Jan. 9, 2007
Baylor redshirt freshman linebacker Joe Pawelek was named to the 2006 Scripps Freshman All-America Team as selected by the Football Writers Association of America and released prior to Monday's BCS Championship Game in Glendale, Ariz.
A product of Smithson Valley [Texas] High School, Pawelek led the 2006 Bears in tackles with 86 stops. He tied for 10th in the Big 12 with 7.17 tackles per game, the highest per-game average of any conference freshman. Pawelek finished the season with 2.0 sacks, one interception, four passes broken up and a team-high nine quarterback hurries. His lone interception ended Baylor's 34-31 triple overtime victory at Colorado.
The Associated Press' 2006 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and The Sporting News' 2006 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Pawelek earned second-team All-Big 12 honors from the league's coaches. The first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection was also second-team freshman All-America pick by Rivals.com.
Pawelek was one of four Big 12 student-athletes named to the 2006 squad, joining Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, Oklahoma State defensive back Andre Sexton and Colorado place-kicker Matthew DiLallo.
Baylor finished the 2006 season 4-8 overall, but won a school-record three Big 12 Conference games. The Bears will open spring practice March 20 in preparation for their 2007 season-opener on Sept. 1 at TCU.
The 2006 Scripps Freshman All-America Team:
Offense
*QB - Colt McCoy, Texas, RFr., Tuscola, Texas
*RB - P.J. Hill, Wisconsin, RFr., East Elmhurst, N.Y.
RB - Damion Fletcher, S. Miss, TFr., Biloxi, Miss.
RB - Reggie Arnold, Arkansas State, RFr., Little Rock, Ark.
WR - Percy Harvin, Florida, TFr., Virginia Beach, Va.
WR -Ryan Wolfe, UNLV, TFr., Santa Clarita, Calif.
TE - Brandon Warren, Florida State, TFr., Alcoa, Tenn.
OL - Sam Young, Notre Dame, TFr., Coral Springs, Fla.
OL - Ciron Black, LSU, RFr., Tyler, Texas
OL - Andre Smith, Alabama, TFr., Birmingham, Ala.
OL- Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois, RFr., Kildeer, Ill.
OL - Eben Britton, Arizona, RFr., Burbank, Calif.
Defense
DL - Eric Norwood, South Carolina, TFr., Acworth, Ga.
DL - Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Virginia, RFr., Richmond, Va.
DL - Corey Wootton, Northwestern, RFr., Rutherford, N.J.
DL - George Selvie, South Florida, RFr., Pensacola, Fla.
*LB - Prince Hall, Alabama, RFr., Moreno Valley, Calif.
LB - Joe Pawelek, Baylor, RFr., Spring Branch, Texas
LB - Gerald McRath, Southern Miss, RFr., Powder Springs, Ga.
DB - Quinton Andrews, West Virginia, RFr., Opa Locka, Fla.
DB - Trevard Lindley, Kentucky, RFr., Hiram, Ga.
DB - Alterraun Verner, UCLA, TFr., Carson, Calif.
DB - Myron Rolle, Florida State, TFr., Galloway, N.J.
DB - Andre Sexton, Oklahoma State, RFr., Houston, Texas
Specialists
K - Brett Swenson, Michigan State, TFr., Pompano Beach, Fla.
P - Matthew DiLallo, Colorado, TFr. Wellington, Fla.
KR - David Harvey, Akron, RFr., Penn Hills, Pa.
*Unanimous selection.
