The new year brings new honors for two Michigan State freshmen.

After being selected as second-team Freshman All-Americans by The Sporting News last month, offensive guard William Whitticker and linebacker Ronald Stanley made the Football News Freshman All-America teams.

Whitticker received first-team honors after starting 11 of 12 games this season. The 6-foot-6, 299 pound redshirt freshman posted 63 pancakes during the year, which ranked third on the team.

“I play hard and worked to get some type of honors,” Whitticker said.

Whitticker improved as the season progressed, especially in pass protection. He did not allow a sack in the last 5 games of the season.

Stanley received second-team honors, and finished the season with 43 tackles (22 solos) and two forced fumbles, including one in the Spartans’ bowl victory over Fresno State. In two different games, he made seven stops which was a season-high.

Summer workouts and meetings with the coaches to learn the defensive scheme were the key to his season said Stanley.

MSU football head coach Bobby Williams praised the freshmen in a press release calling the achievement a great honor.