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Ryan Niblett named an On3 second-team All-American

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook4 hours agojosephcook89

Ryan Niblett was named a second-team All-American return specialist by On3 on Wednesday. Niblett was the only Longhorn to earn a selection to one of On3’s two All-America teams.

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Niblett, a sophomore from Houston (Texas) Eisenhower, returned 19 punts this year for 448 yards. He had two pivotal punt returns for touchdowns. The first was a 75-yarder versus Oklahoma which sealed Texas’ 23-6 win over the Sooners in the Cotton Bowl. The second was a 79-yarder at Mississippi State which tied the game at 38 with just under two minutes remaining. The Longhorns would go on to defeat the Bulldogs 45-38 in overtime.

“I just knew something had to be done,” Niblett said after the Mississippi State game. “I feel like I was messing up before the game. I was trying. I was letting it all weigh on me. Coach (Jeff Banks) ripped me on the punt return before that, I cut it up. He was like ‘take the ball to the wall.’ All I did was trust him. I took the ball to the wall and it just opened up for me.”

Niblett also had 10 kick returns for 198 yards with a long of 25 recorded versus San Jose State.

“His role has evolved,” Sarkisian said in October. “In spring, this guy was playing DB. And then he comes over, he’s playing receiver, and then we move him into running back. And nobody thought in this room, ourselves included, we didn’t think he’d be the kick returner or the punt returner coming into the season, but his role has evolved as the season goes on.”

Niblett was also named to the All-SEC second team on Tuesday as the return specialist.

On3’s first-team selection at return specialist was Kaden Wetjen of Iowa. Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion was the first-team All-SEC return specialist selection.

On3 First-Team All-Americans

Offense

QB: Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
RB: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
RB: Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
WR: Makai Lemon, USC
TE: Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
OT: Spencer Fano, Utah
OG: Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
C: Jake Slaughter, Florida
OG: Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
OT: Francis Mauigoa, Miami
All-Purpose: Emmett Johnson, Nebraska

Defense

Edge: David Bailey, Texas Tech
DT: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
DT: Tyrique Tucker, Indiana
Edge: Caden Curry, Ohio State
OLB: Arvell Reese, Ohio State
LB: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
LB: CJ Allen, Georgia
CB: Mansoor Delane, LSU
CB: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
S: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
S: Louis Moore, Indiana

Special teams

PK: Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
P: Brett Thorson, Georgia
Return Specialist: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa

On3 Second-Team All-Americans

QB: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
RB: Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss
RB: Kaytron Allen, Penn State
WR: Skyler Bell, UConn
WR: Carnell Tate, Ohio State
TE: Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
OT: Carter Smith, Indiana
OG: Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
C: Parker Brailsford, Alabama
OG: Beau Stephens, Iowa
OT: Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
All-Purpose: Wayne Knight, James Madison

Edge: Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
DT: A’Mauri Washington, Oregon
DT: A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech
Edge: Stephen Daley, Indiana
LB: Aiden Fisher, Indiana
LB: Sonny Styles, Ohio State
CB: D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
CB: Treydan Stukes, Arizona
S: Jakobe Thomas, Miami
S: Bishop Fitzgerald, USC

PK: Kansei Matsuzawa, Hawaii
P: Wes Pahl, Oklahoma State
Return Specialist: Ryan Niblett, Texas

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