Oct. 20, 2010
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State freshman running back Ronnie Hillman has been named to Phil Steele's 2010 Midseason All-American team Wednesday as a fourth-team selection. The La Habra, Calif. native has enjoyed a stellar first six games of the season, rushing for 785 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns.
With his selection, Hillman joins an elite list of seven other running backs also named Phil Steele Midseason All-Americans, headlined by LaMichael James (Oregon), Kendall Hunter (Oklahoma St.), John Clay (Wisconsin) and DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma). Hillman has the added distinction of being the only freshman offensive player recognized on the list and one of only two offensive players recognized from the Mountain West Conference.
Hillman's All-America selection comes just a day after 11 Aztecs were named to Steele's Midseason all-MWC team. Hillman was a first-team pick on that list, along with wide receivers Vincent Brown and DeMarco Sampson and linebacker Miles Burris. Hillman also has three MWC player-of-the-week awards to his name, making him the only Aztec to ever earn three in a single season.
Hillman is currently the seventh-leading rusher in the nation with his 130.83 yards per game. That total also makes him the top freshman rusher in the country.
Hillman has enjoyed some of his best games in key Aztec victories this year. The freshman rushed for 150 yards and four touchdowns in his breakout game against New Mexico State, which the Aztecs won 41-21. Last week against No.23 Air Force, the freshman ran for 191 yards on 24 carries, including 65 and 44-yard touchdown runs that surged San Diego State to the upset victory - their first over a ranked team in 14 years.
Hillman also flashed his explosive running style in a close loss to unbeaten Missouri, where he accumulated 235 yards on the ground on 23 carries, including two touchdowns.
Hillman and the rest of the Aztec football team will continue their Mountain West Conference schedule this week when they travel to Albuquerque, N.M. for a Saturday evening game at the University of New Mexico. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. PT and the match-up will be televised live on The Mtn.