Dec. 20, 2005
Record-setting junior wide receiver Jeff Samardzija was named to The Sporting News All-America first-team on Tuesday, Dec. 20, giving the Valparaiso, Ind., native his eighth All-America certificate of the 2005 season. Samardzija led Notre Dame in receptions (71), receiving yards (1,190) and touchdown receptions (15) while helping the Irish (9-2) earn a berth in the 2006 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl to face No. 4 Ohio State on Jan. 2, 2006.
Samardzija’s receiving yardage and touchdown reception total both set school records this season and his 15 scoring grabs led the nation (along with USC’s Dwayne Jarrett). In addition, Samardzija set a school record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass by nabbing at least one scoring toss in Notre Dame’s first eight games of the season.
Samardijza has now earned All-America honors nine times in 2005 and will be in the running for Consensus All-America honors – which will be announced in January of 2006. He also was one of three finalists for the 2005 Biletnikoff Award (nation’s top wide receiver), shared Notre Dame’s Team MVP Award with classmate/quarterback Brady Quinn and was named ESPN.com’s Independent Newcomer of the Year.
Samardzija’a All-America honors –
First Team
Football Writers Association of America (FWAA)
Sports Illustrated
The Sporting News
ESPN.com
CBS Sportsline.com
Rivals.com
Second Team
The Associated Press
Walter Camp Football Foundation