University of North Carolina Athletics
Cooper Named To SI Preseason All-America Team
August 9, 2012 | Football
NEW YORK --- North Carolina senior guard Jonathan Cooper was named to the 2012 Sports Illustrated Preseason All-America First Team, the magazine announced Thursday on SI.com. Cooper, who has also been named to the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Trophy watch lists this preseason, is one of five Atlantic Coast Conference players featured on the two All-America squads.
A senior stalwart from Wilmington, N.C., Cooper has started 35 career games, primarily at left guard. He saw action on 864 plays and graded out at 86 percent a year ago. He was a second-team All-ACC selection as a junior and is the most veteran member of the seasoned Tar Heel line. Cooper is joined on the first team offensive line by tackles Ricky Wagner of Wisconsin and Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M, guard Chance Warmack of Alabama and center Barrett Jones of Alabama.
FIRST TEAM
QB Matt Barkley, Sr., USC
RB Montee Ball, Sr., Wisconsin
RB Marcus Lattimore, Jr., South Carolina
WR Robert Woods, Jr., USC
WR Sammy Watkins, So., Clemson
TE Tyler Eifert, Jr., Notre Dame
T Ricky Wagner, Sr., Wisconsin
G Jonathan Cooper, Sr., North Carolina
C Barrett Jones, Sr., Alabama
G Chance Warmack, Sr., Alabama
T Luke Joeckel, Jr., Texas A&M
DE Jadeveon Clowney, So., South Carolina
DT Kawann Short, Sr., Purdue
DT Star Lotulelei, Sr., Utah
DE Sam Montgomery, Jr., LSU
LB Jarvis Jones, Jr., Georgia
LB Manti Te'o, Sr., Notre Dame
LB Chase Thomas, Sr., Stanford
CB Tyrann Mathieu, Jr., LSU
S T.J. McDonald, Sr., USC
S Eric Reid, Jr., LSU
CB David Amerson, Jr., NC State
K Quinn Sharp, Sr., Oklahoma State
P Brad Wing, So., LSU
Returns Tyrann Mathieu, Jr., LSU
All-purpose De'Anthony Thomas, So., Oregon
SECOND TEAM
QB Geno Smith, Sr., West Virginia
RB Rex Burkhead, Sr., Nebraska
RB Kenjon Barner, Sr., Oregon
WR Marquess Wilson, Jr., Washington State
WR Marqise Lee, So., USC
WR Keenan Allen, Jr., Cal
T Chris Faulk, Jr., LSU
G Travis Frederick, Jr., Wisconsin
C Gabe Ikard, Jr., Oklahoma
G Omoregie Uzzi, Sr., Georgia Tech
T D.J. Fluker, Jr., Alabama
DL Brandon Jenkins, Sr., Florida State
DL Alex Okafor, Sr., Texas
DL William Gholston, Jr., Michigan State
DL Jackson Jeffcoat, Jr., Texas
LB Arthur Brown, Sr., Kansas State
LB Khaseem Greene, Sr., Rutgers
LB Shayne Skov, Jr., Stanford
CB Jonathan Banks, Sr., Mississippi State
S Tony Jefferson, Jr. Oklahoma
S John Boyett, Sr., Oregon
CB Brodrick Brown, Sr., Oklahoma State
K Caleb Sturgis, Sr., Florida
P Ryan Allen, Sr., Louisiana Tech
Returns Tyler Lockett, So., Kansas State
All-purpose Tavon Austin, Sr., West Virginia
Conference breakdown:
SEC - seven teams and 14 players
Pac 12 - six teams and 12 players
Big 12 - five teams and 11 players
ACC - five teams and 5 players
Big Ten - four teams and 6 players
Big East - one team and 1 player
Independent - one team and 1 player
WAC - one team and 1 player
