Chris Covington Named Second Team All-America
12/17/2008 5:12:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern University's Chris Covington (Lawrenceville/Brookwood) earned Second Team All-America honors by the Associated Press. The Football Championship Subdivision teams were announced on Wednesday (Dec. 17).
Covington, who was named Southern Conference 'Defensive Player of the Year' last month, earned his second All-America honor in two years playing defense. The senior linebacker began his career as a running back his first two seasons. In 2007 he played defensive back and was an Honorable Mention All-America pick (The Sports Network).
This year he began at rover but in week five moved to linebacker for the first time in his collegiate career. He responded with a career-high 19 tackles against Wofford. Covington averaged 11.7 tackles per game in his linebacker role, 8.6 overall (95 in 11 games) to tie him for 52nd nationally.
He finished the year ranked fifth among the SoCon leaders in tackles per game, third in total sacks (6.5, tied 38th nationally) and second in tackles for a loss (14.0, tied 40th). Five times this season Covington recorded 11 or more tackles in a game. He registered a career-high 3.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for a loss against Appalachian State. A two-time All-Southern Conference pick, Covington led all active Georgia Southern players with 171 tackles in just two years.
“This is a great honor for Chris. He has been one of our leaders and done whatever was needed to help the team,” said head coach Chris Hatcher. “Chris is a special player. Not many can make a position change like he did, especially in the middle of a season, and put up those numbers. He has been a great example for our younger players on what it means to be a Georgia Southern Eagle, and we are certainly thankful to have had the opportunity to coach him these last two years.”
