Jan. 4, 2006

Bristol, Conn. - Wake Forest sophomore linebacker Jon Abbate was selected by ESPN's All-MayDay Team, comprised of the nation's toughest college football players in 2005. The team was selected by ESPN college football analyst Mark May with the main criteria being the exhibition of toughness and determination with special consideration to those who played through pain.

Abbate was held out of the preseason with a severe hamstring injury, but missed only the season opener against Vanderbilt. In the first half against Clemson, his nose was gashed open, but still made 11 tackles and had two interceptions in that same half. He needed stitches to close the cut and wore a padded mask over his nose the rest of the season.

Later in the year, he tore his MCL but played through it and led the Deacons in tackles (76) and had six tackles for loss. He averaged eight tackles per game against conference rivals and was named honorable mention All-ACC for the second straight year.

2005 All-Mayday Team
Offense
QB    Chris Leak, Florida
RB    Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois
WR    Tommy Cook, Kentucky
WR    Ed Hinkle, Iowa
WR    George Smith, Vanderbilt
OT    Chris McGee, Tulane
OT    Andrew Carnahan, Arizona St.
OG    Brian Daniels, Colorado
OG    Chris Chester, Oklahoma
C     Lyle Sendlein, Texas
Defense
DL    Garrett McIntyre, Fresno St.
DL    John Glavine, Miami (OH)
DL    Jared Kesler, TCU
DL    Brandon Rollins, Arkansas St.
LB    Jason Mitchell, Tennessee
LB    Tony Taylor, Georgia
LB    Jon Abbate, Wake Forest
LB    Patrick Willis, Ole Miss
DB    Kyle Kleckner, Illinois
DB    Nate Soelberg, BYU
DB    Jaxson Appel, Texas A&M
K    Alexis Cerna, Oregon St.
DS    Justin Venable, Louisiana-Lafayette