July 19, 2011
IRVING, Texas --- A trio of Texas A&M football players were named to the 2011 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team, the conference office announced. The squad was chosen by media representatives who cover the Big 12 Conference.
Making the Big 12's team were senior running back Cyrus Gray, sophomore offensive tackle Luke Joeckel and senior cornerback Coryell Judie, who made the squad at defensive back and kickoff returner. Gray and Joeckel are first-time representatives on the All-Big 12 team, while Judie was a second-team selection on the Big 12's 2010 team.
Gray carries a streak of seven consecutive games with over 100 rushing yards into 2011, which is the second longest in school history behind Darren Lewis' streak of 10 in 1988. The Big 12's leading returning rusher, the DeSoto, Texas, native finished with 1,133 yards and 12 touchdowns to become the first Aggie to rush for over 1,000 yards since Courtney Lewis in 2003. Additionally, Gray added 251 yards on 34 receptions to become only the second player in school history (Darren Lewis) to eclipse the 5,000-yard plateau in career all-purpose yards. Following the season Gray received multiple All-Big 12 accolades, including second team honors from The Associated Press.
Joeckel, from Arlington, Texas, is one of just three sophomores on the select squad. Joeckel, who enrolled early in 2010, started all 13 games as a true freshmen last year and helped pave the way for an offense averaged 441.8 yards per game (No. 3 in school history), including 276.8 passing yards per game (No. 2 in school history). After the season, Joeckel received Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America.
Judie, from Marlin, Texas, has already been mentioned on watch lists for the Thorpe Award, the Bronko Nagurski Award and the Bednarik Award after a spectacular debut season in 2010. Last year, Judie tied for the team lead with four pickoffs and had eight broken up passes, while making 57 tackles. As a kickoff returner, Judie averaged 30.2 yards on 20 returns with two touchdowns.
Preseason Honors (As of 7/19/2011)
All-Big 12 Team (Media)
RB Cyrus Gray
OL Luke Joeckel
DB/KOR Coryell Judie
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
QB Ryan Tannehill
Walter Camp Player of the Year
WR Jeff Fuller
Davey O'Brien Quarterback Award
QB Ryan Tannehill
Doak Walker Award (best running back):
RB Cyrus Gray
RB Christine Michael
Rotary Lombardi Award (best lineman or linebacker):
DE Tony Jerod-Eddie
OL Luke Joeckel
LB Garrick Williams
Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back):
CB Coryell Judie
Bronko Nagurski Award (best defensive player):
CB Coryell Judie
Maxwell Award (outstanding player):
WR Jeff Fuller
RB Cyrus Gray
QB Ryan Tannehill
Bednarik Award (outstanding defensive player):
CB Coryell Judie
Biletnikoff Award (outstanding receiver):
WR Jeff Fuller WR Ryan Swope
Lou Groza Award (outstanding placekicker):
PK Randy Bullock
Pony Express Award (outstanding pair or trio):
QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Cyrus Gray, WR Jeff Fuller
College Football Performance Awards:
Coryell Judie (kickoff return and defensive back)
Dustin Harris (punt return and defensive back)
Damontre Moore (linebacker)
Ryan Tannehill (quarterback)
Cyrus Gray (running back)
Jeff Fuller (wide receiver)
Ryan Swope (wide receiver)