Tyrann Mathieu lands CB spot on All-Time AP All-America Team
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Tyrann Mathieu recently put the wraps on a 12-year career in the NFL. Before that, though, the Honey Badger carved out a spot for himself at LSU as one of the top defensive backs in the country.
Mathieu on Thursday was named to the AP’s All-Time All-America second team, a celebration of a century of the AP’s annual honors. He was the only former LSU player who landed on the list.
The New Orleans native made 57 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions as a true freshman in 2010. He was also named the Cotton Bowl’s Most Outstanding player that season after posting 7 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1.0 sacks, and an interception.
In 2011, he made 76 tackles with 2 INTs and 9 passes defensed. He also forced 6 fumbles, recovering 5 — 2 for touchdowns. That year, he won the Bednarik Award as college football’s top defender, was a consensus All-American, and came in 5th in Heisman Trophy voting.
Though he was dismissed from the program in 2012, Mathieu eventually declared for the NFL Draft, being taken in the 3rd round by the Arizona Cardinals. He went on to be named a first-team All-Pro 3 times and won Super Bowl LIV as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
