Colorado State University Athletics
CSU's Sisson, Morton earn all-conference honors
12/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 1, 2009
2009 all-Mountain West selections
By Zak Gilbert
Athletic Media Relations
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Playmaking linebacker Mychal Sisson and senior return man Dion Morton have earned second-team all-conference honors, the Mountain West Conference announced Tuesday.
In addition, the Rams’ four stalwart senior offensive linemen, tackle Cole Pemberton, guards Shelley Smith and Adrian Martinez, and senior Tim Walter, along with senior cornerback Nick Oppenneer, received honorable-mention recognition.
Sisson, a 5-11, 203-pound linebacker from Duncanville, Texas, is CSU’s second sophomore linebacker to earn all-conference recognition in as many seasons, joining 2008 honorable-mention selection Ricky Brewer. Sisson, the Rams’ first freshman All-American and an honorable-mention choice in 2008, led CSU in tackles for a second straight year, with 91 (51 solo).
He also tied for the conference lead, and currently ranks tied for 24th nationally, averaging 1.29 tackles for loss per game. His 15.5 tackles for loss in 2009 were the most by a CSU player since future Super Bowl champions Clark Haggans (17) and Joey Porter (16) in 1997. Sisson, who started every game for the Rams, had six sacks this season, the most by a Rams defender since Bryan Save had seven in 2003. Additionally, Sisson broke up five passes, recovered a fumble and forced another.
Morton, a 5-10, 159-pound senior from Riverside, Calif., finished the year with 35 kickoff returns for 862 yards (both CSU single-season records), and a 24.6-yard average, tied for ninth in CSU history. His average also ranked fourth in the MWC. Morton, whose 26.8-yard average in 2007 ranked fourth in program annals, finished with the Rams’ third-best career kickoff-return average, 25.0. Only Randy Beverly (29.5, 1964-65) and Dexter Wynn (26.9, 2000-03) were more dangerous as kickoff returners in CSU history.
Smith and Pemberton are considered the Rams’ top NFL Draft prospects, and each of the four senior linemen are expected to be in NFL camps this summer.
Smith, a 6-4, 300-pound guard from Phoenix, Ariz., played in nine games with eight starts, but did not miss a conference game, allowing only two QB hurries this season. He had nearly 50 knockdown blocks in conference play alone, and 19 “outstanding efforts.” A preseason all-conference selection, he sustained an ankle injury in practice Aug. 29 and missed the season’s first three games. He also entered the year on the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list, the first such CSU player since Erik Pears in 2004, and was voted by teammates an offensive captain.
Pemberton, a 6-7, 318-pound tackle from Highlands Ranch, Colo., allowed only one sack all season, to TCU All-American Jerry Hughes, and only one quarterback hurry in more than 300 passing plays. CSU’s starter in all 12 games, he graded out at 85 percent or better in every game, with nearly 70 knockdown blocks and nearly 30 “outstanding efforts.” Recognized by CollegeFootballNews.com as a third-team midseason All-American Oct. 27, Pemberton was named in the season’s opening week as one of five permanent team captains, one of two on offense (also Smith).
Martinez, a 6-4, 299-pound guard from San Clemente, Calif., started every game in 2009. A four-year starter, he finished with 46 career starts, believed to be the second most among all players in CSU history, behind John Laurita, who started on the offensive line all 47 contests of his career from 1987-90. Martinez graded out better than 80 percent in every game, giving up only two sacks in more than 300 passing plays. A tremendous run blocker, he had more than 60 knockdown blocks and better than 20 “outstanding efforts.” Considered by coaches the Rams’ toughest, nastiest offensive lineman, his off-the-field character and unselfishness in volunteering his time in the community earned him a nomination for the 2009 AllState Good Works Team.
Walter, a 6-6, 289-pound center from Manhattan Beach, Calif., also started every game for the Rams in 2009. A member of the Rimington Trophy watch list for the nation’s top center, Walter snapped the ball on all but one of CSU’s 135 offensive drives, and did not have a single bad snap in more than 700 offensive plays. The vocal leader of CSU’s offense, he allowed only one sack in more than 300 passing plays this year, and had 55 knockdown blocks and nearly 50 “outstanding efforts.” He graded out better than 80 percent in every game, and better than 90 percent in eight of those contests.
Oppenneer, a 5-10, 182-pound cornerback from Littleton, Colo., finished tied for second in the MWC and currently ranks tied for 43rd nationally with 0.33 interceptions per game. His four INTs were the most by a CSU player since Ben Stratton had four in 2003. Oppenneer was one of just two Rams players (Stratton) to reach four interceptions in the past decade, and his four INTs came against NFL prospects Max Hall (BYU), Nathan Enderle (Idaho) and Donovan Porterie (New Mexico), as well as Terrence Cain from nationally ranked Utah. He owns the longest INT return by an MWC player this season, a 97-yard play that gave CSU go-ahead fourth-quarter points at New Mexico (Nov. 21). A former walk-on, he was voted a team captain by his teammates prior to the season.