Dec. 17, 2015
CLEVELAND, Ohio - San Diego State football players Calvin Munson, Damontae Kazee and Rashaad Penny garnered Phil Steele's 2015 Postseason All-America honors, while an additional 10 Aztecs were named to the 2015 Postseason All-Mountain West team, the organization announced today.
Munson was named to the defense's third team, while Kazee and Penny were each fourth team selections on the defense and special teams, respectively.
It marks the first time in program history that SDSU has placed three players in one season on an All-America first, second, third or fourth team.
Munson was an All-MW first team selection this season, totaling a team-high 92 tackles so far along with team bests in tackles for loss (14.5), sacks (9.0) and fumble recoveries (2, tied). He also has two interceptions (both for touchdowns), two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and six quarterback hurries. Munson is tied for the most interceptions returned for a touchdown in San Diego State single-season history (Leon McFadden - 2012, Tory Nixon - 1984).
A second-team All-America selection by USA Today and a Sports Illustrated All-American honorable mention, Kazee has 69 tackles (team-high 53 solo) to go along with 5.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 13 starts this year. For his efforts, Kazee was named the MW Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection.
The Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, Penny, a PR/KR on the All-MW first team, was SDSU's first special teams player of the year and the only return specialist on the MW first team in league history. Penny ranks third on the team with 1,175 all-purpose yards through 13 games (90.4 avg.), including 704 kick return yards on 23 returns (30.6 avg.) with two touchdowns (97 and 100 yards). Among the NCAA leaders, he is third in FBS in kick return average and fifth in kick return touchdowns.
The Aztecs saw 10 additional players named to Phil Steele's 2015 Postseason All-MW teams.
Alongside Munson, Kazee and Penny's spots on the first team, Donnel Pumphrey, Pearce Slater, Alex Barrett and Jake Fely also garnered the top all-conference nods at their respective positions. Nico Siragusa and J.J. Whittaker took home second team nods, while Jon Sanchez, Christian Heyward, Malik Smith and Donny Hageman captured third team spots.
An All-American honorable mention according to Sports Illustrated, Pumphrey has rushed for 1,554 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, while adding a team-high 27 catches for 397 yards and three more touchdowns. Pumphrey, who was chosen as the MW Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-league pick, ranks sixth in the country in all-purpose yards (1,951), is tied for seventh in points among non-kickers (114), sits ninth in rushing yards and is 14th in rushing touchdowns.
Barrett, a 2015 All-MW first team selection, has recorded 59 tackles (30 solo) on the season to go along with 13 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, a 10-yard interception, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup. His 59 tackles are the most among the Aztec defensive linemen (next highest is 38). Earlier this season, he became the first SDSU defensive lineman on the all-conference team since Antwan Applewhite in 2006 and just the third in MW history.
A 2015 All-MW second team honoree, Fely ranks second on SDSU with 77 tackles, despite missing almost two complete games with an injury. He also has a team-high three forced fumbles, 8.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, 1.5 sacks and a pass breakup. Fely is ranked second in the MW and tied for 32nd in FBS in forced fumbles per game (0.25).
Slater, who earlier this month made all-conference for the first time in his career, has allowed just four sacks in 259 dropbacks (0.15 pct.) and had 40 knockdowns on the year. Fellow offensive lineman Siragusa, who also took home his first all-conference honors this season, has not allowed a sack in 259 dropbacks (0.0 pct.) and recorded 33 knockdowns through the first 10 games of the year. The duo are the first offensive line pair to earn first team all-conference honors in MW history, and the first in any league since 1998 (WAC - Pacific Division). They anchor a team that ranks sixth in the nation in red zone offense (93.6 pct.), 15th in rushing yards per game (235.3) and 20th in time of possession (32:30).
Whittaker, who was named to the league's second team for the second straight year and now has three all-conference selections over his career (also honorable mention in 2013), has 45 tackles (31 solo), three interceptions, is tied for the team-high with eight pass breakups, 0.5 tackles for loss and has a quarterback hurry in 13 starts.
Heyward, earning a spot on the honorable-mention MW team for the first time, has posted 31 tackles in 10 games (nine starts) this year. He also has 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and five quarterback hurries.
Sanchez, who also picked up his first career league award with an All-MW honorable mention, has made 38 tackles (20 solo), including eight tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, a pass breakup and four quarterback hurries in 13 starts. He is one of three players to play every game over the last four seasons (51 total).
Earlier this season, Smith captured an All-MW honorable-mention selection for a second consecutive year. In 13 starts, he has made 72 tackles (tied for third on the team) with four tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, four interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. He has an interception in four of the last six games.
Hageman is 17-for-22 (.773) on field goal attempts on the season and 51-for-51 on PAT's. He's also has kicked off 79 times for 4,980 yards, averaging 63.0 yards per boot. Additionally, he has a long field goal of 54 yards (twice), which is tied for the second-longest field goal in Aztec history. One of just two kickers in SDSU history with multiple 50-plus-yard field goals (54 and 54) in the same season (Chris O'Brien (50 and 51) in 1984)), Hageman picked up All-MW honorable mention accolades, becoming the first San Diego State kicker on the all-conference team since Abelardo Perez was a second-team pick in 2010.
San Diego State (10-3) plays Cincinnati (7-5) on Dec. 24 in the Hawai'i Bowl. The Aztecs have won their last nine games, the third-longest active streak in the nation. SDSU finished a perfect 8-0 record in the Mountain West regular season and defeated Air Force, 27-24, on Dec. 5 in the 2015 Sports Authority MW Championship for the school's 20th conference title. San Diego State is one of just 25 schools to advance to six straight bowl games and one of just three "Group of 5" programs.
Tickets for the Hawai'i Bowl are on sale now and available for $45 with no limit on the amount of tickets allowed to be purchased. Season-ticket holders will be given priority seat placement (by points). Additionally, a special ticket and tailgate combo is available for $70. Fans also have the opportunity to sponsor a spirit squad member, a member of the military or a youth for $45.
Tickets are available through GoAztecs.com, Qualcomm Window E or by calling (619) 283-7378.