Playboy prediction comes to fruition

Talib named All-American

This morning the American Football Coaches' Association named junior cornerback Aqib Talib a first-team All-American.

Aqib Talib's preseason All-America label by Playboy magazine came with a luxurious photo shoot in Arizona, some added publicity and perhaps some extra weight on his shoulders.

But really, it was all hype.

This time, Talib earned it. Kansas University's junior cornerback was named to the All-America team Thursday by the American Football Coaches Association. He's the first KU player to be named first-team All-America since kicker Bruce Kallmeyer in 1983.

In all, five Big 12 Conference players were placed on the team. The other four are on offense - Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree, Kansas State wide receiver Jordy Nelson, Missouri tight end Martin Rucker and Oklahoma offensive lineman Duke Robinson.

Talib, a 6-foot-2 standout from Richardson, Texas, has 61 tackles, four interceptions and 13 pass breakups for the 11-1 Jayhawks this season. His four picks included a sensational leaping catch against Florida International that was returned 100 yards for a touchdown on Sept. 22.

In addition, Talib played occasionally on offense at the beginning of the season, catching eight balls for 182 yards and four touchdowns.

Talib joins a short list of Jayhawks who have been named AFCA first-team All-America, including Gale Sayers (1963 and '64), John Zook (1968), Bobby Douglass (1968), David Jaynes (1973) and Kallmeyer.

¢More honors: Talib also was named first-team All-America by Rivals.com, joining teammate Anthony Collins on the list.

Collins, a 6-foot-6 left tackle, anchored an offensive line which has helped Kansas excel in both run blocking and pass protection. The Jayhawks rank second in the nation in scoring offense.

¢Even more honors: Talib and Collins both were named first-team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press on Thursday, joining several teammates on the list.

Besides those two, defensive tackles James McClinton and linebacker Joe Mortensen were named to the first team. Receiver Marcus Henry, running back Brandon McAnderson and quarterback Todd Reesing were second-team picks.

Six others were honorable-mention selections.

¢Smart ones: KU's two starting defensive ends were honored for both their braun and their brains.

Russell Brorsen, a junior out of Stillwater, Okla., was named first-team Academic All-America by ESPN The Magazine on Thursday. John Larson, a junior out of Shawnee, was named to the second team.

Brorsen holds a 3.96 grade-point average as a chemistry major. Larson has a 3.69 GPA as an economics major.

More like this

Three Jayhawks tapped preseason all-Big 12 26 comments / July 21, 2007
Three Jayhawks AP All-America 27 comments / December 12, 2007
Cover man 15 comments / May 22, 2007
KU trio tapped as AP All-Americans 14 comments / December 11, 2007
(Almost) Everybody's All-American 14 comments / December 24, 2007

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prairie_dog (anonymous) says...

If Talib and/or Collins leave early, do they make the wall of honor?

November 30, 2007 at 6:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

wcormode (William Cormode) says...

Dont you mean WHEN they leave early? Collins nickname is "Mommas gotta eat" he's gone. Talib was a early season prediction for the top 5 of the NFL draft. We go to college to get jobs, if they are able to get a job then see ya later. I would love for them to stay but they have to do what is best for them.

November 30, 2007 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

dsmith84 (anonymous) says...

collin's has already said many times that he will return next year.

talib... yeah, he's gone.

November 30, 2007 at 8:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kuelguapo (anonymous) says...

i wouldn't say talib is gone for sure. of course i won't be surprised, but he hinted that he may stay...

and look at brorsen! 3.96 in chem? holy balls, man...

November 30, 2007 at 8:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

KU is battling OSU for a 4 star corner out of Dodge City CC. He is supposed to be amazing. So if Talib does leave we have a good future. Even if we don't get him, our young corners are very good.

November 30, 2007 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

quigley (anonymous) says...

There was an article a couple of weeks ago just about collins. He said there that momma will eat after next years season at KU!!!

November 30, 2007 at 8:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tpeck1021 (anonymous) says...

I must have missed the issue with Aqib in it. I usually just read the articles....

November 30, 2007 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

klong, OSU as in: Beavers, Cowboys or Browneyes?

***

tpeck, HA! :D

***

Kansas football has all of their conference games televised; is on the verge of making a BCS bowl; and producing First-Team All Americas / potential first-round NFL draft picks ...

Somebody pinch me!!!!!!!

November 30, 2007 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

walkdog262 (anonymous) says...

Talib is good, but he's a perfect example of how hype can create a player. He's all the national types talk about when referring to KU. Why? Because they saw him in Playboy last summer. A guy gets a preseason nod like that, hype builds, announcers start talking about him (helps that he's got a great, fun-to-say name), and before you know it everyone's heard of the guy. National writers vote for the All-America team, they know KU is good and they've gotta vote for some Jayhawk, and who's the one they've heard of? Talib.
I'm not saying he doesn't deserve the honor, because he probably does, and it's gotta be tough for a Jayhawk to crack that list. But he could have had a lesser season and probably still made the team based on his buzz.

November 30, 2007 at 10:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

Oklahoma State

I know, it's amazing! The year that we have all been waiting for.

November 30, 2007 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

kansas may be on tv in kansas but is NOT shown on the west coast. they always get shutoff by a pac 10 game. since they are in the middle of the country the east coast get full exposure, the big 12 part coverage. me i,d like to see the ad do somthing about it. they do the same thing for bb.

November 30, 2007 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

Blame the AD and the conference ... Big XII has a lousy TV deal!

Just think, folks ... just think what next year's highlight DVD will look like with all of these televised games!

I have the one from 2003 and 2005 ... heard a rumor about one from 2004, can anyone verify that?

***

This whole season becomes real to me when I can go into the Kansas Sampler and buy a Kansas Football Calendar!!!

November 30, 2007 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

what are you talking about? Kansas Football Calendars are FREE?

Oh wait, maybe they only used to be free. You mean we might have to BUY KU football mechandise instead of having it forced on us?

awesome

November 30, 2007 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

prairie-dog, my guess is no. Their greatest season in a KU uniform is in front of them.

I bet Brorsen got a B in English lit.

November 30, 2007 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

I'm also looking forward to the Jayhawk version of THIS:

http://www.kansassampler.com/shopexd....

to compliment THAT:

http://www.kansassampler.com/shopexd....

November 30, 2007 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

howdy seattle!

you had a great post recently, I was going to compliment you on it!

see, if you could just get text messages ...

November 30, 2007 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )