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Thursday, December 11, 9828
Ricky Williams headlines coaches' All-Big 12
team
DALLAS (AP) -- University of Texas running back Ricky Williams
headlines the third annual All-Big 12 Conference team, as selected
by the league's coaches and released Friday.
Williams, the returning 1997 offensive player of the year,
broke Tony Dorsett's career rushing mark of 6,082 yards with a
44-carry, 259-yard rushing day Friday against Texas A&M.
That gives him 6,279 yards. He broke more than 30 Texas records
and 20 NCAA game, season or career marks after deciding to return
for his senior season at Texas.
Quarterback on the first team offense is Michael Bishop of
Kansas State, who led the Wildcats to an 11-0 record going into
the conference title game against Texas A&M.
Bishop, one of nine Kansas State players on the coaches' all-conference
team, is the nation's seventh-most-efficient passer with 145 of
267 attempts for 2,503 yards, 21 touchdowns, 54.3 percent completion
rate, and just three interceptions. He's also Williams' primary
rival for the Heisman Trophy.
Paired with Williams in the starting backfield is Missouri
senior Devin West.
The wide receivers are Darnell McDonald of Kansas State and
Wane McGarity of Texas. The tight end is Derek Lewis of Texas.
McDonald had 69 catches for 952 yards in his first 11 games
prior to the Dr Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship bout. McGarity
also enjoyed a stellar senior season, catching 58 passes for 1,087
yards, tops in the Big 12.
The offensive line is comprised of Ryan Young of Kansas State,
Rob Riti and Craig Heimburger of Missouri, Josh Heskew of Nebraska
and Jay Humphrey of Texas.
Missouri's Harold Piersey, who has four interceptions, leads
a defensive backfield with true all-star credentials.
Kansas State starters Lamar Chapman and Jarrod Cooper combined
to lead the Wildcats' pass defense to the No. 7 spot in NCAA pass
efficiency defense with a Big 12-best 15 pass interceptions through
games of Nov. 27.
Nebraska's Ralph Brown, a repeat member of the Coaches All-Big
12 first unit, was a key cog in the Huskers' defensive schemes
throughout '98.
On the defensive interior line are Justin Wyatt of Missouri,
Kelly Gregg of Oklahoma and Taurus Rucker of Texas Tech.
Defensive ends are Darren Howard of Kansas State and Montae
Reagor of Texas Tech. Linebackers are Dat Nguyen of Texas A&M
and Jeff Kelly of Kansas State. Defensive backs are Ralph Brown
of Nebraska, Lamar Chapman and Jarrod Cooper of Kansas State and
Harold Piersey of Missouri.
Specialty members of the all-league team include four of the
nation's finest.
Martin Gramatica of Kansas State, winner of the 1997 Lou Groza
National Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, set every KSU career kicking
and scoring mark and is second in conference scoring behind Texas'
Williams with 120 points, an average of 10.9 points per game.
Colorado's standout kick return man and starting defensive
back Ben Kelly entered his final game with 20 kickoff returns
for 474 yards and a 23.7 average along with nine punt returns
for 225 yards, a 25-yard norm, and two touchdowns.
Fellow returner David Allen of Kansas State has a Big 12-record
four punt returns for touchdowns (five in his career) while running
back 32 punts for 713 yards and 22.3 yards per try to lead the
nation.
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