Feb. 25, 2006
Baylor football announced recipients of its 2005 team honors at the annual awards banquet Saturday night. In all, 17 student-athletes were honored for their efforts during last fall's 5-6 campaign.
Five student-athletes earned most valuable player accolades. Tailback Paul Mosley and receiver Dominique Zeigler shared offensive honors, linebacker Colin Allred and outside safety Willie Andrews shared defensive honors, and return specialist Shaun Rochon was selected as special teams MVP.
Mosley rushed for 657 yards and seven touchdowns last fall. He also had 12 receptions, two of which resulted in touchdowns. Zeigler was a first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection after logging 48 receptions for 563 yards and five touchdowns (all team bests).
Allred was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. He tied for second on the team with 73 tackles, including 9.0 stops for loss and 5.5 sacks, a team high. Allred also had forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass, which he returned for a touchdown.
A first-team All-Big 12 honoree, Andrews was fourth on the team with 59 tackles, including 7.5 stops behind the line and 2.0 sacks. Andrews also forced a fumble, broke up three other passes and had four quarterback hurries.
Rochon became the first player in Big 12 history to score touchdowns on a rush, a reception, a punt return and a kickoff return in the same season. He led the Bears with 105.6 all-purpose yards per game, including 44 receptions for 443 yards, eight punt returns for 139 yards and 20 kickoff returns for 548 yards. Rochon led the Big 12 and ranked 14th nationally with 27.4 yards per kickoff return.
Other honorees on the offensive side were tailback Brandon Whitaker (best skilled player), tackle Evan Stone (best lineman) and tight end Jason Smith (most improved).
Whitaker tallied 481 yards on 101 rushes with one touchdown; he also registered 30 receptions for 160 yards. Stone anchored an offensive line that produced 10 rushing touchdowns on the season. Smith had six receptions for 70 yards and one touchdown.
Other honorees on the defensive side were cornerback C.J. Wilson (best skilled player), end Montez Murphy (best lineman) and linebacker Jamaal Harper (most improved).
An honorable mention All-Big 12 honoree, Wilson led the conference and tied for ninth nationally with five interceptions; he also recorded 45 tackles, recovered a fumble and broke up five other passes. Murphy led the Bears with 9.5 tackles for loss and had 52 total stops on the season; he had 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, broke up two passes and led Baylor with three fumbles forced. Harper tied for second on the team with 73 tackles, including 6.0 sacks, 2.0 tackles for loss; he also had one interception, six other passes broken up, forced one fumble and recovered another, which he returned for a touchdown.
Linebacker Joe Pawelek and center Sam Sledge earned scout team MVP honors.
Free safety Maurice Lane earned the Kyle Woods Award, given annually to the Bear who displays the best team spirit. An honorable mention All-Big 12 pick last fall, Lane finished his career third on Baylor's all-time tackles list with 365 stops. He led the Bears in tackles for the third consecutive season in 2005, tallying 84 tackles and 2.0 for loss. Lane also broke up one pass and recovered two fumbles.
Offensive lineman Glen Oskin was given the team's Academic Award for having the best GPA of any team member during the 2005 season.
The Bears also honored their 2005 captains: Allred and quarterback Shawn Bell.
Baylor opens its 2006 season Saturday, Sept. 2, against TCU at Floyd Casey Stadium.
