Harrison first-team AP All-American

Add one more honor to the already lengthy list for Jerome Harrison.

The Washington State running back, fresh off of a 1,900-yard senior year, was named to the first team of the Associated Press All-American squad. Harrison shares the running back position on that team with USC’s Reggie Bush, who in the last week beat out Harrison for the Doak Walker Award and then two days later claimed the Heisman Trophy as well.

Harrison is no longer No. 1 in the NCAA in rushing for this season – Northern Illinois’ Garrett Wolfe is just ahead of him in yards per game – but the Cougar senior sparkled from start to finish in 2005, earning him the nod over second-team running backs DeAngelo Williams of Memphis and Brian Calhoun of Wisconsin.

The AP team is the sixth national first-team honor for Harrison this season. The new school single-season rushing record-holder was given the same status by ESPN.com, SI.com, the Football Writers Association of America, Rivals.com and CollegeFootballNews.com.

Harrison is the eighth Cougar to make the AP first team. Two others – Rien Long in 2002 and Lamont Thompson in 2001 – have done so this decade.

Also on the AP team, Texas quarterback Vince Young beat out USC’s Matt Leinart for the first-team quarterback spot. Three other Texas standouts – offensive tackle Jonathan Scott, defensive tackle Rodrique Wright and defensive back Michael Huff – also made the first team.

USC, Texas’ opponent in the Rose Bowl for the BCS national championship, had three first-teamers with wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett and safety Darnell Bing joining Bush.

Bush and Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk were the only players to make the 2005 first team after doing the same in 2004.

As a conference, the Pac-10’s seven first-team All-Americans were the most in the nation.

–See complete list in Stat sheet.