Dec. 13, 2008

The All-American first team honors continued for USC linebacker Rey Maualuga and safety Taylor Mays, as both were named to the 2008 Football Writers and CBSSports.com All-American first teams.

Maualuga was also named the National Defensive Player of the Year by CBSSports.com.

Maualuga previously has appeared on 3 other All-American first teams (Football Coaches, Walter Camp and Rivals.com), while Mays was on the Football Coaches and Walter Camp first teams.

Maualuga also was the winner of the 2008 Bednarik Award as the nation's top player, was the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, made his third consecutive All-Pac-10 first team and was a finalist for the Lombardi, Butkus and Nagurski Awards. Mays, also an All-Pac-10 first teamer, was a finalist for the Thorpe Award.