SU had five All-BIG EAST First Team selections for the first time since 1998.
Seven Orange Earn All-BIG EAST Honors
12/8/2011 12:00:00 PM | Football
For the second straight season, the Syracuse football team earned seven selections to the All-BIG EAST Team. Running back Antwon Bailey, defensive lineman Chandler Jones, tight end Nick Provo, offensive tackle Justin Pugh and offensive guard Andrew Tiller earned All-BIG EAST First Team recognition, marking the first team since 1998 that SU has had five student-athletes with First-Team status. Wide receiver Alec Lemon and linebacker Marquis Spruill each earned second team honors.
Bailey rushed for 1,051 yards this season, becoming the 15th player in SU history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. His 2,144 career yards on the ground ranks him 16th all-time at Syracuse, and he is one of two BIG EAST running backs with six 100-yard games this season. The Landover, Md. native owns the record for career receptions by a running back (91) and career receiving yards by a running back (706). Bailey is one of four SU running backs in history to have four consecutive 100-yard rushing games, and had a career day against Cincinnati with 135 yards on the ground on 27 carries and five catches for 43 yards.
Jones finished 2011 for 38 tackles (30 solo) in just seven games played en route to his second consecutive All-BIG EAST selection. He is ninth on both the SU record for career tackles by a down lineman (147) and career tackles for a loss (27.0). The Endicott, N.Y. native registered his first career interception in the season finale at Pittsburgh, which was returned 32 yards and set up a SU touchdown. After missing five games with a lower body injury, Jones returned to the field against No. 11/14 West Virginia, and earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors with six solo tackles, including two sacks for a loss of 19 yards.
Provo, a semifinalist for the 2011 John Mackey Award, set the Syracuse single-season record for receptions by a tight end in 2011 with 51 catches as well as the SU career record for receptions by a tight end (92). With an active streak of 24 consecutive games with a catch, which is fifth all-time at SU, he ranks second on the Orange's single-season and career record list for receiving yards by a tight end (537 in 2011 and 1,027 career). Provo earned Phil Steele All-BIG EAST First Team Midseason honors, and had seven touchdown receptions this season, which is tied for sixth nationally among tight ends.
Tiller has started 25-of-35 career games at Syracuse, including all 12 this season. He has blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in each of the past two seasons, including Bailey this year. Pugh, who earned his second straight conference selection, has started in all 25 games in his career, and also blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in 2010 and 2011.
Lemon (Crofton, Md.) set the Syracuse single-season record for catches (68), and his 834 yards in the ninth most in the nation. He became the first receiver in SU history to have back-to-back 150-yard games, and led the team in receptions and yards this season. Lemon is currently third in the BIG EAST with 5.7 receptions per game and fourth with 69.5 receiving yards per game.
Spruill was second on the team with 8.5 tackles for a loss this season (8.5) and fourth with 62 total tackles. He was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after he led the Orange with nine tackles, including seven solo and one sack for a loss of four yards at Louisville. Spruill also had his first career forced fumble in the game against the Cardinals, and has started in 23-of-24 games he has played in during his career at SU.
Bailey rushed for 1,051 yards this season, becoming the 15th player in SU history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. His 2,144 career yards on the ground ranks him 16th all-time at Syracuse, and he is one of two BIG EAST running backs with six 100-yard games this season. The Landover, Md. native owns the record for career receptions by a running back (91) and career receiving yards by a running back (706). Bailey is one of four SU running backs in history to have four consecutive 100-yard rushing games, and had a career day against Cincinnati with 135 yards on the ground on 27 carries and five catches for 43 yards.
Jones finished 2011 for 38 tackles (30 solo) in just seven games played en route to his second consecutive All-BIG EAST selection. He is ninth on both the SU record for career tackles by a down lineman (147) and career tackles for a loss (27.0). The Endicott, N.Y. native registered his first career interception in the season finale at Pittsburgh, which was returned 32 yards and set up a SU touchdown. After missing five games with a lower body injury, Jones returned to the field against No. 11/14 West Virginia, and earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors with six solo tackles, including two sacks for a loss of 19 yards.
Provo, a semifinalist for the 2011 John Mackey Award, set the Syracuse single-season record for receptions by a tight end in 2011 with 51 catches as well as the SU career record for receptions by a tight end (92). With an active streak of 24 consecutive games with a catch, which is fifth all-time at SU, he ranks second on the Orange's single-season and career record list for receiving yards by a tight end (537 in 2011 and 1,027 career). Provo earned Phil Steele All-BIG EAST First Team Midseason honors, and had seven touchdown receptions this season, which is tied for sixth nationally among tight ends.
Tiller has started 25-of-35 career games at Syracuse, including all 12 this season. He has blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in each of the past two seasons, including Bailey this year. Pugh, who earned his second straight conference selection, has started in all 25 games in his career, and also blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in 2010 and 2011.
Lemon (Crofton, Md.) set the Syracuse single-season record for catches (68), and his 834 yards in the ninth most in the nation. He became the first receiver in SU history to have back-to-back 150-yard games, and led the team in receptions and yards this season. Lemon is currently third in the BIG EAST with 5.7 receptions per game and fourth with 69.5 receiving yards per game.
Spruill was second on the team with 8.5 tackles for a loss this season (8.5) and fourth with 62 total tackles. He was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after he led the Orange with nine tackles, including seven solo and one sack for a loss of four yards at Louisville. Spruill also had his first career forced fumble in the game against the Cardinals, and has started in 23-of-24 games he has played in during his career at SU.
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