Shawun Lurry, Tajae Sharpe named Walter Camp All-Americans

The Mid-American Conference is a league filled with great talent, and on Thursday, two of the league's best were honored with spots on the Walter Camp All-American team.

Shawun Lurry, a defensive back for the Northern Illinois Huskies, and Tajae Sharpe, a receiver for the Massachusetts Minutemen, both received second-team All-American Honors.

Lurry, a West Palm Beach, FL product, had a breakout season as a true sophomore for the Huskies at the corner spot this year, leading the nation with nine interceptions accounted for. Lurry also broke both school and NCAA records in interception return yards, amassing 273 over the course of the season, which is highlighted by a 64-yard return touchdown in NIU's loss against Bowling Green in the MAC Championship Game. Lurry averaged 30.3 interception yards a game, breaking the school record. Lurry was also a fantastic cover corner, tallying 41 total tackles and 14 pass breakups on the year, numbers that were good enough to make Lurry a Jim Thorpe Award semi-finalist.

Sharpe, a senior from Piscataway, NJ, might as well be called Mr. Minuteman, as Sharpe set UMass records for single game receptions (15,) single-season receptions (111,) career receptions (277,) and career receiving yards (3,486) over the span of his career. Sharpe's season numbers weren't half bad either, as he finished with 111 receptions, 1,319 yards, and 5 touchdowns, leading the NCAA in receptions and receptions per game average (9.3,) while being near the top of the country in targets.

Lurry is the first NIU selection for the All-American team since Jordan Lynch and Jimmie Ward both recived the honor in 2013, while Sharpe brings an All-American Award back to Amherst for the first time since 2011, when the program was transitioning from FCS to FBS.

Each of the All-American selections will be presented with their honors on January 16th at Yale University during the Walter Camp All-American Award Banquet.