Mitch Wishnowsky Clinches Consensus All-American

Utah’s punter Mitch Wishnosky is just pulling in all the post season accolades, and now he can be considered a consensus All-American after being named to the AP and the Football Writers Association of America first teams on Monday. Hunter Dimick was also named to those teams, but on the 2nd and 3rd teams respectively.

This is an impressive haul for the sophomore, whose career is just beginning. It’s also great to see Snacks getting all of these post season awards as well. Here’s to hoping both get named to the AFCA team in a couple of days.

Here’s the release from the Utah SID:

SALT LAKE CITY—Utah sophomore punter Mitch Wishnowsky has qualified for consensus All-America status after being named to the Associated Press and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) first teams today. With only the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) team left to be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 14, Wishnowsky has made the first team on four of the five teams that count toward consensus All-American. Last week, he was named to the Walter Camp and Sporting News’ teams.

Joining Wishnowsky on the FWAA and AP All-America teams was Utah senior defensive end Hunter Dimick, who made the FWAA second team and was a third-team AP All-American. Dimick was previously named a second-team Walter Camp All-American.

When the NCAA makes its official announcement next Thursday, Wishnowsky will become Utah’s sixth consensus All-American all-time and the third –straight punter. Utah’s other consensus All-Americans were defensive lineman Luther Elliss (1994), offensive lineman Jordan Gross (2002), defensive back Eric Weddle (2006), kicker Louie Sakoda (2008) and punter Tom Hackett (2014 and 2015).

If Wishnowsky makes the AFCA first team, he will become Utah’s third unanimous consensus All-American, joining Sakoda (2008) and Hackett (2015) as the first-team pick of all five consensus squads.

Wishnowsky, who last week was named the 2016 Ray Guy Award winner as the nation’s best punter, has led Utah to a No. 1 national ranking in net punting (44.90) in his first NCAA season. He ranks second in the nation in punt average (48.0), while leading the country in punts inside the 20-yard line (34, tied) and punts inside the 10-yard line (17). He is also No. 1 in nationally in punts of 50+ yards (28, tied) and ranks second in percentage of punts inside the 20 (56.67%, 34-of-60).

Dimick, a 2016 first-team All-Pac-12 Conference honoree and an Academic All-American, leads the Pac-12 and is tied for third in the nation in sacks (14.5) and is tied for fourth nationally in tackles for loss (20.5). A four-year starter, Dimick has a school-record 29.5 career sacks and his 44.5 career tackles for loss is third all-time at Utah. He is currently tied for the team lead in pass breakups with six and ranks fourth in tackles with 53.

Utah has had 18 players make the Associated Press All-America teams, including six first-team selections: Elliss (1994), Gross (2002), Sakoda (2008), defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (2012), Hackett (2014 and 2015) and Wishnowsky.

Utah has produced 15 FWAA first-team All-Americans, including four punters: Wishnowsky, Hackett (2014, 2015), Sakoda (2007) and Marv Bateman (1970). The FWAA All-America team is the second-longest continuously-published team in major college football. The FWAA began publishing a second team in 2013 and Dimick is Utah’s first second-team selection.

2016 All-America Honors

Mitch Wishnowsky

Sporting News (1st team)

Walter Camp (1st team)

Associated Press (1st team)

FWAA (1st team)

ESPN.com (1st team)

USA Today (1st team)

Sports Illustrated (1st team)

Pro Football Focus (1st team)

SB Nation (1st team)

Sports on Earth (1st team)

College Sports Madness (1st team)

Hunter Dimick

Walter Camp (2nd team)

FWAA (2nd team)

Associated Press (3rd team)

Sports on Earth (2nd team)

College Sports Madness (2nd team)

Marcus Williams

Pro Football Focus (2nd team)

Garret Bolles

USA Today (2nd team)