Blue and Jean-Gilles named All-Americans

ATHENS - University of Georgia senior offensive lineman Max Jean-Gilles and senior safety Greg Blue have been selected to the 2005 AFCA Coaches All-America Team announced Thursday by the American Football Coaches Association.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and is the only one chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.

Max Jean-Gilles, a 6-4, 340-pound native of Miami, Fla., anchors an offensive line that ranks among the SEC leaders in total offense and has surrendered the second fewest sacks. Jean-Gilles leads the team with 38 career starts including a current streak of 37 in a row.

Greg Blue, a 6-2, 214-pound native of College Park, Ga., headlines the Georgia defense with a team-leading and career-best 82 tackles. Like Jean-Gilles, he has been a dependable starter, suiting up for 24 straight games.

This marks the fourth straight year at least one Bulldog has been named to the AFCA All-America team which features 11 student-athletes on offense, 11 on defense and three specialists. Last season, Bulldog safety Thomas Davis and defensive end David Pollack were selected to the AFCA All-America squad. Davis led the Bulldogs in tackles with 81, one more than Blue.

Members of the AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team receive a plaque commemorating their selection to the team. The 2005 AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team is made up of 19 seniors, three juniors and three sophomores. Georgia is one of five schools to have more than one player make this year’s squad with top-ranked Southern California leading the way with four. The Bulldogs along with Texas, Virginia Tech and Maryland had two each.