Huskers place three on pre-season All-Big 12 team

Three members of the Nebraska football team were named preseason All-Big 12 by a select panel of media, the conference office announced Friday. Senior Adam Carriker and junior Corey McKeon each were placed on the All-Big 12 defensive team, while junior Terrence Nunn garnered the most votes for top punt returner.

Carriker returns for his final season as a Husker one year after earning first-team all-conference recognition by the Associated Press and Dallas Morning News. The Kennewick, Wash., native also earned Nebraska Defensive MVP honors in 2005 after helping lead the NU defense to the nation's top totals in both sacks (50) and tackles for loss (124).

Individually, Carriker tied for the Big 12 lead in sacks (9.5), while ranking second among all Huskers with 17 tackles for loss. He has gained strong preseason attention this summer, as he has been tabbed a favorite for All-America honors by several publications, including Athlon and Lindy's. Carriker also has been named to the Lombardi Award Watch List for the second straight year.

McKeon is poised for a strong junior season after playing a lead role in Nebraska's lofty defensive rankings in 2005. In his first season as a starter at the MIKE linebacker position, McKeon led the Huskers with 98 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and three interceptions.

The Naperville, Ill., native set both Nebraska's single-game (five) and season team records for tackles for loss for the linebacker position, while his season mark was the second-best total ever for any Husker defender. He rounded out the year with second-team All-Big 12 mention from the AP, Dallas Morning News and Kansas City Star, while also claiming sophomore All-America honors from CollegeFootballNews.com.

Nunn also earned sophomore All-America mention from CollegeFootballNews.com in 2005 after leading the Big 12 Conference in punt returns and ranking third nationally with an 18.3 average. In addition to the national attention, the Houston, Texas, native also was named an All-Big 12 selection by the Austin American-Statesman and Kansas City Star. Nunn proved to be a serious double threat in 2005, as he also ranked second among all NU receivers with 43 receptions and 495 yards. His seven touchdown receptions tied for the team lead.

Big 12 teams will be in Kansas City Monday, July 24, through Wednesday, July 26, for the annual Big 12 Football Media Day. Nebraska will appear in Kansas City during the Monday session.

2006 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team

Offensive Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma (RB, 6-2, 210, Jr., Palestine, Texas)

Defensive Player of the Year: Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma (LB, 6-1, 231, Sr., Baton Rouge, La.)

Newcomer of the Year: Sergio Kindle, Texas (LB, 6-4, 225, Fr., Dallas, Texas)

Offense

WR Todd Blythe Iowa State 6-5 210 Jr. Indianola, Iowa

TE Martin Rucker Missouri 6-5 245 Jr. St. Joseph, Mo.

OL Justin Blalock Texas 6-4 329 Sr. Plano, Texas

OL Manuel Ramirez Texas Tech 6-4 339 Sr. Houston, Texas

C Mark Fenton Colorado 6-4 295 Sr. Inglewood, Calif.

OL Kasey Studdard Texas 6-3 305 Sr. Lone Tree, Colo.

OL Corey Hilliard Oklahoma State 6-5 310 Sr. New Orleans, La.

WR Jarrett Hicks Texas Tech 6-3 210 Sr. Houston, Texas

QB Bret Meyer Iowa State 6-3 208 Jr. Atlantic, Iowa

RB Adrian Peterson Oklahoma 6-2 218 Jr. Palestine, Texas

RB Jamaal Charles Texas 6-1 190 So. Port Arthur, Texas

PK Mason Crosby Colorado 6-2 210 Sr. Georgetown, Texas

KR DeAndre Jackson Iowa State 6-0 192 Sr. Garland, Texas

Defense

DL Adam Carriker Nebraska 6-6 280 Sr. Kennewick, Wash.

DL Tim Crowder Texas 6-4 270 Sr. Tyler, Texas

DL Frank Okam Texas 6-5 315 Jr. Dallas, Texas

DL Brent Curvey Iowa State 6-0 295 Sr. Houston, Texas

LB Rufus Alexander Oklahoma 6-1 231 Sr. Baton Rouge, La.

LB Thaddaeus Washington Colorado 5-11 240 Sr. Marrero, La.

LB Corey McKeon Nebraska 6-1 225 Jr. Naperville, Ill.

DB Michael Griffin Texas 6-0 205 Sr. Austin, Texas

DB DeAndre Jackson Iowa State 6-0 192 Sr. Garland, Texas

DB David Overstreet Missouri 6-0 210 Sr. Dallas, Texas

DB Aqib Talib Kansas 6-2 180 So. Richardson, Texas

P Daniel Sepulveda Baylor 6-3 227 Sr. Dallas, Texas

PR Terrence Nunn Nebraska 6-0 185