Jan. 3, 2003
Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame senior cornerback Shane Walton was named a 2002 consensus All-American today. Walton becomes the first Irish player to earn such distinction since cornerback Bobby Taylor in 1994.
Walton was one of seven players unanimously selected to the team. To be a unanimous selection, you must appear on the first team of the following teams: Associated Press, Football Writers’ Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Foundation and The Sporting News. In addition to Walton, Michigan State’s Charles Rogers, Iowa’s Dallas Clark, Penn State’s Larry Johnson, Arizona State’s Terrell Suggs, Ohio State’s Mike Doss and Kansas State’s Terence Newman were also unanimous selections.
Walton had an incredible year for the Irish, who finished the season with a 10-3 overall record. The senior from San Diego, Calif., finished the year fifth on the Irish team with 68 tackles, including 46 solos. He recorded seven interceptions, returning two for touchdowns and seven pass breakups. He was named the FWAA Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts versus Michigan and was one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Year Award, becoming the first Notre Dame player ever nominated for the award. He also was voted the Irish team most valuable player and one of four team captains for the 2002 season.
The following is the 2002 Consensus All-America Football Team:
Offense
WR * Charles Rogers, Michigan State
WR Reggie Williams, Washington
Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma State
TE * Dallas Clark, Iowa
OL Shawn Andrews, Arkansas
OL Eric Steinbach, Iowa
OL Derrick Dockery, Texas
OL Jordan Gross, Utah
C Brett Romberg, Miami
QB Carson Palmer, USC
RB * Larry Johnson, Penn State
PK Mike Nugent, Ohio State
AP/KR Derek Abney, Kentucky
DefenseDL Terrell Suggs, Arizona State
DL David Pollack, Georgia
DL Rien Long, Washington State
DL Tommie Harris, Oklahoma
LB E.J. Henderson, Maryland
LB Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma
LB Matt Wilhelm, Ohio State
DB * Mike Doss, Ohio State
DB * Terence Newman, Kansas State
DB * Shane Walton, Notre DameDB Troy Polamalu, USC
P Mark Mariscal, Colorado
* - unanimous selection