BATON ROUGE -- LSU defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois has been named first team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News, the publication announced on Friday. 

Jean-Francois, a redshirt freshman Miami, Fla., has played a key role for an LSU defense that is ranked among the best in the nation in several categories, including total defense (238.8 yards per game) and scoring defense (12.5 points per game).

In 12 games for the Tigers, Jean-Francois recorded 27 tackles, 5.5 tackles for losses and three sacks. He also recovered a fumble and blocked a kick this year for the Tigers.

Perhaps his best game of the season came in a win over Alabama has he recorded four tackles, 1.5 tackles for losses and a sack in the 28-14 win over the Crimson Tide. In LSU’s 31-26 win over Arkansas in the season-finale, he recorded a sack for a 15-yard loss.

Jean-Francois was joined on TSN’s Freshman All-America team by offensive tackle Ciron Black and linebacker Jacob Cutrera, who were both named to the third team. 

Black started all 12 games at left tackle for the Tigers, helping LSU lead the conference in scoring (33.1 points per game), total offense (404.2 yards per game) and ranking third in rushing offense (159.2 yards per game) despite not having a running back with over 450 yards rushing this year.

Cutrera, a true freshman from Lafayette, La., played in 10 games with one start for LSU in 2006. Cutrera recorded 35 tackles, broke up a pass and recovered a fumble for the fifth-ranked Tigers. His best game of the season came in a win over Ole Miss as he recorded a career-best 11 tackles in the 23-20 win overtime win over the Rebels.

2006 Sporting News Freshman All-America Teams

* denotes redshirt

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan*
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland*
TE Cody Slate, Marshall
L (T) Sam Young, Notre Dame
L (G) Greg Isdaner, West Virginia*
L (T) Andre Smith, Alabama
L (T) Adam Ulatoski, Texas*
L (G) Sergio Render, Virginia Tech
QB Colt McCoy, Texas*
RB P.J. Hill, Wisconsin*
RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson

DEFENSE
L (E) Peanut Whitehead, Louisville
L (E) Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Virginia*
L (E/T) Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU*
L (E) Eric Norwood, South Carolina
LB Prince Hall, Alabama*
LB Joe Pawelek, Baylor*
LB Gerald McRath, Southern Miss*
DB (FS) Taylor Mays, USC
DB (SS) Myron Rolle, Florida State
DB (CB) Trevard Lindley, Kentucky
DB (CB) Vontae Davis, Illinois

SPECIALISTS
K Brett Swenson, Michigan State
P Matt DiLallo, Colorado*
KR David Harvey, Akron

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Percy Harvin, Florida
WR Ryan Wolfe, UNLV
TE Riar Geer, Colorado*
L (C Josh McNeil, Tennessee*
L (T) Eben Britton, Arizona*
L (T) Will Barker, Virginia*
L (T) Jason Fox, Miami (Fla.)
L (T) Trent Williams, Oklahoma
QB Riley Skinner, Wake Forest*
RB Damion Fletcher, Southern Miss
RB Mike Goodson, Texas A&M

DEFENSE
L (E) Corey Wootton, Northwestern*
L (E) Everette Brown, Florida State*
L (E) Willie Young, N.C. State*
L (E) George Selvie, South Florida*
LB Tray Blackmon, Auburn*
LB Josh Bailey, Indiana*
LB Rodney Paulk, South Carolina
DB (SS) Andre Sexton, Oklahoma State*
DB (CB) Alterraun Verner, UCLA
DB (SS) Barry Church, Toledo
DB (CB) Jarius Byrd, Oregon*

SPECIALISTS
K Matt Reagan, Memphis
P Matt Brandtner, Iowa State*
KR Jeff Smith, Boston College

THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Dominique Douglas, Iowa
WR Damian Williams, Arkansas
TE Brandon Warren, Florida State
L (G) John Jerry, Mississippi
L (T) Jeff Griffin, Wake Forest*
L (T) Ciron Black, LSU*
L (T) Brady Bond, Oklahoma State*
L (C) Rafael Eubanks, Iowa*
QB Justin Willis, SMU*
RB Reggie Arnold, Arkansas State*
RB Chris Bullock, Bowling Green*

DEFENSE
L (T) Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn*
L (NT) Ekom Udofia, Stanford*
L (T) Kade Weston, Georgia
L (E) Jan Jorgensen, BYU*
LB Jacob Cutrera, LSU
LB Reggie Carter, UCLA*
LB Darryl Sharpton, Miami (Fla.)*
DB (FS) Quinton Andrews, West Virginia*
DB (FS) Aairon Savage, Auburn*
DB (CB) Walter Thurmond, Oregon*
DB (FS) Latarrius Thomas, Louisville

SPECIALISTS
K Joshua Shene, Mississippi
P Kyle Loomis, Oregon State
KR Chris Garrett, Ohio