, WIDE RECEIVER, USC

Rec Yds Avg TD Long 78 1,373 17.6 12 72

*BJORN MERTEN KICKER, UCLA

FG-A Long XP-A Pts 20-25 47 31-34 91