Shenault Named Pac-12 All-Conference First Team; Six Others Honored

SAN FRANCISCO – Sophomore WR Laviska Shenault Jr. was named to the Pac-12 Football All-Conference First-Team, the league office announced Tuesday.

Additionally, LB Rick Gamboa, DT Mustafa Johnson, LB Nate Landman, RB Travon McMillian, OT Will Sherman and DB Evan Worthington were honorable mention selections.

Shenault is just the second offensive player and fifth overall to earn first-team honors since the Buffs joined the Pac-12 in 2011; WR Paul Richardson was a first-team selection in 2013. DE Jimmie Gilbert and S Ryan Moeller (all-purpose player) were named first team in 2016 and last season CB Isaiah Oliver garnered the first-team honor.

Shenault finished the 2018 season with 86 receptions for 1,011 yards and six touchdowns. He also added 17 rushes for 115 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Missing three-and-a-half games due to injury and playing the last three games of the season at less than 100 percent, he still managed to lead the nation in receiving at 9.6 receptions per game, exactly 1.0 reception per game more than any other player in the country.

Shenault was the only player through conference championship games nationally to have at least five touchdowns both receiving and rushing. He's the second player in CU history to accomplish that feat alongside WR Mike Pritchard, who did so in 1990 aided by playing the season-opening Tennessee game at tailback and rushing 20 times for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

Gamboa was second on the team in tackles in his senior season with 96, or 8.0 per game, and he also added an interception, two forced fumbles and four pass break-ups for the Buffs. Gamboa started the final 49 games of his career finished with 388 tackles, sixth-most in CU history and most in more than a decade since Jordon Dizon recorded 440 from 2004-07.

Johnson had a breakout sophomore season after coming to CU from Modesto Junior College, finishing with 73 tackles and leading the Buffs with 8.5 sacks and 17.5 total tackles for loss. He also led the Buffs with 16 quarterback pressures. His 17.5 tackles for loss rank 10th most in CU history and it's the most by a Buff in 25 seasons since Ron Wookfork had 18 in 1993.

Landman, another break-out sophomore for the Buffs, led the team in tackles with 123, or 10.3 per game, and also had 13 tackles for loss including four sacks and had another 12 tackles for no gain. He had a knack for big plays with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five pass break-ups. He had two fourth-down stops and eight additional third down stops.

McMillian, a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech, made the most of his decision to come to Colorado and help replace the void left by Phillip Lindsay. He finished with the 17th 1,000-yard rushing season in program history with 201 rushes for 1,009 yards, averaging over 5.0 yards per carry. He also had seven touchdowns. Along with Lindsay's two 1,000-yard seasons in 2016 and '17, this is the second three-year stretch with 1,000 yard rushers in CU history and first since 1988-90. Along with Shenault's 1,000-yard receiving season, the two become the rusher and receiver to go over 1,000 yards in the same season in CU history.

Sherman, one of three freshman starters on the offensive line, started the final nine games and played every offensive snap at right tackle for the Buffs. On the season, he played in 750 offensive plays, the second-most on the team, and had 14 knock down blocks, 11 touchdown blocks and 10 perfect plays on touchdown passes.

Worthington, a fifth-year senior from Aurora, Colo., closed out his senior season recording 48 tackles in nine games, an average of 5.3 per game, and had six pass break-ups and one interception. In his career, he played in 33 games and had 162 tackles with four interceptions and 14 pass break-ups.

The Associated Press team is expected to be released later this week.

Colorado University Athletics

Shenault Named Pac-12 All-Conference First Team; Six Others Honored

Players Mentioned

Rick Gamboa

Jimmie Gilbert

Mustafa Johnson

Nate Landman

Phillip Lindsay

Travon McMillian

Ryan Moeller

Isaiah Oliver

Laviska Shenault Jr.

Evan Worthington

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