Highsmith Named Third Team AP all-America

Charlotte 49ers redshirt senior defensive end Alex Highsmith (Wilmington, N.C.) has been named Third Team all-America by the Associated Press (AP). Highsmith, who earned first team all-Conference USA honors for the second straight season, becomes the first 49ers football player to earn all-America honors.

The 49ers undisputed sack king, Highsmith ranks second in the nation in sacks (14.0) and fourth in tackles for loss (TFL) (21.5) while leading C-USA in both categories. He set school records for sacks in a game (4.5), season (14.0) and career (20.0) and TFL in a game (5.0) and season (21.5) during the 2019 campaign. He finished the regular season with a career-high 68 tackles, a team-high 8…