June 08, 2005
Texas A&M senior defensive back Jaxson Appel has been named to the Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook pre-season All-America team.
Appel, from Friendswood High School, is a four-year starter in the defensive secondary for Texas A&M and is noted for his tough and aggressive style of play. He was twice named the Chevrolet Player of the Game for Texas A&M in ABC telecasts last fall. Against the three BCS teams A&M played, Appel recorded a season-high 12 tackles against Oklahoma and Texas, as well as making 12 stops against Utah.
USC quarterback Matt Leinart is the publication's Offensive Player of the Year and North Carolina State defensive lineman Mario Williams is the Defensive Player of the Year.
The Aggies open the 2005 season on the road against Clemson with a split nationally televised prime time game by ABC on Saturday, Sept. 3.
Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook Pre-Season All-America Squad
- OFFENSE
QB Matt Leinart, USC
RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
RB Reggie Bush, USC (tie)
WR Derek Hagan, Arizona State
WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
TE Marcedes, Lewis, UCLA
OL D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia
OL Eric Winston, Miami
OL Greg Eslinger, Minnesota
OL Jonathan Scott, Texas
OL Marcus McNeill, Auburn
K Mason Crosby, Colorado
RS Devin Hester, Miami
DEFENSE
DL Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech
DL Jesse Mahelona, Tennessee
DL Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
DL Mario Williams, North Carolina State
LB Ahmad Brooks, Virginia
LB Charles Greenway, Iowa
LB A.J. Hawk, Ohio State
DB JAXSON APPEL, TEXAS A&M
DB Charles Gordon, Kansas
DB Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech
DB Ko Simpson, South Carolina
P Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor
RS Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Matt Leinart, USC
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mario Williams, North Carolina State