SAN JOSE, Calif. – Tennessee defensive back Bryce Thompson was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team on Monday following his standout first collegiate season.
Thompson was the nation’s No. 1-rated true freshman cornerback by PFF College at the end of the regular season and totaled 34 tackles, 4.0 TFLs, three interceptions, seven PBUs and 10 passes defended.
He collected All-SEC Freshman Team honors last month and his three interceptions ranked third in the SEC.
Thompson started 10 games and grabbed SEC Freshman of the Week honors after tallying two TFLs and an interception in his first-career start – a win over ETSU in Week 2.
He was named to the PFF College SEC Defensive Team of the Week three different times.
The FWAA Freshman All-America Team is the most prestigious of the freshman All-America honors. A 13-person panel of nationally-prominent college football experts representing each of the FBS conferences along with independents selected the team.
Thompson is the 10th Vol to collected FWAA Freshman All-America honors, which began in 2001. He gives Tennessee back-to-back FWAA All-Americans following offensive lineman Trey Smith’s selection in 2017.
The Irmo, S.C., native is the first Tennessee defensive back selected to the team since Eric Berry in 2007.
Thompson joins redshirt freshman punter Joe Doyle as UT’s freshman All-America honorees for 2018. Doyle, who led the SEC in total punting yards, was named to the USA Today Freshman All-America team in December.
Tennessee FWAA Freshman All-Americans (All-Time, 2001 – present)
2018 Bryce Thompson, CB
2017 Trey Smith, G
2014 Derek Barnett, DE
2011 A.J. Johnson, LB
2010 James Stone, C
2009 Aaron Douglas, OL
2007 Eric Berry, DB
2004 Roshaun Fellows, CB
2003 James Wilhoit, PK
2001 Kelley Washington, WR
2018 FWAA Freshman All-America Team
Offense
QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
QB Adrian Martinez, Nebraska
RB Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
RB Anthony McFarland, Maryland
WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
WR Jayden Reed, Western Michigan
WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
OL Trace Clopton, Southern Miss
OL Keegan Cryder, Wyoming
OL James Empy, BYU
OL Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
OL Cade Mays, Georgia
OL Isaiah Wilson, Georgia
Defense
DL Jordan Davis, Georgia
DL Jamal Hines, Toledo
DL Juwuan Jones, WKU
DL Austin Lewis, Liberty
LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
LB Carlton Martial, Troy
LB Merlin Robertson, Arizona State
LB Mike Rose, Iowa State
DB Paulson Adebo, Stanford
DB Andrea Cisco, Syracuse
DB Adrian Frye, Texas Tech
DB Caden Sterns, Texas
DB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
DB Bryce Thompson, Tennessee
Specialists
P Clayton Howell, Appalachian State
K Andre Szmyt, Syracuse
KR K.J. Hamler, Penn State
PR Marcus Hayes, New Mexico
AP Pooka Williams Jr., Kansas
Head Coach
Josh Heupel, UCF
2018 FWAA Freshman All-America Committee
Shaun Alexander
Mark Anderson (MW)
Mark Blaudschun (ACC)
Scott Dochertman (Big Ten)
Andrew Greif (Pac-12)
Blair Kerkhoff (Big 12)
Doug Smock (Conference USA)
Ron Higgins (SEC)
John Wagner (MAC)
Mark Giannotto (American Athletic)
Steve Richardson
Mike Griffith (Chair/Independents)
Tommy Hicks (Sun Belt)
-UT Athletics
