Anthony Walker named to Associated Press All-American third team

Northwestern sophomore linebacker Anthony Walker has been named to the Associated Press All-American third team.

Walker led Northwestern's defense to new heights from his middle linebacker position in 2015. In Walker's first full year as a starter, the Wildcats ranked 11th nationally in total defense, 7th in scoring defense and 4th in S&P+, an advanced metric.

Walker had an outstanding individual season as well. The Miami, Fla. native finished tied for second in the country with 19.5 tackles for loss, and racked up 113 total tackles.

Walker was named a second team All-American by Sports Illustrated earlier this week. Last week, Walker was named to the All-Big Ten first team as well.

Walker was the only Northwestern player named to any of the three AP All-American teams. Here are the complete teams:

FIRST TEAM

Offense

Quarterback — Deshaun Watson, sophomore, Clemson.

Running backs — Derrick Henry, junior, Alabama; Leonard Fournette, sophomore, LSU.

Tackles — Taylor Decker, senior, Ohio State; Spencer Drango, senior, Baylor.

Guards — Joshua Garnett, senior, Stanford; Landon Turner, senior, North Carolina.

Center — Jack Allen, senior, Michigan State.

Receivers — Corey Coleman, junior, Baylor; Josh Doctson, senior, TCU.

Tight end — Hunter Henry, junior, Arkansas.

All-purpose player — Christian McCaffrey, sophomore, Stanford.

Kicker — Ka'imi Fairbairn, senior, UCLA.

Defense

Ends — Shaq Lawson, junior, Clemson; Carl Nassib, senior, Penn State.

Tackles — A'Shawn Robinson, junior, Alabama; Andrew Billings, junior, Baylor.

Linebackers — Reggie Ragland, senior, Alabama; Tyler Matakevich, senior, Temple; Jaylon Smith, junior, Notre Dame.

Cornerbacks — Desmond King, junior, Iowa; Vernon Hargreaves III, sophomore, Florida.

Safeties — Jeremy Cash, senior, Duke; Vonn Bell, junior, Ohio State.

Punter — Tom Hackett, senior, Utah.

SECOND TEAM

Offense

Quarterback — Baker Mayfield, junior, Oklahoma.

Running backs — Dalvin Cook, sophomore, Florida State; Ezekiel Elliott, junior, Ohio State.

Tackles — Jack Conklin, junior, Michigan State; Ronnie Stanley, senior, Notre Dame.

Guards — Sebastian Tretola, senior, Arkansas; Pat Elflein, junior, Ohio State.

Center — Ryan Kelly, senior, Alabama.

Receivers — Will Fuller, junior, Notre Dame; JuJu Smith-Schuster, sophomore, Southern California.

Tight end — Jake Butt, junior, Michigan.

All-purpose player — Morgan Burns, senior, Kansas State.

Kicker — Jake Elliott, junior, Memphis.

Defense

Ends — Joey Bosa, junior, Ohio State; DeForest Buckner, senior, Oregon.

Tackles — Robert Nkemdiche, junior, Mississippi; Sheldon Day, senior, Notre Dame.

Linebackers — Joe Schobert, senior, Wisconsin; Kentrell Brothers, senior, Missouri; Eric Striker, senior, Oklahoma.

Cornerbacks — Jourdan Lewis, junior, Michigan; Jalen Ramsey, junior, Florida State.

Safeties — Trae Elston, senior, Mississippi; Jayron Kearse, junior, Clemson.

Punter — Drew Kaser, senior, Texas A&M.

THIRD TEAM

Offense

Quarterback — Keenan Reynolds, senior, Navy.

Running backs — Royce Freeman, sophomore, Oregon; Larry Rose III, sophomore, New Mexico State.

Tackles — Jason Spriggs, senior, Indiana; Vadal Alexander, senior, LSU.

Guards — Dan Feeney, junior, Indiana; Joe Thuney, senior, North Carolina State.

Center — Austin Blythe, senior, Iowa.

Receivers — Laquon Treadwell, junior, Mississippi; Roger Lewis, sophomore, Bowling Green.

Tight end — Austin Hooper, junior, Stanford.

All-purpose player — Jakeem Grant, senior, Texas Tech.

Kicker — Adam Schneider, sophomore, Oregon.

Defense

Ends — Shilique Calhoun, senior, Michigan State; Myles Garrett, sophomore, Texas A&M.

Tackles — Jonathan Bullard, senior, Florida; Kenny Clark, junior, UCLA.

Linebackers — Su'a Cravens, junior, Southern California; Blake Martinez, senior, Stanford; Anthony Walker, sophomore, Northwestern.

Cornerbacks — Mackensie Alexander, sophomore, Clemson; Shawun Lurry, sophomore, Northern Illinois.

Safeties — Eddie Jackson, junior, Alabama; Darian Thompson, senior, Boise State.

Punter — Hayden Hunt, junior, Colorado State.