Post-season honors are coming as quickly for Chris Bickford these days as tackles behind the line of scrimmage. The University of Rochester senior defensive end has just received one of the highest possible honors – First Team All-American as selected by the American Football Coaches Association.
 
Bickford is the first Rochester player to earn First Team All-America honors from the AFCA in 18 years. Three Yellowjackets preceded him: Craig Chodak in 1990, Brian Laudadio in 1992, and Geoff Long in 1993. He is a native of Ukiah, CA and an alumnus of Willits HS.
 
Since the end of the 2011 football season, Bickford has been honored by the Liberty League as well as D3football.com for his gridiron work. He was an unanimous choice as a First Team Defensive Lineman for the Liberty League. He was named Second Team All-East Region by D3football.com.
 
In 2011, Bickford finished with 54 total tackles for Rochester, 26 solo. He had 13 tackles for loss, including six quarterback sacks. He led Rochester in both categories. He forced one fumble and had one pass breakup.
 
He also contributed offensively. He rushed for a one-yard TD midway through the fourth quarter to spark a rally that gave Rochester a 16-13 victory at St. Lawrence University. Late in the game, he rushed for two yards in a fourth-and-two in the last two minutes. Rochester was able to run out the clock after Bickford's fourth down conversion.
 
His football career continues this weekend when he plays in the D3Football Senior Classic at Salem, Virginia just before the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
 
Bickford began accumulating football honors from the moment he stepped on the field as a freshman in 2008. He was named a Second Team Liberty League linebacker. He was selected to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Northwest All-Star Team and was named the Liberty League's Rookie of the Week for a stretch of four consecutive weeks.
 
The coaching staff moved him to the defensive line in 2009. Bickford repaid their faith by earning First Team All-Liberty League honors.
 
His sophomore success earned a pre-season honor in 2010, heading into his junior year. He was named as a pre-season All-American by USA College Football Network. That year, he became the short-yardage back for Rochester in addition to his defensive assignments. He responded by scoring four rushing touchdowns. He was an unanimous First Team All-Liberty League choice on the defensive line.
 
In 2011, he was named to a pair of pre-season All-America teams: D3Football Senior Classic and USA College Football Network. He was on the Watch List for both the D3Football Senior Classic and for the Hansen Bowl.
 
In 37 career games for Rochester over four years, he compiled 211 total tackles. He had 122 primary tackles and 89 assisted tackles. He finished with 47.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, totaling 190 yards in losses. He had 17.5 quarterback sacks, totaling 112 yards in losses. He will be ranked third in career sacks and third inc areer tackles for loss in the Rochester record book next season.
 
At Willits HS, Bickford earned 12 varsity letters in three sports – football, basketball, and baseball. He served as a captain of all three teams and was the MVP of each team, twice in football. He earned All-North Coast League and All-Empire honors in each sport.
 
On the AFCA Team: The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen among all football-playing institutions. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams – Division I-A and Division I-AA. The College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III respectively in 1996.
 
From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added, creating the current 25-player team. That return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006.