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Bennett Named to All-America 2nd Team 11/30/2005 True freshman wide receiver Earl Bennett (Birmingham, Ala.) has been named to the Rivals.com Freshman All-America Second Team. Bennett, who came on strong in the final half of the season, put together one of the greatest receiving seasons ever by a Southeastern Conference player, let alone a freshman. He established a new SEC freshman record with 79 receptions (T-7th all-time in SEC; T-2nd all-time by a Commodore), including 53 catches over the final five games. He also became just the second receiver in SEC history (joining former LSU standout Carlos Carson) by hauling in five touchdown catches in a single game (vs. Kentucky). Bennett’s 79-reception total is second in the SEC in 2005. His receiving yardage total of 876 yards also ranks second in the league while his nine-TD total is tied for second best. Bennett closed the season in remarkable fashion. In the Commodores’ last four games, he averaged 12 receptions, 136 receiving yards and 2 TDs per game. No other receiver in the SEC managed 12 receptions in a single game during 2005; only three other receivers (D.J. Hall of Alabama, J. Cornelius and Chad Jackson of Florida) topped 136 receiving yards in any game. Bennett had the three highest single-game reception totals (16 at South Carolina, 14 at Tennessee, 13 vs. Kentucky) in the SEC this season. He also posted the two highest single-game receiving yardage totals (204 at South Carolina and 167 at Tennessee) in the SEC. Bennett concluded the regular season third in the SEC in all-purpose yardage (124.4 ypg), serving as the Commodores’ top kickoff and punt returner, and he notched five tackles on kickoff and punt coverage squads. The 2005 Rivals.com Freshman All-America Team, features five SEC players on its first team, while Bennett was one of eight league representatives on the second team. |
