The list of honors for Nebraska junior I-back Ameer Abdullah continued to grow on Tuesday, as he was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press.
Abdullah was one of six running backs to earn All-America honors and he was joined on the third team by Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde. Boston College’s Andre Williams and Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey were the first-team running backs, while Bishop Sankey of Washington and Auburn’s Tre’ Mason were on the second team.
The 5-9, 190-pound Abdullah has rushed for 1,568 yards this season, while rushing for 100 yards or more in 10 of 12 games. His rushing total is the fifth-best in school history and the most rushing yards by a Nebraska player since the 1997 season when Ahman Green rank for 1,877 yards.
Abdullah’s rushing yardage total lead the Big Ten while his average of 130.7 yards per game ranks second in the conference and seventh in the country. Abdullah has also posted 1,859 all-purpose yards this season, to rank No. 7 on the single-season list in the catgory. He is in position to post just the third 2,000-yard all-purpose yardage season in school history.
Abdullah’s selection marks the fifth straight season Nebraska has had at least one player named to the Associated Press All-America team. Overall, the Huskers have had nine AP All-Americans in the past five seasons.
Abdullah was one of 15 players from the Big Ten Conference named to one of the three AP All-America teams.