Five Jayhawks Selected to Play in 2013 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Jan. 8, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kansas football seniors Dayne Crist, Trevor Marrongelli, Toben Opurum, Josh Williams and Duane Zlatnik have accepted invitations to play in the 2013 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 19 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

The five Jayhawks join a growing roster of talented draft-eligible college seniors competing in the all-star game. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m., and is slated to be carried live on ESPN2. ESPNU will also carry live reports during the practices leading up to the game, beginning on Thursday, Jan. 17.

Crist, a 6-foot-4 quarterback from Canoga Park, Calif., played in 10 games for the Jayhawks last season and completed 103-of-216 passes for 1,313 yards and four touchdowns. He transferred to Kansas from Notre Dame prior to the beginning of 2012 spring practice and served as one of KU’s three captains during the season.

Marrongelli, a 6-foot-3 offensive lineman from Austin, Texas, started all 12 games at center for the Jayhawks during the 2012 season. During his Kansas career, Marrongelli started 30 games at center and guard, including 24 straight the last two years. He was tabbed Academic All-Big 12 First Team for the fourth time in his career this season and also garnered CoSIDA Academic All-District honors for the second time this year.

Opurum, a 6-foot-1½ defensive end/linebacker from Richardson, Texas, played in all 12 games and registered 43 tackles last season. He finished the year with six TFLs for a loss of 21 yards and also added 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups. Opurum earned Academic All-Big 12 honors twice in his career and was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2011.

Williams, a 6-foot-4 defensive lineman from Denton, Texas, started all 12 games at defensive end and contributed 24 tackles and two TFLs. He added three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries during the season. Williams recorded a season-best six tackles in KU’s game against Baylor.

Zlatnik, a 6-foot-4 offensive lineman from Rossville, Kan., played in all 12 games, making 11 starts at left guard. He earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention from the Associated Press for the second-straight season in 2012 and helped pave the way for a running game that averaged 4.6 yards per carry and boasted a 1,000-yard rusher in James Sims. Zlatnik started 31 games during his Kansas career.

This marks the second time that Kansas has had players selected to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl as offensive tackle Brad Thorson played in the 2011 all-star game.

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