March 25, 2004
Texas A&M football standouts Jaxson Appel and Terrence Murphy received mention on the preseason All-America squad selected by NationalChamps.net.
Appel was named third-team All-American at defensive back, while Murphy received honorable mention honors at kickoff returner from the website.
"We're certainly counting on both of these young men, not only for what they give us on the field but for their outstanding leadership on each side of the ball," A&M head coach Dennis Franchione said. "Jaxson and Terrence have demonstrated outstanding dedication in the offseason, and have said they are determined to improve on last season."
Appel, a junior-to-be from Friendswood, Texas, ranked among the Big 12 Conference's tackle leaders with 135 stops in 2003. Appel led the Aggies in the tackles and set a school record for tackles by a defensive back. He was the top tackler among NationalChamps.net's first-, second- and third-teams. Appel also contributed a team-best four pickoffs and broke up five other opponent aerials.
Murphy, a senior-to-be from Tyler, Texas, led the Big 12 with a 27.2 kickoff return average and he set a school record for season kickoff return yardage with 626 yards on 23 returns. Murphy also set a school record in 2003 for all-purpose yardage by a wide receiver with 1,538 yards. He averaged 20.0 yards per touch in 2003, which ranked No. 2 nationally. He added a team-best 44 catches for 762 yards. He enters his senior season as the career school record holder in receiving yardage and needs just one catch to match the school record for career receptions.