Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald honored on FWAA 75th Anniversary All-America Team
Aug 20, 2015, 9:28 AM
Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald heads for the end zone after making a catch in the fourth quarter against West Virginia in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2002. Fitzgerald's TD got the game closer, but West Virginia upset Pittsburgh 24-17. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Considering everything that Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has accomplished in his decade-long NFL stay in the desert, it’s sometimes easy to forget what he accomplished in college.
The Football Writers Association of American hasn’t forgotten.
The organization released its 75th Anniversary All-America Team Thursday and Fitzgerald was named as one of the First-Team receivers. In just two seasons of college ball at Pittsburgh (2002 and 2003), Fitzgerald caught 161 passes for 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns.
In 2003, Fitzgerald led the nation with 1,672 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns — six more than the next-closest competitor. He finished second in the Heisman voting that season — behind Oklahoma’s Jason White — while playing on a Panthers team that finished the season 8-5. Fitzgerald caught at least one touchdown pass in all 12 regular season games and had a streak of 18 straight games with a touchdown catch which began in October of 2002.
Fitzgerald is one of five Pittsburgh players to receive honors, although he’s the only First-Team member. Other Pitt greats honored are running back Tony Dorsett (Second Team), tight end Mike Ditka (Second Team), offensive lineman Bill Fralic (Second Team) and defensive end Hugh Green (Second Team).
Only Nebraska (six selections) had more players named to the squad.
Fitzgerald joins former Nebraska star Ndamukong Suh as the only active NFL players on the First Team.
