LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Standout defensive tackle Ezra Christensen was named to Pro Football and Sports Network's First Team All-American Defense, PFSN announced on Wednesday morning. Christensen serves as one of just two Group of Five athletes to appear on the first team offense or defense this season.
 
The first-year Aggie from San Diego, Calif., was PFSN's second rated defensive tackle in the nation according to their impact metric that factors in both pass rushing and run defense. Christensen finished the year with six sacks in 11 games to rank second among CUSA defenders in both total sacks and sacks per game (0.55). He also ranked first in sacks per game in CUSA games (0.57) while ranking tied for fifth in total sacks in CUSA games (4).
 
On the year, he recorded 11 TFLs, 10 QB hurries, one forced fumble and two pass breakups. He ultimately concluded the year with 42 total tackles, while playing along the defensive line.
 
With the selection, Christensen is one of just five student-athletes from a Group of Five program to garner first team recognition, joined by Adam Trick (DT, Miami (OH)), Kansei Matsuzawa (K, Hawaii), Dante Atton (P, Temple) and Chauncy Cobb (KR, Arkansas State). Across PFSN's three all-American teams, just 15 come from the Group of Five ranks.
 
Christensen also becomes the first Aggie to be named to an all-American team since NM State running back Jason Huntley earned Phil Steele Fourth Team All-American honors in 2018. In the school's history, only running back Pervis Atkins has been awarded first team all-American honors from any media publication, being named a first team all-American by the Associated Press in 1960.
 
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