Trio of Gators Receive All-America Honors
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 | Football
Jarrad Davis, Teez Tabor and Johnny Townsend all garnered All-America accolades from various outlets.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Three Gators earned nine collective All-America honors for their performances throughout the 2016 season, playing vital roles in helping Florida return to the SEC Championship for the second-consecutive season and make an appearance in the Outback Bowl.
Cornerback Teez Tabor received FWAA All-America second team, AFCA second team, CBS Sports second team, Sports Illustrated second team and AP third team honors. Tabor, who was also an AP and Coaches All-SEC first team selection this season, led Florida with four interceptions, including one he returned for a 39-yard touchdown. He also broke up five passes, recovered a fumble and made 32 tackles.
Punter Johnny Townsend earned CBS Sports All-America first team and Fox Sports second team honors. Townsend, a repeat AP and Coaches All-SEC second-teamer and Ray Guy Award semifinalist, averaged 48.0 yards off 60 punts. Twenty-eight punts went for 50+ yards, and 25 punts landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Linebacker Jarrad Davis received CBS Sports All-America second team and Sporting News second team honors. Despite missing three games due to injury, Davis racked up 60 tackles, good for second-most on the team. He also broke up four passes and had five quarterback hurries. Additionally, Davis was named as one of 19 finalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, one of five finalists for the 2016 Pop Warner College Football Award and Butkus Award, a semi-finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award and a Coaches All-SEC second-team member.
Outback Bowl
Florida (8-4) accepted an invitation from the Outback Bowl to play Iowa (8-4) on Jan. 2 in Tampa. The schools have met three times previously with the last two meetings coming in the Outback Bowl. The Gators are ranked No. 20 in the latest AP Top 25, and Iowa is No. 21. Florida checked in at 17th, and Iowa was unranked in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Florida and Iowa first played 33 years ago when the Gators beat the Hawkeyes 14-6 in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. Twenty years passed before they met again, a 37-17 Iowa victory after the 2003 season. Two years later, the Gators avenged that loss in Urban Meyer's first season at UF with a 31-24 victory.
The Gator Ticket Office began taking ticket orders for the 2017 Outback Bowl on Monday, Dec. 5. All season ticket holders can order online at FloridaGators.com/tickets, visit the Gator Ticket Office or call their order in.
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