Leading the nation in interceptions with 14, University of Louisville sophomore safety Gerod Holliman received a spot on the Associated Press All-America first team on Tuesday.
A native of Miami, Fla., Holliman is the first Cardinal since Elvis Dumervil in 2005 to be named to an Associated Press All-America squad.
This year, there were a total of 26 student-athletes on the AP first team, and.Holliman is just four underclassmen to earn one of those spots.
Holliman is not a stranger to national attention this season. After tying an NCAA record for most interceptions in a season, Holliman won the Jim Thorpe Award on Dec. 10 for the nation’s top defensive back and was a first team Walter Camp All-American.
When it comes to league awards, Holliman was a first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection by both the media and coaches.
Holliman recorded interceptions in nine of 12 games this season, and produced multiple interceptions in four games, including a career-high three interceptions in a 38-19 win over Boston College on Nov. 8.
In 2014, Holliman recorded 37 tackles and one sack this season.
The Cardinals will play Georgia on Dec. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
The Associated Press All-America team.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Marcus Mariota, junior, 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, Oregon
Running backs — Melvin Gordon, junior, 6-1, 213, Wisconsin; Tevin Coleman, junior, 6-1, 210, Indiana.
Tackles — Brandon Scherff, senior, 6-5, 320, Iowa; Spencer Drango, junior, 6-6, 310, Baylor.
Guards — Tre Jackson, senior, 6-4, 330, Florida State; Laken Tomlinson, senior, 6-3, 320, Duke.
Center — Reese Dismukes, senior, 6-3, 296, Auburn.
Tight End — Nick O’Leary, senior, 6-3, 247, Florida State.
Wide receivers — Amari Cooper, junior, 6-1, 210, Alabama; Rashard Higgins, sophomore, 6-2, 188, Colorado State.
Kicker — Roberto Aguayo, sophomore, 6-1, 203, Florida State.
All-purpose player — Shaq Thompson, junior, 6-1, 228, Washington.
DEFENSE
Ends — Joey Bosa, sophomore, 6-5, 278, Ohio State; Vic Beasley, senior, 6-3, 235, Clemson.
Tackles — Malcolm Brown, junior, 6-2, 320, Texas; Danny Shelton, junior, 6-2, 339, Washington.
Linebackers — Scooby Wright III, sophomore, 6-1, 246, Arizona; Hau’oli Kikaha, senior, 6-3, 246, Washington; Paul Dawson, senior, 6-2, 230, TCU.
Cornerbacks — Senquez Golson, senior, 5-9, 176, Mississippi; Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, senior, 5-10, 195, Oregon.
Safeties — Landon Collins, junior, 6-0, 222, Alabama; Gerod Holliman, sophomore, 6-2, 213, Louisville.
Punter — Tom Hackett, junior, 5-11, 187, Utah.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Trevone Boykin, junior, TCU
Running backs — James Conner, sophomore, Pittsburgh; Ameer Abdullah, senior, Nebraska.
Tackles — La’el Collins, senior, LSU; Andrus Peat, junior, Stanford.
Guards — Arie Kouandjio, senior, Alabama; A.J. Cann, senior, South Carolina.
Center — Hroniss Grassu, senior, Oregon.
Tight End — Maxx Williams, sophomore, Minnesota.
Wide receivers — Kevin White, senior, West Virginia; Rashad Greene, senior, Florida State.
Kicker — Brad Craddock, junior, Maryland.
All-purpose player — Tyler Lockett, senior, Kansas State.
DEFENSE
Ends — Shane Ray, junior, Missouri; Nate Orchard, senior, Utah.
Tackles — Leonard Williams, junior, Southern California; Robert Nkemdiche, sophomore, Mississippi.
Linebackers — Eric Kendricks, senior, UCLA; Benardrick McKinney, junior, Mississippi State; Jaylon Smith, sophomore, Notre Dame.
Cornerbacks — Vernon Hargreaves III, sophomore, Florida; Jacoby Glenn, sophomore, Central Florida.
Safeties — Jalen Ramsey, sophomore, Florida State; Cody Prewitt, senior, Mississippi.
Punter — JK Scott, freshman, Alabama.
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — J.T. Barrett, redshirt freshman, Ohio State.
Running backs — Jay Ajayi, junior, Boise State; Samaje Perine, freshman, Oklahoma.
Tackles — Cedric Ogbuehi, senior, Texas A&M; Jake Fisher, senior, Oregon.
Guards — Shaquille Mason, senior, Georgia Tech; Ben Beckwith, senior, Mississippi State.
Center — Jack Allen, junior, Michigan State.
Tight End — Clive Walford, senior, Miami.
Wide receivers — Justin Hardy, senior, East Carolina; Nelson Agholor, junior, Southern California.
Kicker — Josh Lambert, sophomore, West Virginia.
All-purpose player — J.J. Nelson, senior, UAB.
DEFENSE
Ends — Shawn Oakman, junior, Baylor; Randy Gregory, junior, Nebraska.
Tackles — Michael Bennett, senior, Ohio State; Eddie Goldman, junior, Florida State.
Linebackers — Denzel Perryman, senior, Miami; Mike Hull, senior, Penn State; Eric Striker, junior, Oklahoma.
Cornerbacks — Trae Waynes, junior, Michigan State; Kendall Fuller, sophomore, Virginia Tech.
Safeties — Kurtis Drummond, senior, Michigan State; Su’a Cravens, sophomore, Southern California.
Punter — Austin Rehkow, sophomore, Idaho.
