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Four Notre Dame Stars To Play
In 2008 Under Armour
Senior Bowl
Fighting Irish will
be led by All-American defensive back Tom Zbikowski, team MVP Trevor
Laws, record-setting tight end John Carlson and offensive lineman John
Sullivan.
 MOBILE, Ala. (January
14, 2008) -- Under Armour Senior Bowl fans will have the chance to
see an outstanding quartet of University of Notre Dame stars – led by one of
the most exciting and electric players in college football in All-American
defensive back Tom Zbikowski – who will bring their talents to Mobile for
the 2008 contest, officials announced on Monday.
Zbikowski will be joined by defensive tackle
Trevor Laws, named the team’s MVP in 2007, record-setting tight end John
Carlson and offensive lineman John Sullivan, on the North squad for the
January 26 event.
A true fan favorite, Zbikowski was one of the
top safeties and punt returners in Notre Dame annals, starting 48 games and
finishing with 300 career tackles, a record for Irish defensive backs.
Notre Dame All-American defensive back
Tom Zbikowski
The 6-0, 209-pounder from Arlington Heights,
Ill., scored seven career touchdowns on interception, punt and fumble
returns, and was involved in 19 career turnovers with seven forced fumbles,
eight interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
A two-time Associated Press All-American and
second-team Walter Camp selection in 2006, his three punt returns for TD’s
is tied for the all-time school mark, and his 300 career tackles shattered
the old record for defensive backs of 228 held by Jim Browner.
Like his former roommate Jeff Smardzija, the
former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver and current pitching prospect
in the Chicago Cubs minor league system, Zbikowski is a also a two-sport
standout. He is a nationally-ranked boxer who made his professional debut on
June 10, 2006, in Madison Square Garden, knocking out Robert Bell in just 49
seconds.
Notre Dame defensive lineman
Trevor Laws
Laws was named Notre Dame’s MVP this season by
his teammates after leading the team with 112 tackles, the second-most ever
by a Notre Dame defensive lineman.
A 6-1, 295-pounder from Burnsville, Minn., is
also an academic All-American who received degrees in marketing and
sociology last May, and finished his career with 224 tackles, ten sacks,
22.5 tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries and six blocked kicks.
He became just the second Notre Dame defensive
lineman since 1981 to eclipse 200 career tackles, joining Chris Zorich who
had 219 from 1988-90.
Notre Dame tight end
John Carlson
Carlson caught 100 passes for 1,093 yards and
eight TD’s during his career, as his 100 catches were the second-most ever
by a Notre Dame tight end.
A 6-6, 259-pounder from Litchfield, Minn., he
was a first-team Academic All-American who was awarded a prestigious
National Scholar-Athlete $18,000 post-graduate scholarship this year.
He led the Irish with 40 catches for 372 yards
this season, and had 47 for 634 and four scores a year ago.
Notre Dame offensive lineman
John Sullivan
Sullivan, the team’s center, was the most
experience offensive player and backbone of the Irish offensive line,
finishing his career with 47 games and 43 starts.
A 6-4, 290-pounder from Greenwich, Conn., he
served as a team captain this season and started 31 straight games.
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, by calling
251-432-4109 or ordered through the bowl’s website at
www.seniorbowl.com.
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