Despite only starting four games this season, David Reese ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 49.
Taylor, Reese Picked to FWAA Freshman All-America Team
Monday, January 9, 2017 | Football
Jawaan Taylor and David Reese have been selected to the FWAA Freshman All-America team.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor and linebacker David Reese have been selected to the FWAA Freshman All-America team, the outlet announced on Monday.
Taylor, who was also announced as a Coaches Freshman All-SEC member and an ESPN true freshman All-American, started every game but one in the 2016 season at right tackle. He provided what head coach Jim McElwain described as "infectious energy" to the offensive line and helped running backs Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett to a combined five games of 100+ rushing yards.
Reese, a Michigan native, had huge shoes to fill when senior Jarrad Davis was injured during the Arkansas game on Nov. 5. However, he filled them admirably. Florida's rookie linebacker started the final three games of the regular season and the SEC Championship, and he earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in Florida's win at LSU on Nov. 19. Making only his second-career start, he led the Gators in tackles with 12, which surpassed his previous season-high of 11 tackles that he made against South Carolina. Tiger running backs Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice had entered Saturday's game averaging 133.8 and 97.9 yards respectively on the ground. Fournette was held to 40 yards, while Guice scored LSU's only touchdown of the game and rushed for just 83 yards.
Overall on the season, Reese finished with 49 tackles and two tackles for loss. He was also tabbed an SEC All-Freshman team honoree by Gridiron Now.
Florida finished 9-4 in 2016 and was the SEC Eastern Division champion with a 6-2 league mark.
2016 FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE (15)
QB • Sam Darnold, USC, 6-4, 225 (Capistrano Beach, Calif.)
RB • Justice Hill, Oklahoma State, 5-10, 171 (Tulsa, Okla.)
RB • Benny Snell, Kentucky, 5-11, 220 (Westerville, Ohio)
RB Mike Weber, Ohio State, 5-10, 212 (Detroit, Mich.)
WR • Ty Lee, Middle Tennessee, 5-9, 155 (Moultrie, Ga.)
WR • Ahmmon Richards, Miami, 6-1, 192 (Wellington, Fla.)
WR • Demetris Robertson, California, 6-0, 175 (Savannah, Ga.)
TE • Isaac Nauta, Georgia, 6-4, 246 (Buford, Ga.)
OL Ryan Bates, Penn State, 6-4, 305 (Warrington, Pa.)
OL • Ben Bredeson, Michigan, 6-5, 310 (Hartland, Wis.)
OL • Michael Jordan, Ohio State, 6-7, 310 (Canton, Mich.)
OL • Zach Shackelford, Texas, 6-3, 290 (Belton, Texas)
OL • Thomas Shoaf, BYU, 6-5, 280 (Columbus, Ind.)
OL • Jawaan Taylor, Florida, 6-5, 340 (Cocoa, Fla.)
AP Donnie Corley, Michigan State, 6-2, 186 (Detroit, Mich.)
DEFENSE (15)
DL • Brian Burns, Florida State, 6-5, 218 (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
DL • Dre'Mont Jones, Ohio State, 6-3, 280 (Cleveland, Ohio)
DL • Dexter Lawrence, Clemson, 6-5, 340 (Wake Forest, N.C.)
DL • Ed Oliver, Houston, 6-2, 290 (Houston, Texas)
DL • Reggie Walker, Kansas State, 6-2, 239 (Ponchatoula, La.)
LB • Troy Dye, Oregon, 6-4, 225 (Norco, Calif.)
LB • Leo Lewis, Mississippi State, 6-2, 240 (Brookhaven, Miss.)
LB • David Reese, Florida, 6-0, 244 (Farmington, Mich.)
LB • Josiah Tauaefa, UTSA, 6-1, 230 (Corinth, Texas)
LB • Logan Wilson, Wyoming, 6-2, 225 (Casper, Wyo.)
DB • Jessie Bates, Wake Forest, 6-2, 200 (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
DB • Xavier Crawford, Oregon State, 6-1, 182 (Pittsburg, Calif.)
DB • Clifton Duck, Appalachian State, 5-10, 175 (Matthews, N.C.)
DB • Javon Hagan, Ohio, 6-0, 211 (Jacksonville, Fla.)
DB • Taylor Rapp, Washington, 6-0, 202 (Bellingham, Wash.)
SPECIALISTS (4)
K • Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia, 6-1, 191 (Marietta, Ga.)
P • Tom Sheldon, North Carolina, 6-3, 200 (Echuca, Australia)
PR • Malik McGue, Army, 5-8, 174 (Johnson City, Tenn.)
KR • Tony Pollard, Memphis, 5-11, 200 (Memphis, Tenn.)
HEAD COACH
Clay Helton, USC and Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech
• Denotes true freshman
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
RB
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