Abbate Chosen To ESPN's All-MayDay Team
1/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 4, 2006
Bristol, Conn. - Wake Forest sophomore linebacker Jon Abbate was selected by ESPN's All-MayDay Team, comprised of the nation's toughest college football players in 2005. The team was selected by ESPN college football analyst Mark May with the main criteria being the exhibition of toughness and determination with special consideration to those who played through pain.
Abbate was held out of the preseason with a severe hamstring injury, but missed only the season opener against Vanderbilt. In the first half against Clemson, his nose was gashed open, but still made 11 tackles and had two interceptions in that same half. He needed stitches to close the cut and wore a padded mask over his nose the rest of the season.
Later in the year, he tore his MCL but played through it and led the Deacons in tackles (76) and had six tackles for loss. He averaged eight tackles per game against conference rivals and was named honorable mention All-ACC for the second straight year.
2005 All-Mayday TeamOffenseQB Chris Leak, FloridaRB Garrett Wolfe, Northern IllinoisWR Tommy Cook, KentuckyWR Ed Hinkle, IowaWR George Smith, VanderbiltOT Chris McGee, TulaneOT Andrew Carnahan, Arizona St.OG Brian Daniels, ColoradoOG Chris Chester, OklahomaC Lyle Sendlein, Texas
DefenseDL Garrett McIntyre, Fresno St.DL John Glavine, Miami (OH)DL Jared Kesler, TCUDL Brandon Rollins, Arkansas St.LB Jason Mitchell, TennesseeLB Tony Taylor, GeorgiaLB Jon Abbate, Wake ForestLB Patrick Willis, Ole MissDB Kyle Kleckner, IllinoisDB Nate Soelberg, BYUDB Jaxson Appel, Texas A&M
K Alexis Cerna, Oregon St.DS Justin Venable, Louisiana-Lafayette
