COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gamecocks defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw has been named an Associated Press First-Team All American.
The selections for the squad were announced Monday. The senior has been racking up accolades: last week he was named first team SEC and second team All-American by USA TODAY.
He's the first Gamecock defensive player named to the first team since Kelsey Quarles in 2013. Last year, Deebo Samuel made the first team as an all-purpose player.
Overall, there have been 25 AP First-Team All-Americans in USC history, with seven of them this decade.
Kinlaw, a 6-6, 310-pound player from Charleston, notched 35 tackles and 6.0 sacks, tying for eighth in the SEC. He added four quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one blocked kick. The midseason All-American and probable first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft was recognized as the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week in the upset win over Georgia.
Kinlaw has been named first team All-SEC by the league's 14 coaches and was an Associated Press second-team All-SEC selection. He will participate in the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 25.
