December 04, 2003
| Four members of the Texas A&M football team were named to the eighth annual All-Big 12 Conference coaches' football team. Junior wide receiver Terrence Murphy, junior offensive lineman Geoff Hangartner, freshman running back Courtney Lewis and sophomore defensive back Jaxson Appel earned All-Big 12 honors in 2003. Murphy was named to the second-team offense as a kick returner. The Tyler, Texas native averaged 27.2 yards per kick return and broke several school records in the process. His 626 return yards broke the old record of 590 set by Leeland McElroy in 1993, while Murphy's 23 kickoff returns tied the school record set by Dave Elmendorf in 1970. Murphy, a member of Coach Fran's Leadership Council, was named a permanent captain for the 2003 season. Hangartner was a third-team selection at offensive line. A member of the Leadership Council and a native of New Braunfels, Texas, he played center on an Aggie front line that helped the team to its most prolific offensive output in years. A&M averaged 177.2 yards per game on the ground and 389.8 overall in 2003. Lewis, a redshirt freshman from Houston, rushed for 1,024 yards on the year to become the Aggies' first 1,000-yard rusher since Dante Hall in 1998. Lewis, whose yardage total was the second most by a freshman in school history, averaged 5.5 yards per carry in '03 and scored a team-high 12 touchdowns. He had five 100-yard performances on the season including a season-best 171 yards against Oklahoma State at Kyle Field. Appel, from Friendswood, Texas, was an honorable mention selection at defensive back. He led the team with 135 tackles in 2003, breaking the A&M record for tackles by defensive backs of 132, set in 1977 by Carl Grulich. Appel grabbed four interceptions for 109 yards and returned two for touchdowns. A member of the Leadership Council and a permanent captain, he also broke up five passes, recovered three fumbles and forced two more. |