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TCU Press Release
TCU cornerback Jason Verrett has been named a first-team All-American with defensive end Devonte Fields receiving third-team honors by CollegeFootballNews.com.
Additionally, Verrett was ranked by CollegeFootballNews.com as the nation's top cornerback in 2012.
Verrett topped the Big 12 in interceptions (6) and passes defended (22). He was the only player nationally to rank in the top 10 in both categories, tying for second in passes defended and sixth in interceptions.
Verrett's six picks were the most by a Horned Frog since Jason Goss had eight in 2002. Verrett's 16 pass breakups represent the highest total at TCU since Goss had 24 in 2002.
A native of Fairfield, Calif., Verrett tied for fourth on TCU with 63 tackles, including five for loss. The 63 stops mark the most by a cornerback in Gary Patterson's 12 seasons as TCU's head coach.
Fields, a true freshman, was named the Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous selection by the conference coaches as the Defensive Freshman of the Year. The consensus Freshman All-American and National Defensive Freshman of the Year led the Big 12 with 18 1/2 tackles for loss while placing third with 10 sacks.
Fields' 10 sacks, which tied for fourth in a season by a Horned Frog, broke the TCU freshman record of seven set by eventual NFL All-Pro Aaron Schobel in 1997. Fields took part in a sack in nine of 13 games. His 53 tackles topped the defensive front. The Arlington, Texas, native added two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, interception and four pass breakups.
Verrett and Fields will be two of nine returning starters on defense for a TCU unit that topped the Big 12 and ranked 16th nationally, despite facing five of the nation's top-13 offenses.
