LSU Sends Five To Senior Bowl

By Randy Patrick Sports

Natioanl Champs will be well represented in nation's premier college all-star game. LSU Sends Five To Senior Bowl

Published: Tue, January 08, 2008 - 9:55 pm Last Updated: Tue, January 08, 2008 - 9:58 pm

Randy Patrick

The national champs are coming to Mobile.

Five members of LSU’s 2007 college football national champions – wide receiver Early Doucet, running back Jacob Hester, linebacker Ali Highsmith and defensive backs Chevis Jackson and Craig Steltz – have accepted invitations to the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl, officials have announced.

The talented quintet all played integral roles in LSU’s 38-24 victory over Ohio State in Monday’s BCS Championship Game, giving the Tigers their second national championship in five seasons.

Highsmith led the Tigers with eight tackles and 1.5 sacks in the victory to cap off an outstanding senior season that saw him earn first-team All-American honors.

The 6-1, 223-pounder from Miami, Fla., also earned first-team All-SEC and second-team AP All-American honors and tied for the team lead with 101 total tackles, adding nine tackles for loss, eight pass break-ups and three sacks during the season.

Hester rushed for a team-high 86 yards and a touchdown against the Buckeyes, giving him a team-leading 1,103 on the season with 12 scores.

A second-team All-SEC pick, he’s a versatile, hard-nosed runner with deceptive speed who can rush and catch with equal effectiveness and also lined up at both fullback and tailback during the season.

The 6-0, 228-pounder from Shreveport, La., also led the Tigers in all-purpose yardage with 1,209.

A big-play threat and the team’s “go to” receiver, Doucet caught seven passes for 51 yards and a touchdown against Ohio State and led the Tigers in receiving with 57 catches, good for 525 yards, in 2007 despite being sidelined for five weeks due to injury.

A second-team All-SEC pick this season, the 6-1, 210-pounder from St. Martinville, La., finished his career ranked among the school’s all-time leaders in several receiving categories including third in career receiving touchdowns with 20, fourth in career receptions with 160, and ninth in career receiving yards with 1,943.

Jackson, who was previously announced as a Senior Bowl participant in early December, also had an outstanding game against the Buckeyes, recording three tackles, one key pass break-up and a big interception that he returned 34 yards to set up a LSU touchdown.

A native of Mobile, Ala., the 6-0, 184-pounder and first-team All-SEC selection recorded 44 tackles and five interceptions during the season and led the Tiger defense with 16 pass break-ups and 21 passes defended, which ranked second in the SEC and fifth in the nation.

Steltz also earned first-team All-American honors, earning spots on the Associated Press, Walter Camp, ESPN, CBSSports.com and Rivals.com teams.

He finished the season tied with Highsmith for the team lead in tackles with 101, added a team-leading six interceptions along with seven pass break-ups and 13 passes defended.

A finalist for the Thorpe Award, presented to the nation’s top defensive back, the 6-2, 204-pounder from Kenner, La., was also a first-team All-SEC pick and ranks among LSU’s all-time leaders with 11 interceptions.

The 59th annual Under Armour Senior Bowl will be played on January 26, 2008, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m. (CST). The game and its week-long practice sessions will be televised live by the NFL Network.

For tickets and more information, access the bowl’s website at www.seniorbowl.com.