Patrick Jones II, Rashad Weaver placed on consensus All-America team

Pitt defensive ends Patrick Jones II and Rashad Weaver were both named consensus All-Americans on Friday, after they both earned multiple first-team nods for their 2020 seasons from the five major outlets that honor players with consensus and unanimous honors.

Jones was named a first-team All-American by Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Weaver was placed on the first teams of the American Football Coaches Association, the Associated Press, the Football Writers Association of America and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

In years past, a player needed first-team honors from a majority of the five outlets, meaning three, to earn consensus All-America honors. However, the threshold was lowered to two of five this year, which meant that Jones was unexpectedly honored alongside Weaver.

Both of the Pitt defenders are undoubtedly deserving of their places on the team, as they played vital roles on an elite defense that led the nation in sacks, with 46, and tackles for losses, with 111 in 11 games.

Weaver led the team with 14.5 tackles for losses, which ranked eighth in the nation in 2020. That represented a career-high for the 6’5”, 270-pound edge rusher, and he set another personal-best mark with 7.5 sacks. Opposite Weaver on the Pitt defensive line, Jones led the team with a career-high nine sacks, which ranked fifth in the country, and accrued 13 tackles for losses.

The two linemen are widely viewed as elite prospects in the upcoming NFL draft, and they have both been picked as potential first-round selections in multiple mock drafts. Still, they will look to boost their draft stock at the Senior Bowl, where they will reunite on Jan. 30.