McKinney, Nguyen, Lechler Named All-Big 12 by Football News
Nov 13, 1997 | Football
November 13, 1997
The first All-Big 12 team of the year was released on Thursday and three Aggies were on the all-conference team as selected by the Football News.
Representing Texas A&M on the team were senior offensive guard Steve McKinney, junior inside linebacker Dat Nguyen and sophomore punter Shane Lechler.
McKinney is the cornerstone of the Aggies' offensive line which has cleared a path for an offensive attack that averages 36.6 points and 383.7 yards of total offense per contest. McKinney has made 30 consecutive starts at guard since converting to the position from the defensive line as a sophomore.
Nguyen, also a semifinalist for the Dick Butkus Award, is leading the Aggies in tackles for the third straight year with 98 stops. "Double-Digit Dat" is averaging 10.6 tackles for his career, which is a school record pace, and has produced 10 or more tackles in 18 games during his career.
Lechler is rewriting the A&M punting record book with a eye-opening season. Lechler is currently averaging 48.1 yards per boot (nearly five yards better than David Davis' school record of 43.8), and has produced a whopping 42.5 net average (over two yards better than Sean Terry's school record of 40.1). Lechler has booted punts of 50 or more yards in eight of nine games this season, and his lowest single game average this year is 42.0 (on one punt vs. Sam Houston).
The entire Football News All-American and All-Conference teams will be announced in the Dec. 6 issure of Football News.
