|
Twelve From The Big 12 To Play
In 2008 Under Armour
Senior Bowl
Talented dozen
includes four of college football’s premier pass catchers in Limas Sweed
of Texas, Jordy Nelson of Kansas State, Martin Rucker of Missouri and
Oklahoma State’s Adarius Bowman.
 MOBILE, Ala. (January
10, 2008) --
Thanks to some of the nation’s most prolific
pass catchers from the Big 12, Under Armour Senior Bowl fans could be in
for quite an aerial show on January 26.
A quartet of the nation’s top receivers – consensus first-team
All-Americans and major award finalists Martin Rucker of Missouri and
Jordy Nelson of Kansas State, Limas Sweed of Texas and Oklahoma State’s
Adarius Bowman – heads a group of 12 top senior draft prospects from Big
12 Conference schools who will play in the 2008 Under Armour Senior
Bowl, officials announced on Thursday.
In addition to Rucker, Nelson and Sweed, other new players named to the
roster on Thursday include Oklahoma State All-Big 12 running back
Dantrell Savage, Nebraska offensive lineman Carl Nicks and Oklahoma
defensive back D.J. Wolfe.
They join previously announced players such as Colorado’s Big 12
Defensive Player of the Year, linebacker Jordon Dizon, and defensive
back Terrence Wheatley, Oklahoma State’s Bowman, Texas’ All-American
safety Marcus Griffin, and Texas A&M defensive tackle Red Bryant and
offensive lineman Cody Wallace.
Nelson was one of three finalists for the Biletinikoff Award, presented
to college football’s best receiver, after turning in a remarkable 2007
campaign which saw him set single season school records with a whopping
122 catches for 1,606 yards and 11 TD’s. His 10.2 catches per game
average, 133.8 yards per game average and 1,606 total receiving yards
all rank second nationally.
Named to nine different major All-American first-teams, including the
Associated Press, AFCA and Walter Camp, the 6-3, 217-pounder from Riley,
Kan., recorded eight 100-yard receiving games and two 200-yard
performances this season and caught 10 or more passes in six games, all
of which are school records. His 15-catch performances against Missouri
State and Fresno State and his 214 yards receiving at Iowa State set
single-game K-State records.
The former walk-on collected 206 receptions for 2,822 yards and 20
touchdowns during his three-year career at wide receiver.
“It is a tremendous honor to play in the Senior Bowl and I’m looking
forward to getting the chance to showcase my abilities,” said Nelson. “I
see it as an opportunity to get better as a player and feel fortunate to
be coached by NFL personnel.”
Rucker was also a consensus first-team All-American in 2007, with
first-team honors on the AP and AFCA teams, and was named one of the
three finalists for the Mackey Award, presented to the nation’s top
tight end.
A 6-6, 255-pounder from St. Joseph, Mo., he was the nation’s top pass
catching tight end, hauling in 84 passes for 834 yards and eight
touchdowns, breaking the school single season receptions mark and
helping lead the Tigers to a 12-2 season and final number four national
ranking. He also set a school record with 203 receptions, and his 2,175
yards in second all-time.
Considered one of the top receivers in this year’s NFL draft class,
Sweed is a big (6-5, 219), fast and athletic pass catcher from Brenham,
Texas, who caught 19 for 306 yards and three scores this season before
missing the Longhorns’ final seven games due to a wrist injury.
A two-time All-Big 12 pick, he led the team with 46 catches for 801
yards and a school record 12 touchdowns in 2006, caught 36 for 545
during the Longhorns’ national championship season of 2005, and finished
his career with ranked sixth at UT in career catches with 124, fifth
with 1,915 yards and second with 20 TD’s.
Savage is a 5-9, 195-pounder from Columbus, Ga., who earned first-team
All-Big 12 honors after rushing for 1,272 yards and an impressive 5.7
yards per carry in 2007.
Wolfe was a second-team All-Big 12 selection by both the coaches and
Associated Press. The 5-11, 201-pound safety recorded 87 tackles and led
the Sooners’ Big 12 champs with four interceptions and had two fumble
recoveries.
Nebraska’s Nicks is a 6-5, 330-pound talented left tackle from Salinas,
Cal., who earned second-team All-Big 12 honors by the league’s coaches,
anchoring the offensive line for the Huskers’ potent offense which
ranked 11th nationally.
The 59th annual Under Armour Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday,
January 26, 2008. Tickets sell for $24, $18 and $12 each and can be
purchased at all area Food World stores, selected Regions Bank branches,
by calling 251-432-4109 or ordered through the bowl’s website at
www.seniorbowl.com.
Big 12 Players In the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl
-
Colorado: Jordon Dizon, LB; Terrence Wheatley, DB
-
Kansas State: Jordy Nelson, WR
-
Missouri: Martin Rucker, TE
-
Nebraska: Carl Nicks, OL
-
Oklahoma: D.J. Wolfe, DB
-
Oklahoma State: Adarius Bowman, WR; Dantrell Savage, RB
-
Texas: Marcus Griffin, DB; Limas Sweed, WR
-
Texas A&M: Red Bryant, DL; Cody Wallace, OL
|
