UTEP senior Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. has been named to the 2006 AFCA Coaches' All-America Team, released on Thursday by the American Football Coaches Association.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best -- the coaches themselves. The AFCA's Division I-A All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's nine I-A districts.
Higgins is one of only two wide receivers selected to the team, joining Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson. He is second in the nation in receiving yards this season (109.9 ypg), and has caught 13 touchdown passes. He is also third in the country in all-purpose yards (156.1 ypg). Higgins led Conference USA in receiving and all-purpose yards this season.
Higgins ended his time at UTEP as the school’s all-time leader for receiving yards (3,218) and receiving touchdowns (32). He is tied for 20th on the all-time NCAA list for receiving touchdowns (32).
Higgins is the only Conference USA player on this year's AFCA Coaches' All-America Team.
Additionally, Higgins is the first Miner to earn All-America distrinction since tight end Brian Natkin, a unanimous selection in 2000.
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