Jan. 7, 2013

FORT COLLINS, Colo.– Colorado State linebacker Cory James has been named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team. He adds another honor for a debut season in which he set a CSU freshman record with 7.5 sacks among his 54 total tackles (26 solo).

James, a redshirt-freshman in 2012, had already been named second-team Freshman All-America by College Football News and second-team All-Freshman by Phil Steele’s College Football Preview for his first-year performance.

He is the first Colorado State player to earn Freshman All-America honors from the FWAA, and the first to be recognized by any organization with All-Freshman honors since center Weston Richburg (Phil Steele, CollegeFootballNews.com first team) and Nordly Capi (Sports Illustrated honorable mention) in 2010.

“It’s a nice honor for our team and for Cory," said head coach Jim McElwain. "We saw just a glimpse of what Cory can do this year, and what he’ll be capable of as he continues to grow and mature as a football player. Individual awards like this are a reflection on the entire team.”

The 6’-0”, 235-pound James burst onto the scene in the Rams’ season-opening victory over Colorado with three sacks and a forced fumble on Sept. 1. For the season he ranked third in the Mountain West in sacks (tied for 41st in the NCAA) and tied for seventh in tackles for loss (11.0). James ranked second among all freshmen nationally in sacks, and added one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries.