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Another honor for Jones & Jones

Jarvis and Ben named to ESPN.com 2011 All-America team

Updated: December 11, 2011, 3:28 PM ET
By David Ching | DawgNation

It's not easy keeping up with the Joneses, especially Georgia's Ben and Jarvis

The two Bulldogs on Saturday were named to ESPN.com's 2011 All-America Team.

Outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, a redshirt sophomore from Columbus, Ga., enjoyed easily the most impressive season by a Georgia defensive player in years. In his first season, the USC transfer led the SEC with 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, and also led the Bulldogs with 69 tackles.

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Thanks to a quick first step and a relentless motor, Jarvis Jones helped steer the Bulldogs' defense back to rank among the nation's elite following a few underwhelming seasons. And the nation took notice, as he was also named Saturday to the Football Writers Association of America All-America team and had already been named to the American Football Coaches Association and Walter Camp All-America teams, becoming the first Georgia defender since safety Greg Blue in 2005 to gain significant postseason attention.

Former Bulldogs linebacker Rennie Curran -- named to the CBSSports.com All-America team in 2009 -- was the only UGA defensive player to gain any national postseason recognition since Blue was named to the Associated Press, AFCA, Walter Camp and The Sporting News All-America rosters after the 2005 season.

Ben Jones, a senior from Centreville, Ala., has been a mainstay on the Bulldogs' offensive line since his freshman season in 2008. He has started every game except one since early in the 2008 season and ranks second on the team with 48 starts, only one behind fellow senior offensive lineman Cordy Glenn.

Ben Jones was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy -- given annually to the top center in college football -- and was one of the driving forces behind Georgia's 10-game winning streak that led to an SEC East title this season.

The SEC figures heavily into the ESPN team. The two Bulldogs are among 11 SEC players on the 23-man team, and LSU's Les Miles is coach of the year.

The other SEC honorees are: Alabama running back Trent Richardson, offensive linemen Barrett Jones of Alabama and Will Blackwell of LSU, South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram, LSU defensive backs Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu, Alabama defensive back Mark Barron, Florida kicker Caleb Sturgis and Arkansas return man Joe Adams.

David Ching covers University of Georgia sports for DawgNation. He can be reached at davidchingespn@gmail.com.

David Ching | email

Reporter, DawgNation
  • Reporter for DawgNation
  • Covers Georgia Bulldogs sports and recruiting
  • Joined ESPN in 2011

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