Leinart’s Among Trojans Honored

USC is No. 1 in All-Americans too.

Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart and three of his Trojan teammates were selected to the Associated Press All-American team that was announced Monday.

Tailback Reggie Bush, defensive lineman Shaun Cody and linebacker Matt Grootegoed joined the quarterback on the first team. Bush, a Heisman finalist, was picked as the all-purpose player.

“It’s really a tribute to the kind of season we’ve had,” said Leinart, in New York for the Heisman banquet. “It just speaks volumes for our program.”

The junior left-hander has passed for 2,990 yards and 28 touchdowns this season, leading the top-ranked Trojans (12-0) and becoming USC’s sixth Heisman Trophy winner.

Oklahoma tailback Adrian Peterson, the Heisman runner-up who has 1,843 yards and 15 touchdowns, is the first freshman AP All-American since North Carolina cornerback Dre’ Bly in 1996.

Peterson was joined on the first team by teammate Jammal Brown, a tackle.

The Sooners (12-0) will play the Trojans in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4 for the national title.

Oklahoma quarterback Jason White, a first-team All-American and the Heisman Trophy winner last season, was a third-team selection Monday. Utah’s Alex Smith was the second-team quarterback.

USC was tied with Michigan for the most first-team members and had six players on the three AP All-American teams, the most of any school. USC defensive tackle Mike Patterson and linebacker Lofa Tatupu were selected to the third team.

California running back J.J. Arrington, second in the nation in rushing at 167.7 yards a game, was selected to the first team.

Tennessee offensive lineman Michael Munoz was selected to the first team, outdoing his father. Anthony Munoz was never an AP All-American when he was a star offensive lineman at USC from 1976 to 1979.

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North Carolina State’s T.A. McLendon, an injury-prone tailback who never matched the promise he showed as a freshman, will give up his senior season to make himself eligible for the NFL draft.