Three Sun Devils earn honors


Three Arizona State University football student-athletes were named First Team All-Pac-10 by The Sporting News, the publication announced today. Senior linebacker Mike Nixon, junior punter Trevor Hankins and senior punt returner Kyle Williams represented ASU on the team.

Nixon (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the Sun Devils in tackles for the second straight season, totaling 73 with six for loss. He also added three interceptions, four pass break-ups and three forced fumbles. He was named a First Team Academic All-American and earlier this year Nixon earned ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District VIII honors for the third straight year, the first Sun Devil to ever earn three First Team selections. He was also a First Team Academic All-Pac-10 selection for the third consecutive season.

Hankins (Scottsdale, Ariz.) finished the 2009 campaign with a 44.2 yard per punt average, good for 10th in the nation and tops in the Pac-10. He punted 69 times for 3,049 yards, landing 21 inside the 20-yard line. He booted a season-long 69 yard punt at Georgia.

Williams (Scottsdale, Ariz.) closed out his Sun Devil career by averaging 10.0 yards per punt return, with a season long of 53. He led the Sun Devils with his 57 receptions for 815 yards and eight touchdowns.