Scott McKillop Named to SI, AP All-America Teams
12/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 11, 2007
PITTSBURGH--The postseason accolades continue to pile up for Pitt junior linebacker Scott McKillop.
McKillop was named to a pair of All-America teams today, earning second-team honors from Sports Illustrated.com and third-team honors from The Associated Press.
McKillop has now received three postseason All-America citations. Earlier this month, he was named a first team All-American by Scout.com.
An unknown when the season began, McKillop built a national reputation this year and should be a leading candidate for the country's top defensive awards in 2008. The unanimous All-Big East selection leads the nation in tackles (12.58 tackles/game) and ranks second in solo stops (8.17 avg.).
In just his first season as a starter, the 6-foot-2, 245-pound "Mike" linebacker enjoyed one of the most productive seasons ever by a Pitt defender. McKillop (Export, Pa./Kiski Area) finished with 151 total tackles, the third highest single-season total in Pitt history. He also compiled 9.0 tackles for loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, an interception and seven pass breakups.
McKillop was a reserve his first two seasons behind All-America H.B. Blades before seizing the starting role this year. He emerged as the centerpiece of a unit that is seventh nationally in total defense, yielding just 297.67 yards per game.
The Panthers also boast lofty national rankings in pass defense (fourth, 167.25 yards/game), sacks (tied for 19th, 2.92 sacks/game), pass efficiency defense (27th, 113.96 rating) and rush defense (35th, 130.42 yards/game).
McKillop is one of seven returning starters for Pitt's defense in 2008. The Panthers return 17 starters overall, including two specialists.
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