Football players honored Football players honored (December 10, 2004)

Smith leads the way as four are named to All-Pac-10 squad

by Rick Eymer

The Stanford football team was represented by four players on the all-Pac-10 team recently.

Senior tight end Alex Smith was joined by junior T.J. Rushing and sophomore Michael Okwo on the first team while junior linebacker Jon Alston was named to the second team. Rushing and Okwo were honored for special teams play.

Smith led the Cardinal in both receptions (52) and receiving yards (706) in 2004, while adding three touchdown receptions. He currently ranks fifth in the conference in both receptions (4.73) and receiving yards (64.2) per game. He became Stanford's all-time reception leader for tight ends during the season, finishing his career with 105 catches for 1291 yards and eight touchdowns. He also becomes the first Cardinal tight end to be named First Team All-Pac-10 since Greg Baty in 1985. Smith was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection as a junior in 2003.

Rushing led the team with a 28.4 yard average on kickoff returns, while currently pacing the Pac-10 and ranking sixth in the nation in that category. He also played all 11 games in the team's defensive backfield, contributing 36 tackles (32 solo, 4 assists), 2.0 sacks (19 yards), 6.0 tackles for loss (27 yards), a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

Okwo set the tone for Stanford's special teams play, blocking a kick and finishing the season with 39 tackles (23 solo, 16 assists), 4.0 tackles for loss (nine yards), a fumble recovery and four pass breakups. He played in all 11 games and started the team's final two contests at inside linebacker.

Alston had a monster season and became one of the top defensive playmakers in the nation. He led the team in both sacks (9.5 for 98 yards) and tackles for loss (14 for 107 yards) to currently rank third in the Pac-10 and tied for 10th in the nation in sacks per game (0.86 spg), as well as fifth in the conference in tackles for loss per contest (1.27). He was third on the club with 61 total tackles (37 solo, 24 assists), while also leading the squad with three forced fumbles and adding a team co-leading two fumble recoveries.

Six other Stanford players were accorded honorable mention: senior free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, junior defensive tackle Julian Jenkins, sophomore flanker Evan Moore, junior nose tackle Babatunde Oshinowo, junior linebacker Kevin Schimmelman, and senior cornerback Stanley Wilson.

Women's volleyball

Stanford senior outside hitter Ogonna Nnamani was named to her fourth straight AVCA All-Pacific Region team.

Senior Jennifer Hucke and sophomore Kristin Richards were honorable mention selections.

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