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Jan. 15, 2007

Notre Dame senior wide receiver Jeff Samardzija was named to the 2006 NCAA Consensus all-America Football Team announced Friday. Samardzija was one of three wide receivers to make the 29-player team that features 14 offensive players and 15 defensive players.

Samardzija led Notre Dame for the second-straight season in receptions (78) and yards (1,017) and added 12 touchdown catches. He became the first Irish player to post multiple seasons of at least 1,000 yards receiving and was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the top college football receiver. He leaves Notre Dame the school's all-time leader in receptions (179), receiving yards (2,593) and touchdown receptions (27).

Samardzija was named first-team all-America by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and was selected to the second team by both the Associated Press and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. The players selected for the 2006 NCAA Consensus all-America Football Team received the majority of votes among five organizations all-America teams: American Football Coaches Association, Assosciated Press, FWAA, The Sporting News and Walter Camp Foundation.

The following are the players named to the 2006 NCAA Consensus all-America Football Team:

Offense
WR-*Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech, 6-5, 235, Junior;
WR-Robert Meachem, Tennessee, 6-3, 210, Junior;
WR-Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame, 6-5, 218, Senior;
TE-Zach Miller, Arizona St., 6-5, 260, Junior;
OL-Sam Baker, Southern California, 6-5, 305, Junior;
OL-Justin Blalock, Texas, 6-4, 335, Senior;
OL-Jake Long, Michigan, 6-7, 313, Senior;
OL-*Joe Thomas, Wisconsin, 6-8, 313, Senior
C-*Dan Mozes, West Virginia, 6-4, 290; Senior;
QB-*Troy Smith, Ohio St., 6-1, 215, Senior;
RB-Darren McFadden, Arkansas, 6-2, 205, Sophomore;
RB-*Steve Slaton, West Virginia, 5-10, 195, Sophomore;
PK-Justin Medlock, UCLA, 6-0, 197, Senior;
AP/KR-DeSean Jackson, California, 6-0, 166, Sophomore.

Defense
DL-*Gaines Adams, Clemson, 6-5, 265, Senior;
DL-Justin Hickman, UCLA, 6-2, 263, Senior;
DL-Quinn Pitcock, Ohio St., 6-3, 295, Senior;
DL-*LaMarr Woodley, Michigan, 6-2, 269, Senior;
LB-James Laurinaitis, Ohio St., 6-3, 244, Sophomore;
LB-Patrick Willis, Mississippi, 6-2, 240, Senior;
LB-Rufas Alexander, Oklahoma, 6-1, 230, Senior;
LB-H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh, 6-0, 240, Senior;
LB-Paul Posluszny, Penn St., 6-2, 238, Senior;
DB-Leon Hall, Michigan, 5-11, 193, Senior;
DB-Daymeion Hughes, California, 6-0, 188, Senior;
DB-LaRon Landry, LSU, 6-2, 202, Senior;
DB-Reggie Nelson, Florida, 6-1, 193, Junior;
DB-Eric Weddle, Utah, 6-0, 200, Senior;
P-*Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor, 6-3, 230, Senior.

*Indicates unanimous selection.