Rousseau Earns FWAA Freshman All-America Honors

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — University of Miami redshirt freshman defensive end Gregory Rousseau added to a growing list of accolades when he was named to the the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America Team Monday.

One of the nation’s premier defensive ends, Rousseau was named to the All-ACC First Team and was selected as ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in December. He was also named to the FWAA All-America Second Team.

Rousseau’s selection marks the third time in the past four seasons the Hurricanes have had a FWAA Freshman All-American; WR Ahmmon Richards earned the distinction in 2016 while OL Navaughn Donaldson was honored in 2017.

Rousseau enjoyed a breakout campaign in his first season as a starter in 2019. The Coconut Creek, Fla., native finished with an ACC-leading 15.5 sacks – second-most in the nation – and was tied for ninth in the country with 19.5 tackles for loss. He led the ACC in both categories.

The redshirt freshman had at least one sack in nine games and became the second Hurricane to ever win ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, joining former linebacker Sean Spence, who took home the award in 2008.

Among Rousseau’s top performances of the year came in his first-ever appearance versus rival Florida State on the road in Tallahassee, Fla., on Nov. 2. Rousseau finished the game with a career-high five tackles for loss and four sacks in a dominant win, earning Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performance.

In his first start as a Hurricane on Oct. 11 versus Virginia, Rousseau had seven tackles, two tackles for loss, one 10-yard sack and a forced fumble. He had a three-sack game in a win over Pittsburgh on Oct. 26 and had two sacks in Miami’s regular season finale at Duke on Nov. 30.