Iupati Named To AFCA All-American Team

The hardware and accolades continue to roll in for Idaho senior left guard MIKE IUPATI, a 6-6, 330-pound Finalist for the 2009 Outland Trophy and a First Team All-WAC selection. Rated the top offensive guard in the nation for the upcoming NFL Draft, Iupati last week became the first Vandal named to the AFCA All-America team since 1995, and the only Idaho representative at the Division 1A level.

The following is an official press release from the University of Idaho Sports Information Department.


Idaho senior guard Mike Iupati is an American Football Coaches Association All-American, the AFCA announced Thursday.

Iupati, who moved to the United States when he was 14 and is a graduate of Western (Anaheim, Calif.) High School, is one of 24 players voted to the team by the AFCA membership. He is Idaho’s first AFCA All-American since Ryan Phillips in 1995 and the Vandals’ first since they moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) in 1996.

Iupati, a finalist for the Outland Trophy which honors college football’s best interior lineman, earned the recognition as a key piece of a Vandal offense that has been one of the most productive in the last decade. His impact on the team is underscored in his being voted the Vandals’ offensive captain last August.

During Idaho’s 7-5 regular-season campaign, Iupati played 807 snaps. He had 49 knockdowns, 21 pancakes, allowed only five pressures and no sacks in grading out at 90 percent or better every game.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945.

Below is the 2009 AFCA All-American Team:


Offense
QB Colt McCoy, Texas
WR Golden Tate, Notre Dame
WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
TE Dennis Pitta, BYU
OL Trent Williams, Oklahoma
OL Mike Iupati, Idaho
OL Mike Johnson, Alabama
OL Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
C Chris Hall, Texas
RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford

Defense
DL Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
DL Jerry Hughes, TCU
DL Jared Odrick, Penn State
DL Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
DL Brian Price, UCLA
LB Rolando McClain, Alabama
LB Greg Jones, Michigan State
DB Eric Berry, Tennessee
DB Joe Haden, Florida
DB Javier Arenas, Alabama
DB Earl Thomas, Texas

Specialists
P Drew Butler, Georgia
PK Kai Forbath, UCLA
AP C.J. Spiller, Clemson