July 21, 2006

Dallas, Texas - Two University of Missouri football players were named to the 2006 Preseason All-Big 12 Team, as announced today by the Big 12 Conference.

The team, voted on by league-wide media members, included a pair of Mizzou standouts - senior strong safety David Overstreet and junior tight end Martin Rucker.

Overstreet, an honorable-mention All-Big 12 performer in 2005 by the media (1st-Team selection by the Kansas City Star), led the Tigers with a career-high 100 tackles. He added two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and eight passes broken up, as well. The Dallas, Texas, native will be called upon to lead a Tiger secondary that loses three of four starters from a year ago.

Rucker, a preseason candidate for the Mackey Award (given annually to the nation's top tight end), was named to the 2006 team after posting 47 catches, 567 yards and one touchdown a year ago - the first of two figures which led the team. In just two seasons, Rucker already ranks sixth alltime in Mizzou history among tight ends with 66 career catches for 830 yards.

For more team details, please visit the Big 12 Conference website.

Name	Honor	Notes
David Overstreet (SS)	1st Team	2005 stats: 100 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 INTs, 3 fumble rec., 8 PBUs
Martin Rucker (TE)	1st Team	2005 stats: 47 catches, 567 yards, 1 TD, 12.1 ypc