May 24, 2007
seniors Ryan Torain, Josh Barrett and Jonathan Johnson were each named to the 2007 Rivals.com All-Reliable Team, the website announced Thursday.
The team recognizes the most consistent and dependable offensive, defensive and special teams players nationwide.
In his first season at ASU, Torain showcased one of the most impressive seasons by a Sun Devil tailback in recent history by rushing for 1,229 yards on 223 carries (5.5 avg.) with seven rushing touchdowns in 2006. The first Sun Devil to surpass 1,000 rushing yards since the 2001 season, the Shawnee Mission, Kan., native lost only one fumble on the season and lost the fewest yards (50) among all Pac-10 ballcarriers to rush over 185 times for the season. A reliable back with the power to break tackles and the speed to evade defenders, Torain figures to be a focal point of the Sun Devil offense as a senior in 2007.
Barrett became one of the most dependable defensive backs in the Pac-10 Conference, earning honorable mention All-Pac-10, while being named ASU's Defensive Most Valuable Player. A rare combination of incredible size (6-3, 231) and elite speed, the , native started all 13 games at safety for the Sun Devils, leading the team in tackles (82) and interceptions (three), while also tallying 7.5 tackles-for-loss and six pass break-ups. Equally consistent on and off the field, Barrett earned first-team Pac-10 All-Academic recognition as a junior in 2006 and is one of eight active Sun Devils to have already earned his undergraduate degree, doing so in May of 2007.
A position that had previously been a concern at ASU became a tremendous strength in 2006, as punter Jonathan Johnson enjoyed an excellent debut season at ASU. On the year, the former junior college transfer averaged 41.5 yards on 54 attempts, without suffering a blocked punt. He also forced fair catches or dropped punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line on 39 percent of his kicks (12 inside the 20, nine fair catches).
The Sun Devils kickoff the 2007 season on Sept. 1 (7 p.m.) at Sun Devil Stadium against .
Rivals.com All-Reliable Team
Quarterbacks
Andre Woodson,
Colt
John David Booty, USC
Shaun Carney, Air Force
Stephen McGee, A&M
Riley Skinner,
Paul Smith,
Jeremy Young,
Running Backs
Mike Hart,
Tech
Joseph Doss,
-Lafayette
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Ole Miss
Chad Hall, Air Force
Ray Rice,
Shannon Woods, Tech
Wide Receivers
Derek Kindler,
Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt
Dorien Bryant, Purdue
Harry Douglas,
Marcus Everett, UCLA
Shawn Nelson,
Brett Swain,
Jomar Wright, Duke
Offensive Linemen
Jake Long,
Sam Baker, USC
Royce Blackledge,
Matt Butler,
Jason Fox,
Doug Legursky,
Jonathan Luigs,
Barry Richardson, Clemson
Daniel Sanders,
Roy Scheuning,
Defensive Players
Terrence Wheatley, CB,
Josh Barrett, S,
Jasper Brinkley, LB,
, ,
Antoine Cason, CB,
Matthew Castelo, LB,
Jordan Dizon, LB,
Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Red Keith, LB,
, ,
Lionell Singleton, DB, International
Eric Wicks, S,
Wesley Woodyard, LB,
Kickers
Art Carmody,
Connor
Brandon Coutu,
Garrett Hartley,
Conor Lee,
Jason Ricks,
Alexis Serna,
Patrick Shadle,
Sam Swank,
Punters
Andrew Larson,
Tech
Michael Hughes,
Tony Mikulec,
Waylon Prather,
Truman Spencer,