Five Terps Headed to Postseason All-Star Games
1/12/2009 7:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 12, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Five Maryland football players will travel to the three all-star games on tap this postseason.
Offensive linemen Edwin Williams and Jaimie Thomas will play in the East-West Shrine game on Saturday in Houston (3 p.m. CST/ESPN2), and linebacker Moise Fokou and defensive lineman Jeremy Navarre will suit up in the Texas vs. The Nation game on Saturday, Jan. 31 in El Paso, Texas (1 p.m. MST/CBS College Sports Network).
In addition, cornerback Kevin Barnes will attend the Under Armour Senior Bowl, though not participate due to injury. The Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24 in Mobile, Ala. (6 p.m. CST/NFL Network).
The Terps also sent five players to postseason games last season with Joey Haynos and Keon Lattimore playing in the now defunct Hula Bowl, Dre Moore participating in the Senior Bowl, Andrew Crummey in the East-West Shrine game, and J.J. Justice taking part in the Texas vs. The Nation contest.
Williams (first team) and Thomas (honorable mention) both earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition this past season.
Led by Thomas and Williams, the offensive line enabled Da'Rel Scott (1,133) to become the seventh Terp back to gain over 1,000 rushing yards and first since 2002 (Chris Downs). The line also allowed Chris Turner to throw for 2,516 yards, the seventh-highest single-season total in school history.
Barnes was on pace for all-conference recognition until he suffered a season-ending shoulder vs. Wake Forest (Oct. 18), missing the final six games of the season. He ended his Terp career with 100 tackles, six interceptions and 15 pass breakups.
Fokou and Navarre were two of the top defenders in the ACC this season.
Fokou, a two-year starter, accounted for 161 tackles the last two seasons, including 77 stops in 2008. He also tallied a career-high five sacks this season and caused five fumbles in his career.
A native of Rockville, Md., Fokou was the only defender in the ACC in 2008 to notch at least 75 tackles and five sacks.
Navarre, a three-year starter who earned honorable mention All-ACC in 2008, totaled 183 career tackles, including 25.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. He led the league this season in tackles among defensive linemen (70).
