The University of Minnesota football team had two players named to the 2022 FWAA (Football Writers Association of America) All-America Team presented by the Goodyear Cotton Bowl. Center John Michael Schmitz was a First-Team selection, while running back Mohamed Ibrahim made the Second Team.
Schmitz and Ibrahim are the 23rd and 24th Gophers to be named to an FWAA All-America Team. The last Gopher center to be honored by the FWAA was Greg Eslinger, who was named to the All-America team in both 2004 and 2005. Ibrahim is the first Gopher running back to be recognized by the FWAA since 1954 when Bob McNamara was named an All-American back.
Schmitz, who was named First Team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and the media, anchored an offensive line that featured four new starters and helped pave the way for the nation’s No. 11 rushing offense, as the Gophers ran for 218.2 yards per game. Minnesota ranked 17th in sacks allowed at 1.08 per game and tied for 23rd in the nation in tackles for loss per game at 4.33.
Ibrahim, who played in 11 games, finished fourth in the nation in rushing yards at 1,594 and second in the country in rushing yards per game at 144.9. He tied for second in the nation with 19 rushing touchdowns and tied for third in scoring with 10.4 points per game. He was also named First Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and the media and is a semifinalist for the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Prior to Schmitz and Ibrahim, the most recent Gopher to be honored by the FWW was Antoine Winfield Jr., who was named to the First Team in 2019. The most recent Gopher on offense to be recognized was tight end Maxx Williams who was named to the First Team in 2014.
Schmitz and Ibrahim were both named Second Team All-Americans by the Walter Camp Foundation yesterday. The Associated Press will announce its All-America teams on Monday, Dec. 12.
John Michael Schmitz (60)
NCAA Football: Rutgers at Minnesota
(info and photos courtesy of Gopher Sports)