TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State freshman Merlin Robertson added another accolade to his resume today, as he was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman (FWAA) All-America Team.
The team is compiled by a 13-person panel of nationally-prominent college football experts representing each of the FBS conferences along with independents. Both true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are considered for the team.
Robertson is one of 18 true freshmen elected to the team, and one of two Pac-12 student-athletes to earn the honor along with Paulson Adebo of Stanford.
On top of the FWAA honor, the California-native also became the fifth Sun Devil to earn a Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honor when he was voted the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year at the conclusion of the 2018 season.
This All-America honor is his third such accolade this year, as Robertson was also named to the Freshmen All-America team by 247Sports and The Athletic.
Robertson led the Sun Devils in tackles (77), tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (5.0) and added an interception, two breakups, a fumble forced and a fumble recovered during his freshman campaign. He was the first freshman to lead the team in tackles since Jason Shivers in 2001 and the first freshman to lead the team in tackles for loss and sacks since Junior Onyeali in 2010.
He led all FBS freshmen (true or redshirt) with 35 defensive stops this season – tied for 13thamong all Pac-12 defensive players. He also led Pac-12 freshmen (true or redshirt) with 25 total QB pressures this season – second most among all freshmen in a Power Five conference. It was the 12th-most for any player in the Pac-12, regardless of year and second-most among all linebackers in the Pac-12.
Robertson played more snaps than any true freshman in the Pac-12 (749) and was one of just 7 true freshmen nationally to accomplish the feat (5thnationally). He was tied for 7thamong all linebackers in the Pac-12 with just 8 missed tackles this season.
MERLIN ROBERTSON 2018 TROPHY CASE
-Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year
-The Athletic Freshman All-American
-247Sports Freshman All-American
-FWAA Freshman All-American
The team is compiled by a 13-person panel of nationally-prominent college football experts representing each of the FBS conferences along with independents. Both true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are considered for the team.
Robertson is one of 18 true freshmen elected to the team, and one of two Pac-12 student-athletes to earn the honor along with Paulson Adebo of Stanford.
On top of the FWAA honor, the California-native also became the fifth Sun Devil to earn a Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honor when he was voted the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year at the conclusion of the 2018 season.
This All-America honor is his third such accolade this year, as Robertson was also named to the Freshmen All-America team by 247Sports and The Athletic.
Robertson led the Sun Devils in tackles (77), tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (5.0) and added an interception, two breakups, a fumble forced and a fumble recovered during his freshman campaign. He was the first freshman to lead the team in tackles since Jason Shivers in 2001 and the first freshman to lead the team in tackles for loss and sacks since Junior Onyeali in 2010.
He led all FBS freshmen (true or redshirt) with 35 defensive stops this season – tied for 13thamong all Pac-12 defensive players. He also led Pac-12 freshmen (true or redshirt) with 25 total QB pressures this season – second most among all freshmen in a Power Five conference. It was the 12th-most for any player in the Pac-12, regardless of year and second-most among all linebackers in the Pac-12.
Robertson played more snaps than any true freshman in the Pac-12 (749) and was one of just 7 true freshmen nationally to accomplish the feat (5thnationally). He was tied for 7thamong all linebackers in the Pac-12 with just 8 missed tackles this season.
MERLIN ROBERTSON 2018 TROPHY CASE
-Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year
-The Athletic Freshman All-American
-247Sports Freshman All-American
-FWAA Freshman All-American