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NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- BYU senior tight end Dennis Pitta has been named to the 2009 Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America Team announced live Thursday evening on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show.
A finalist for the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end, Pitta leads all tight ends this year in total receiving yards (784) and receiving yards per game (65.33) while ranking second in receptions yards per game (4.75). This season Pitta became BYU's all-time leader in total receptions overall and career record holder among tight ends in receiving yards and receptions. He is also the NCAA career leader in tight end receiving yards. He has helped BYU earn a 10-2 record and No. 14 ranking in the BCS Standings.
A native of Moorpark, Calif., Pitta is the 8th Cougar to be named to the prestigious Walter Camp All-America Team and the first BYU tight end to make the team since Chris Smith in 1990. Overall, he is the third Cougar tight end to earn this accolade as Pitta and Smith were preceded by Hall of Famer Gordon Hudson (1982 and 1983).
Related:
Beadles named to Walter Camp All-America Team
Utah offensive tackle Zane Beadles has been named to the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America Team as a second-team selection.The Mountain West Conference had two First Team selections for the second straight year, as TCU's Jerry Hughes (DL) was also recognized. Hughes is also the first Mountain West player to repeat as a First Team Walter Camp All-American. Both he and Utah's Louis Sakoda (K) made the list in 2008.
Other Walter Camp All-Americans from BYU include Marc Wilson (QB, 1979), Steve Young (QB, 1983), Ty Detmer (QB, 1990) and Luke Staley (RB, 2001).
The Walter Camp All-America team is selected by the head coaches and sports information directors of the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools and certified by UHY Advisors, a New Haven-based accounting firm. Walter Camp Football Foundation President Alphonse Paolillo, Jr. was pleased with the voting participation.
The 2009 Walter Camp Player of the Year and members of the All-America team will be honored at the organization's national awards banquet on Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven. In addition, the Foundation will honor three individuals - NFL Hall-of-Famer John Elway (Stanford), former NFL All-Pro David Fulcher and ABC broadcast personality Robin Roberts (Southeastern Louisiana) - with major awards. The Foundation is offering a "Holiday Ticket Promotion" for the National Awards Dinner. Buy two tickets for $400 (you save $150) before December 25. Call (203) 288-CAMP (288-2267) for more information.
