Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Cal Bear Website: Four California Football Players Earn First Team All-Pac-10 Honors

13 Golden Bears overall honored by the Pac-10

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Four California football players have been named to the 2005 first team All-Pac-10 football team, announced Monday by the conference office. Overall, 13 Golden Bears were honored in the voting. Offensive linemen Ryan O'Callaghan and Marvin Philip, defensive lineman Brandon Mebane and cornerback Daymeion Hughes were named first-team all-conference as voted on by the 10 head coaches. O'Callaghan and Philip were both repeat selections to the first-team. Cal also had five second-team selections, including offensive lineman Aaron Merz, defensive lineman Nu'u Tafisi, linebacker Desmond Bishop, safety Donnie McCleskey and special teams player Byron Storer. California's honorable mention selections included running back Marshawn Lynch, fullback Chris Manderino, defensive back Tim Mixon and tight end Craig Stevens.  Philip started all 11 regular season games this season at the center position for the Bears. A Rimington Award Trophy finalist in 2004, Philip protected the quarterback and provided wide open holes for Cal's run game this season. The senior was on the watch list for both the Rimington and Outland Trophy watch list this season. O'Callaghan, who played in all but one game this year, was named to the Outland trophy watch list. Joining Philip and O'Callaghan on the first team are Mebane and Hughes. An anchor in the Golden Bears' defensive line, Mebane recorded 27 tackles, including eight for a loss of 44 yards. Hughes ranks third in the Pac-10 for interceptions after he returned four for a total of 141 yards, including one for a touchdown. He also recorded 59 tackles (45 solo) and accrued 12 pass break-ups and was named mid-season All-American by SI.com.

Tafisi, a second-team selection, tallied 29 solo tackles this season and recorded nine tackles for loss, including a season-high four for a loss of 11 yards at Oregon. In his first season with Cal, Bishop leads the team in tackles with 81 (56 solo), in addition to picking up five tackles for a loss of 10 yards this year. In 11 games this season, McCleskey finished second on the team with 62 tackles (47 solo), four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and one interception, which he returned for 27 yards against Oregon State. On special teams, Storer recorded nine tackles (eight solo). Lynch, who ranks No. 11 in the country in rushing with 116.89 yards-per-game, ran for 1,082 yards on 172 carries this season for the Golden Bears. He also recorded seven touchdowns in nine games. In his final season, Manderino rushed for 61 yards, scoring two touchdowns, in addition to catching 11 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Mixon ranks No. 10 nationally in returns. On the season, he had 24 punt returns totaling 357 yards and one touchdown. He also collected three interceptions, 38 tackles (36 solo) and recorded nine pass break-ups. Stevens played in all 11 games for the Bears this season, recording 165 yards on 13 catches and two touchdowns.

 

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