Mack Earns Spot on Sports Illustrated All-American Teams
12/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo sophomore Khalil Mack was one of 19 linebackers in the nation honored by Sports Illustrated on their All-American teams announced today.
Mack was named as an honorable mention selection after a tremendous season, which included him leading the Mid-American Conference and ranking among the top ten in the nation in both tackles for loss and forced fumbles.
The Fort Pierce, FL native finished the season with 65 total tackles (38 solos), 20.5 tackles for loss (fourth in the nation), a team-best 5.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries, an interception, two pass breakups, a blocked kick and five forced fumbles (tied for eighth in the nation).
Mack earned MAC Player of the Week honors for his performance against Stony Brook and finished the season with two or more tackles for loss in an eye-popping seven of 12 games. His tackles for loss and forced fumble figures are both ranked second in UB school history for a single season.
He had a career-high 11 tackles, including two tackles for loss, at Ball State and he also had two sacks in a 51-10 win over Akron. In just two seasons, Mack already ranks fifth in school history in tackles for loss with 34 and is tied for the school record with seven forced fumbles.
"What a tremendous honor for Khalil and for our football team to be recognized in this way," said head coach Jeff Quinn. "Khalil was an incredibly disruptive force to opposing offenses all season and his best football is still ahead of him."
Mack joins former Bulls Naaman Roosevelt (Buffalo Bills) and James Starks (Green Bay Packers) as the only UB players to be so honored by Sports Illustrated. Both Roosevelt and Starks made the 2008 team.
