Northwestern University Athletics
Joseph, Skoronski named to FWAA Freshman All-America Team
1/18/2021 11:41:00 AM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern football rookies Brandon Joseph and Peter Skoronski were named to the 2020 Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, the FWAA announced Monday.
It is the first time in the 20 editions of the FWAA's Freshman All-America Team that two Wildcats appeared on the list. Joseph and Skoronski become just the seventh and eighth Northwestern rookies to earn the honor. Iowa punter Tory Taylor was the only other Big Ten rookie selected.
Joseph became Northwestern's first consensus All-American in 20 years this past season, earning first team recognition from the Associated Press, Sporting News, AFCA and Walter Camp. The College Station, Texas, native tallied an FBS-best six interceptions and ranked fourth on the team with 52 tackles. He was named the Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year by the Big Ten Conference, NU's first rookie to receive the honor since Tyrell Sutton in 2005, in addition to being named to the league's first team all-conference list. Prior to the 2020 Big Ten Conference championship game, Pro Football Focus graded Joseph as the best strong safety in all of college football for the 2020 season.
Skoronski started all nine games at left tackle in his rookie season. Pro Football Focus rated Skoronski as the highest-graded true freshman at any position in the Big Ten. As a unit, the Wildcats offensive line allowed the fourth fewest sacks among Power Five programs that have played at least seven games. Skoronski was the first Northwestern first-year to be named Second Team All-Big Ten since Paddy Fisher did so in 2017. The last NU offensive lineman to receive a First or Second Team All-Big Ten was Zach Strief in 2005.
FWAA Freshman All-American Team (NU ALL-TIME)
Loren Howard – 2002
Tyrell Sutton – 2005
Corey Wootton – 2006
Jordan Mabin – 2008
Ibraheim Campbell – 2011
Paddy Fisher – 2017
Peter Skoronski – 2020
Brandon Joseph - 2020
It is the first time in the 20 editions of the FWAA's Freshman All-America Team that two Wildcats appeared on the list. Joseph and Skoronski become just the seventh and eighth Northwestern rookies to earn the honor. Iowa punter Tory Taylor was the only other Big Ten rookie selected.
Joseph became Northwestern's first consensus All-American in 20 years this past season, earning first team recognition from the Associated Press, Sporting News, AFCA and Walter Camp. The College Station, Texas, native tallied an FBS-best six interceptions and ranked fourth on the team with 52 tackles. He was named the Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year by the Big Ten Conference, NU's first rookie to receive the honor since Tyrell Sutton in 2005, in addition to being named to the league's first team all-conference list. Prior to the 2020 Big Ten Conference championship game, Pro Football Focus graded Joseph as the best strong safety in all of college football for the 2020 season.
Skoronski started all nine games at left tackle in his rookie season. Pro Football Focus rated Skoronski as the highest-graded true freshman at any position in the Big Ten. As a unit, the Wildcats offensive line allowed the fourth fewest sacks among Power Five programs that have played at least seven games. Skoronski was the first Northwestern first-year to be named Second Team All-Big Ten since Paddy Fisher did so in 2017. The last NU offensive lineman to receive a First or Second Team All-Big Ten was Zach Strief in 2005.
FWAA Freshman All-American Team (NU ALL-TIME)
Loren Howard – 2002
Tyrell Sutton – 2005
Corey Wootton – 2006
Jordan Mabin – 2008
Ibraheim Campbell – 2011
Paddy Fisher – 2017
Peter Skoronski – 2020
Brandon Joseph - 2020
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