AP Names Hackett and Orchard All Americans

To be named NCAA consensus All America in football, a player must be named to the AP, Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), American Football Coaches Association, (AFCA), and Sporting News. Utah junior punter Tom Hackett and senior defensive lineman Nate Orchard are two fifths of the way to that lofty goal, having today been named to the Associated Press All-America team. Hackett was selected for the first-team, while Orchard made the second team.

Hackett is one of just five first-team A.P. All-Americans in Utah history, along with defensive lineman Star Lotulelei (2012), kicker Louie Sakoda (2008), offensive lineman Jordan Gross (2002), and defensive lineman Luther Ellis (1994). The Australian punter won the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter and is a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 pick. He leads the FBS in punts inside the 20-yard line (35) and inside the 10-yard line (19), and ranks second nationally in punt average (47.0). He has landed 35-of-77 (45.5%) punts inside the 20 this season, a percentage that leads the conference. Utah ranks third in the nation in net punting (42.81).

Orchard is the 2014 Morris Trophy winner, which is presented to the Pac-12's best defensive lineman, as selected by the league's starting offensive linemen. The man formerly known as Nate Fakahafua is the Utes second recipient of the prestigious Morris Trophy, as Lotulelei was also awarded the trophy in 2011. (It's interesting to note that the Morris Trophy is also given each year to an outstanding offensive lineman, which no Utah player has yet won.) Orchard also won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's best defensive end.

Orchard leads the nation in sacks per game (1.46) and is second in total sacks (17.5). His 17.5 sacks is a Utah single-season record. He is fourth in the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.7) and ranks fifth in total tackles for loss (20.0). Over the course of the 2014 season, Orchard has amassed 81 total tackles.