July 17, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas kickoff return specialist Marcus Herford and Jayhawk linebacker Joe Mortensen were named to the 2008 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team selected by the league’s media it was announced on Thursday.

Herford, a senior from DeSoto, Texas, was the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year in 2007.  He was second in the league and 15^th in the NCAA with a 28.65 kickoff return average last season.  He returned two kicks for scores on the year.

Herford, who also plays wide receiver, enters the season on several Big 12 career kickoff return charts, including second in touchdowns (two), third in return average (27.4), fifth in yards (1,645) and seventh in returns (60).

Mortensen, a senior from Concord, Calif., was an All-Big 12 First Team selection a year ago after ranking ninth in the league in tackles per game (8.15) and tying for second in tackles for loss per game (1.15).

Heading into 2008 Mortensen has been listed on two preseason watch lists, including the Bronko Nagurski Award and the Lombardi Award.

2008 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team (Media Vote)

Offensive Player of the Year: Chase Daniel, Missouri (QB, 6-0, 225, Sr/3L, Southlake, Texas)

Defensive Player of the Year: Auston English, Oklahoma (DE, 6-3, 257, Jr/1L, Canadian, Texas)

Newcomer of the Year: Darrell Scott, Colorado (TB, 6-2, 215, Fr/HS, Ventura, Calif.)

Offense

Pos    Name                                School                      Ht              Wt         Cl/Exp             Hometown

WR     Michael Crabtree!             Texas Tech                  6-3             206         So/1L              Dallas, Texas                      

TE     Chase Coffman                   Missouri                    6-6             245          Sr/3L              Peculiar, Mo.

OL     Duke Robinson                  Oklahoma                   6-5             330          Sr/3L              Atlanta, Ga.

OL     Phil Loadholt                     Oklahoma                   6-8             350          Sr/1L              Fountain, Colo.

   C     Jon Cooper                       Oklahoma                   6-2             285          Sr/3L              Fort Collins, Colo.

OL     Louis Vasquez                 Texas Tech                  6-6             335          Sr/3L              Corsicana, Texas

OL     Colin Brown                        Missouri                    6-8             325          Sr/3L              Braymer, Mo.

OL     Cedric Dockery                    Texas                      6-4             315          Sr/3L              Garland, Texas

WR     Jeremy Maclin                    Missouri                    6-1             200         So/1L              Kirkwood, Mo.

QB     Chase Daniel                      Missouri                    6-0             225          Sr/3L              Southlake, Texas

RB     Marlon Lucky                     Nebraska                   6-0             215          Sr/3L              North Hollywood, Calif.

RB     DeMarco Murray                Oklahoma                   6-0             191         So/1L              Las Vegas, Nev.

PK     Jeff Wolfert                         Missouri                    6-2             185          Sr/2L              Overland Park, Kan. 

KR     Marcus Herford                   Kansas                     6-3             208          Sr/3L              DeSoto, Texas

Defense

DL     Auston English                  Oklahoma                   6-3             257          Jr/1L               Canadian, Texas

DL     Ian Campbell                  Kansas State                6-5             249          Sr/3L              Cimarron, Kan.

DL     George Hypolite                 Colorado                    6-1             285          Sr/3L              Los Angeles, Calif.

DL     Brian Orakpo                        Texas                      6-4             260          Sr/3L              Houston, Texas

LB     Sean Weatherspoon           Missouri                    6-1             235          Jr/2L               Jasper, Texas

LB     Joe Mortensen                    Kansas                     6-1             250          Sr/3L              Concord, Calif.

LB     Joe Pawelek                        Baylor                      6-3             236          Jr/2L               San Antonio, Texas 

DB     Nic Harris                         Oklahoma                   6-3             226          Sr/3L              Alexandria, La.

DB     William Moore                    Missouri                    6-1             230          Sr/3L              Hayti, Mo.

DB     Jamar Wall                      Texas Tech                 5-10            196          Jr/2L               Plainview, Texas

DB     Jordan Lake                         Baylor                      6-2             206          Jr/2L               Houston, Texas

   P     Justin Brantly                   Texas A&M                  6-3             241          Sr/3L              Sealy, Texas           

PR     Jeremy Maclin                    Missouri                    6-1             200         So/1L              Kirkwood, Mo.

! Denotes unanimous choice.

An extra offensive lineman was honored due to ties in the voting.