Ikard, Jefferson Named SI Preseason All-America

NEW YORK -- Sports Illustrated has named junior offensive lineman Gabe Ikard and junior defensive back Tony Jefferson to its preseason second-team All-America squad. The selections were made by the magazine's college football editorial team.

Ikard was named to the Outland Trophy watch list earlier this year. He started all 13 games for the Sooners in 2011, opening six contests at left guard and seven games at center.

He earned third team All-America accolades from the Associated Press and Yahoo!, in addition to receiving first-team All-Big 12 honors and second-team Academic All-America recognition. The Oklahoma City, Okla., product led all OU interior linemen in blocking grades a year ago.

Jefferson, who has also been named to the Bednarik, Camp, Nagurski and Thorpe watch lists, led the Sooners with four interceptions and was third on the squad with 74 tackles in 2011. The junior, who has played in a hybrid defensive back role the last two seasons, tied an OU single game record last season with three interceptions against Ball State.

Jefferson had nine games with at least five tackles on the year. A freshman All-America pick in 2010, the Chula Vista, Calif., native was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection last season.

SI.com's 2012 Preseason All-America Teams | Preseason Central | Sooner Football Notebook

Ikard and Jefferson make up two of 10 Big 12 selections between SI's 2012 All-American squads. The Sooners practiced Thursday morning for the eighth time this preseason and kickoff the 2012 campaign on Sept. 1 at UTEP with kickoff slated for 9:30 p.m. CT.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Ikard, Jefferson Named SI Preseason All-America

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