University of North Texas Athletics
NT Has Seven Players Named All-Conference
12/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
DENTON, Texas - Seven North Texas football players earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors, the most in a single season since 2005 as the league announced its postseason awards today. Three players were named to the first-team all-conference led by running back Lance Dunbar who became the school's all-time leading rusher this season.
For Dunbar it is the third straight season he has been selected as a first-team all-conference player and he is the first North Texas player to be a first-team all-conference pick in three straight seasons since Nick Zuniga (2001-03) and Brandon Kennedy (2001-03).
Dunbar also became only the sixth player in NCAA history to rush for over 4,000 yards and have over 1,000 yards receiving in his career.
He is the only player in North Texas history to have three, 1,000-yard rushing seasons and he broke a North Texas and Sun Belt record with 313 rushing yards in the final game of his career against Middle Tennessee.
Offensive lineman Matt Tomlinson and punter Will Atterberry were also selected to the first-team all-conference. It is the first all-conference selection for either player.
Tomlinson started every game this season at offensive line for North Texas and graded out as the team's top offensive lineman for the season. Atterberry, who was named to the Ray Guy Watch List, led the Sun Belt Conference in punting at 43.5 yards a kick. Atterberry had 16 punts of over 50-yards this season and 26 punts that were inside the 20-yard line.
In addition defensive end Brandon Akpunku and linebacker Zachary Orr were picked second-team all-conference and offensive lineman Cyril Lemon and Brelan Chancellor were named honorable mention all-conference.
Lemon is the only true freshman in the league to be on one of the three all-conference teams in the Sun Belt. He is the first freshman offensive lineman earn all-conference honors at North Texas since 2000. Lemon is just the second freshman offensive lineman to earn all-conference honors in Sun Belt history.
Akpunku led North Texas with 7.5 sacks on the season, which was tied for second in the Sun Belt Conference. He finished his career with 17 sacks, which rank sixth all-time at North Texas. It is the first all-conference selection for Akpunku.
Despite missing the final three games due to injury, Orr led the team with 74 tackles on the year. He had seven tackles for a loss and finished seventh in the Sun Belt Conference in tackles. It is the first all-conference selection for the sophomore.
For a complete list of the 2011 Sun Belt All-Conference football team, please check SunBeltSports.org.
