Ten Jayhawks Earn Preseason Football Attention By Phil Steele's Magazine

May 19, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Offensive tackle Tanner Hawkinson and linebacker Huldon Tharp led a list of 10 Kansas football players named to Phil Steele’s Magazine 2010 Preseason All-Big 12 Team, which was announced Wednesday.

The pair of sophomores were named to the second team, while the publication recognized tight end Tim Biere, linebacker Drew Dudley, cornerback Chris Harris, placekicker Jacob Branstetter and punt returner Daymond Patterson on the third team. Fourth-team selections included center Jeremiah Hatch, defensive end Jake Laptad and punter Alonso Rojas.

Hawkinson was a Freshman All-America First-Team selection by several publications after starting all 12 games at left tackle in 2009. Tharp was a Freshman All-America First-Team pick by Phil Steele in 2009. He started seven straight Big 12 games and registered 59 tackle to rank fifth on the team.

Biere had 14 catches in 2009 and is a two-year starter. Dudley was an Associated Press All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection after finishing second on the team with 88 tackles last year.

Harris has started a team-best 29 games in his three years and recorded 84 tackles and nine passes broken up in 2009. Branstetter made 13 of 19 field goal attempts last year, including a 57-yarder vs. Oklahoma for the fourth-longest kick in school history. Patterson has returned punts for the last two seasons and has a 9.6 average on 43 career returns.

Hatch enters 2010 with a team-best 24 consecutive starts, including all 12 at center last season and splitting 12 starts at both tackle positions in 2008. Laptad was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection last year after leading the KU linemen with 49 tackles and leading the team with 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Rojas averaged 41.4 yards per punt last year with eight 50-plus yard kicks. He landed 16 inside the 20-yard line.

Kansas will open the 2010 season hosting North Dakota State on Sept. 4. Season tickets are available online at www.kuathletics.com

Phil Steele’s Magazine 2010 Preseason All-Big 12 Team

(Kansas Selections)

Second Team

OT Tanner Hawkinson

LB Huldon Tharp

Third Team

TE Tim Biere

LB Drew Dudley

CB Chris Harris

PK Jacob Branstetter

PR Daymond Patterson

Fourth Team

OC Jeremiah Hatch

DE Jake Laptad

P Alonso Rojas

Complete Teams in PDF Format