Dec. 2, 2010

Columbia, Mo. -

Three University of Missouri football standouts were named first-team All-Big 12 today by the Associated Press, as announced today.  Senior C Tim Barnes (Longwood, Mo.), junior TE Michael Egnew (Plainview, Texas) were first-team offensive selections, and senior LB Andrew Gachkar (Overland Park, Kan.) joined them as a first-team defensive selection.  Barnes and Egnew were also first-team picks by Big 12 coaches earlier this week, while Gachkar improved from honorable mention by league coaches.

Gachkar led one of the most improved defenses in the nation in 2010, with a team-best 81 tackles, while leading the team in interceptions (2), forced fumbles (2), recovered fumbles (2) and blocked kicks (2).  He added 8.5 tackles for loss on the year, as well.  Barnes earned 1st-team honors for the first time in his stellar career, thanks to his efforts anchoring an offense that has helped guide the Tigers to a 10-2 record and a share of the Big 12 North Division title in 2010.  Egnew, a finalist for the 2010 Mackey Award, won the tight end spot after an outstanding season which saw him lead all of the nation's tight ends with 83 receptions for 698 yards and four touchdowns. 

A pair of underclassmen – junior OL Dan Hoch (Harlan, Iowa) and sophomore DE Brad Madison (Bethany, Mo.) – both earned second-team All-Big 12 honors, while eight other Tigers (CB Carl Gettis, P Matt Grabner, S Jarrell Harrison, WR T.J. Moe, PK Grant Ressel, CB Kevin Rutland, DE Aldon Smith and DE Jacquies Smith) all won honorable-mention all-league acclaim.

 

Tim Barnes                          1^st-Team              C – 6-4, 300, Sr., Longwood, Mo.

Michael Egnew                 1^st-Team              TE – 6-6, 235, Jr., Plainview, Texas

Andrew Gachkar              1^st-Team              LB – 6-3, 228, Sr., Overland Park, Kan.

Dan Hoch                             2^nd-Team             OL – 6-7, 315, Jr., Harlan, Iowa

Brad Madison                    2^nd-Team             DE – 6-4, 255, So., Bethany, Mo.

Carl Gettis                           Hon. Men.          CB – 5-11, 195, Sr., O'Fallon, Mo.

Matt Grabner                    Hon. Men.          P – 6-4, 200, Sr., Alton, Ill.

Jarrell Harrison                  Hon. Men.          S – 6-2, 210, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.

T.J. Moe                               Hon. Men.          WR – 6-0, 200, So., O'Fallon, Mo.

Grant Ressel                      Hon. Men.          PK – 6-1, 190, Jr., Jackson, Mo.

Kevin Rutland                    Hon. Men.          CB – 6-0, 190, Sr., Houston, Texas

Aldon Smith                       Hon. Men.          DE – 6-5, 260, So., Raytown, Mo.

Jacquies Smith                  Hon. Men.          DE – 6-4, 255, Jr., Dallas, Texas