UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn started his career by missing two extra point attempts. More than three years later, he’s become a Lou Groza Award winner and a consensus All-American.
“You kind of just take it kick by kick,” he said.
Fairbairn settled for Sporting News’ All-American second team on Tuesday, ending his chances of becoming the 11th Bruin to ever earn unanimous All-American status. He finished behind Florida State’s Robert Aguayo, who won the Lou Groza Award in 2013.
UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn (left) has become the Bruins’ second consensus All-American of the Jim Mora era. (Andy Holzman/Staff)
The postseason honors continue to roll in for UCLA’s Ka’imi Fairbairn.
After winning the Lou Groza Award last Thursday as the top kicker in college football, the senior can now call himself a consensus All-American. He is the first Bruin to qualify since linebacker Anthony Barr in 2013.
Consensus All-American status is achieved when a player makes at least three of the five major teams. Fairbairn was picked by the Walter Camp Football Foundation last week, the Associated Press on Sunday, and the FWAA on Monday.
If the Hawaii native also makes the Sporting News and AFCA lists, he’ll become UCLA’s first unanimous All-American since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2005. Only 10 Bruins have ever been named unanimously, with linebacker Jerry Robinson and safety Kenny Easley earning two nods apiece.
UCLA linebacker Myles Jack is the only Bruin picked by the Sporting News as a preseason All-American. He is pictured here during UCLA’s 42-30 loss to Oregon on Oct. 11, 2014. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)
UCLA linebacker Myles Jack was picked as a preseason All-American by the Sporting News, his second such honor this month.
The junior was a second-team selection, echoing his spot on Phil Steele’s list two weeks ago, and was the only Bruin picked.
Three Pac-12 players made the Sporting News’ preseason All-American first team: Oregon tight end Pharaoh Brown, Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright, and USC safety Su’a Cravens.
Joining Jack on the second team are Cal kick returner Trevor Davis, Utah punter Tom Hackett, and USC center Max Tuerk and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson.
Myles Jack is one of three UCLA players on Phil Steele’s preseason All-American list. The linebacker is pictured during UCLA’s “Spring Showcase” at the Rose Bowl on April 24, 2015. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)
Three UCLA players received spots on Phil Steele’s preseason All-American teams, the annual list released on Monday morning.
Linebacker Myles Jack earned a second-team nod, while nose tackle Kenny Clark and center Jake Brendel made the fourth team. Jack and Clark are the Bruins’ two most talented defensive players, and both are likely bound for the NFL draft after their junior seasons. Brendel, a redshirt senior, is a fourth-year starter who has played in 39 of 40 possible games.
Six Bruins landed on Steele’s preseason All-Pac-12 first team, although Brendel settled for a second-team spot behind USC center Max Tuerk — a preseason first-team All-American. In addition to Jack and Clark, the first team included receiver Jordan Payton, offensive tackle Caleb Benenoch, defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes, and cornerback Fabian Moreau.
The most notable absence on the list is left tackle Conor McDermott. The 6-foot-9 lineman started the last seven games of the 2014 season, and projects to be the most important player on the offensive line besides Brendel.
Two days after winning the Butkus Award, UCLA’s Eric Kendricks has also become an All-American.
The senior linebacker made the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s second team on Thursday. Despite already winning the preeminent honor at his position, he fell behind three others that made the first team — two of whom he has seen on the opposite sideline: Washington’s Hau’oli Kikaha, Arizona’s Scooby Wright, and TCU’s Paul Dawson.
The Walter Camp team is one of five used to determine consensus and unanimous All-American status, although those do require a first-team mention. The other teams are selected by the AFCA, FWAA, Associated Press and Sporting News.
Anthony Barr was a consensus All-American last season, missing out only on the FWAA first team. UCLA’s last unanimous All-American was Maurice Jones-Drew, who earned his nod as an all-purpose player/kick returner.