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Brown, Mariscal Tabbed All-Americans

Dec 5, 2002

BOULDER - University of Colorado tailback Chris Brown and punter Mark Mariscal were selected as first-team All-Americans Thursday, honors awarded by the American Football Coaches Association.

Brown, who is a finalist for both the Doak Walker Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year, has racked up 1,744 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in 2002. Though he missed last week's game against Nebraska with a bruised sternum and will be sidelined this Saturday against Oklahoma, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior currently stands third in the country averaging 158.8 yards per game.

Netting 6.34 yards per attempt-Brown owns the best average per carry mark in the nation for any back averaging at least 22 attempts per game. Currently, he has more yards rushing than 56 schools in Division I-A.

Now No. 4 on CU's all-time rushing list, the Big 12's Offensive Player of the Year has complied 2,690 yards and is also fourth in scoring with 204 points. In just 23 regular season games in his career, he has scored 34 touchdowns. This year, his 1,744 yards stand second best in CU single-season history, trailing only Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam's 2,055 in 1994.

As for Mariscal, who is one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, the senior has led the nation in punting since Sept. 7. With a gross average of 48.3 yards per punt, he is close to breaking the CU single-season record of 48.2 yards per punt. Currently, his net average (43.6) also leads the nation, while only six punters in the country have a gross average that is greater than his net.

Also announced Thursday were the Big 12's all-conference teams chosen by the Associated Press. The Buffs had four first-team members, as Brown and Mariscal were chosen along with senior offensive linemen Justin Bates and Wayne Lucier.

Lucier, a tight guard on the CU line, has graded out the highest of all the linemen this season at 85.7- percent and currently leads the team with 31 touchdown blocks.

Bates, a fellow co-captain and split guard, has graded out the second highest on the line at 84.9-percent. The leader of the team in downfield blocks (21), he is second in knockdown domination blocks with 33.

Lucier is yet to allow a sack this season, while Bates has only given up one. Combined, the two have allowed only 14 pressures on the quarterback through 12 games thus far.

Bates, Brown, Lucier and Mariscal were also all named to the Big 12's top team by the coaches last Saturday.

The Buffs had one player make the All-Big 12 second-team in Donald Strickland, while senior defensive tackle Tyler Brayton, junior guard Marwan Hage, junior safety Medford Moorer, senior safety Kory Mossoni and senior linebacker Drew Wahlroos were all tabbed third-team members.