South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw named AP first-team All-American
South Carolina star defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw has picked up the biggest honor of his career yet, getting named to the first team of the Associated Press’s All-American squad on Monday.
A defensive tackle out of Charleston, Kinlaw exploded up NFL draft boards with a standout senior year. A midseason AP All-American as well, he recorded 35 tackles with six sacks, a top-10 mark in the SEC, and two fumble recoveries, a team best, while generating consistent pressure in the middle of the line.
Last week, Kinlaw was named a second-team All-American by USA Today and The Athletic. He was also selected as a second-team All-SEC player by the media and first-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches.
Kinlaw is the second player in as many years from the Gamecocks to earn All-American plaudits — last season, Deebo Samuel got nods from the Football Writers Association of America and the American Football Coaches Association as a kick returner and all-purpose back, respectively. The last Gamecock to be recognized by the Associated Press was defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney, in 2012.
Other Gamecocks named first-team All-Americans by other organizations this decade include Alshon Jeffery (2010), Melvin Ingram (2011), Jadeveon Clowney (2012 and 2013), Kelcy Quarles (2013), A.J. Cann (2014) and Samuel
All told, the Gamecocks have had four consensus All-Americans in program history — Clowney, Ingram, George Rodgers and Del Wilkes. In order to be designated a consensus All-American, a player must be named by at least three of five organizations: Associated Press, Sporting News, FWAA, AFCA and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 12:22 PM.
