Colorado State University Athletics
Higgins earns 1st-team All-Mountain West honors
12/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Mountain West announced its all-conference football selections Tuesday afternoon, with nine Colorado State players being recognized.
Junior wide receiver Rashard Higgins headlined the group, being named to the conference's first team. Hayden Hunt (P), Cory James (LB), Nick Stevens (QB) and Fred Zerblis (OL) were named to the league's second team, while Sam Carlson (OL), Kivon Cartwright (TE), Kevin Davis (LB) and Trent Matthews (S) earned honorable mention accolades.
Higgins, a 2014 consensus All-American, also earned first-team All-MW honors as a sophomore in 2014. Additionally, Hunt, James, Matthews and Zerblis were named honorable mention in 2014, while Cartwright earned the nod in 2013. CSU has had at least nine selections in three consecutive seasons
Higgins leads the MW and ranks 27th nationally with eight receiving touchdowns, including three in a win over UNLV. The junior is averaging 84.8 receiving yards per game (second in the MW, 26th nationally), including 6.0 receptions per contest. He holds CSU's career touchdowns (32) and receptions (230) records, and is 115 yards shy of the Rams' receiving yards mark.
Hunt is one of three national finalists for the Ray Guy Award, where he will be recognized next week in Orlando at the College Football Awards Show. His net average (42.4) ranks second in the FBS while his gross average (46.3) ranks fourth. Among finalists, Hunt has the highest percentage of punts inside the 20 (46.0) and fewest touchbacks (2.0).
James, who has split time at middle linebacker and defensive end, has 65 tackles on the season, and ranks second on the team with 10.0 for loss, including 2.0 sacks. He will close his career ranked in the top four in CSU and MW history for career sacks.
In his first season starting, Stevens has etched his named into CSU's record books, passing for 2,369 yards and 21 touchdowns - second and first, respectively, in the MW. The passing yards are the most by a sophomore quarterback in CSU history, while the touchdown total ranks fifth among all Rams quarterbacks. His six touchdown passes in the season opener tied a school record.
Zerblis has helped block for an offense that ranks third in the MW with 417.0 yards per game, and is among the nation's leaders for tackles for loss allowed (4.58 per game; 12th), sacks allowed (1.17 per game; 15th), third-down conversions (45.0 percent, 23rd), fourth-down conversions (62.5 percent, 24th), first downs (22.58 per game, 35th) and red-zone offense (87.5 percent, 38th).
Carlson is in his second season starting on the line and recently accepted an invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. A year after missing all but one game due to injury, Cartwright has 18 receptions for 279 yards and two scores. Davis leads all Rams with 95 tackles and 14.0 tackles for loss - 10th and fifth in the MW, respectively - in addition to an interception and fumble recovery for a touchdown. Matthews is CSU's third-leading tackler (79) and has forced four takeaways, including three in a win at Wyoming.
The awards are determined by vote of the league's coaches and media who cover MW teams. CSU has secured a third consecutive winning season, and will learn its bowl game destination - also for the third year in a row - on Sunday. The Rams have won four games in a row.
