Shamarko Thomas, Justin Pugh and Alec Lemon were named to the ESPN.com All-BIG EAST Team.
Three on ESPN.com All-BIG EAST Team
12/11/2012 11:00:00 AM | Football
 The accolades continue to roll in for receiver Alec Lemon, offensive tackle Justin Pugh and safety Shamarko Thomas. The three Syracuse football All-BIG EAST First Team honorees were named to the ESPN.com All-BIG EAST Team.  Lemon, Pugh and Thomas and the rest of the Orange are now preparing for the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl against West Virginia on Dec. 29 at Yankee Stadium (3:15 p.m.; ESPN). Tickets and travel packages for the game are available now at SUathletics.com/bowlcentral.
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Lemon was the only offensive player unanimously named to the 2012 All-BIG EAST First Team. He was also an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection last year. He leads the conference in receptions per game (6.4) and receiving yards per game (96.6). Lemon has a school-record 70 receptions for 1,063 yards and seven touchdowns this season, including five 100-yard receiving games. Against Missouri on Nov. 17, Lemon caught 12 passes for a career-high 244 yards and two TDs to lead the Orange to a come-from-behind win against the Tigers.
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Pugh's All-BIG EAST First Team honor was his third straight all-conference selection, and his second consecutive first-team nod. After missing the first four games of the year with an injury, he returned to the Syracuse lineup to anchor an offensive line that as has paved the way for 1,000-yard rusher Jerome Smith. In addition, the Orange is averaging 171.8 yards per game on the ground, the team's best rushing output since 2004. Pugh and the rest of the SU front five have allowed just 14 sacks this season or one every 32.1 pass attempts.
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Thomas has started all 12 games at safety and he is the Orange's top tackler with 84 stops. He also leads the team with three forced fumbles and has two interceptions on the year. For his career, Thomas is sixth among Orange defensive backs with 259 total tackles.
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Lemon was the only offensive player unanimously named to the 2012 All-BIG EAST First Team. He was also an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection last year. He leads the conference in receptions per game (6.4) and receiving yards per game (96.6). Lemon has a school-record 70 receptions for 1,063 yards and seven touchdowns this season, including five 100-yard receiving games. Against Missouri on Nov. 17, Lemon caught 12 passes for a career-high 244 yards and two TDs to lead the Orange to a come-from-behind win against the Tigers.
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Pugh's All-BIG EAST First Team honor was his third straight all-conference selection, and his second consecutive first-team nod. After missing the first four games of the year with an injury, he returned to the Syracuse lineup to anchor an offensive line that as has paved the way for 1,000-yard rusher Jerome Smith. In addition, the Orange is averaging 171.8 yards per game on the ground, the team's best rushing output since 2004. Pugh and the rest of the SU front five have allowed just 14 sacks this season or one every 32.1 pass attempts.
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Thomas has started all 12 games at safety and he is the Orange's top tackler with 84 stops. He also leads the team with three forced fumbles and has two interceptions on the year. For his career, Thomas is sixth among Orange defensive backs with 259 total tackles.
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