Sports Illustrated announced its 2017 All-America football teams on Thursday with Kansas redshirt-junior linebacker Joe Dineen, Jr. being named to the Second-Team Defense.
Dineen, a Lawrence, Kansas native, led the Big 12 Conference in total tackles (137), tackles-for-loss (25.0) and solo tackles (93). His 7.8 solo tackles per game also led the FBS, while his 2.1 TFLs per contest ranked third in the nation. His 25.0 TFLs set a new KU single-season record. He finished the 2017 campaign ranked sixth in the FBS in total tackles. Dineen added two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble during the season.
Dineen recorded double-digit tackles in 10-of-12 games in 2017, including a season high and career-high-tying 16 stops at Iowa State. He was credited with a career-best 4.0 TFLs in games against Baylor and at Oklahoma State. The Free State High graduate recorded 10 or more solo tackles in five of the 12 contests in 2017.
The Sports Illustrated All-America nod comes a week after the Big 12 announced Dineen as a Second Team All-Big 12 honoree, as voted on by the league's coaches. Dineen is the first Jayhawk to pick up All-America honors from Sports Illustrated since 2007 when cornerback/kick returner Aqib Talib was also named to the outlet's second team.
