Crosby Named Playboy Preseason All-American

                BOULDER - University of Colorado junior placekicker Mason Crosby has been selected to the Playboy Preseason All-America team for the 2005 season.

                He becomes the 22nd Buffalo to be named to the team, regarded as the most prestigious one in the preseason as it marks the 49th consecutive year the men's magazine has honored college football's best going into the season.  The last CU player to be selected was offensive guard Ryan Johanningmeier in 1999.

                The team will gather the first weekend in May for a photo shoot and other activities in the Phoenix area.  The entire team isn't revealed until the October magazine hits the newsstands in September.

Also a contender for the Lou Groza Award, awarded to the best placekicker in the nation, Crosby was the unanimous first-team All-Big 12 placekicker for 2004.  He was 19-of-23 in field goals last year (23-of-29 including the bowl), as he led the NCAA in 50-plus yard field goals with six.  He set a CU record with a 60-yard field goal against Iowa State, only the 10th of 60 yards or longer without a tee in NCAA history and the first in five years.  In addition, only 17 of his 59 kickoffs were returned (41 went for touchbacks), with the opponent average starting yardline for the opponent its 21.  He enters his junior year third in field goals made (26), sixth in kick scoring (137 points) and tied for 21st in overall scoring at Colorado.

                "I'm really excited, it's a very prestigious honor to be granted and I am thankful for the opportunity to represent the school," Crosby said.  "I also really honored to join the previous players from CU that have made the team, as it really is privilege.  I'm looking forward to going to Phoenix and hopefully I can earn postseason honors as well."

                Colorado begins spring drills this Wednesday, however Crosby is currently day-to-day after suffering a slight hamstring pull in Monday's conditioning drills.

Playboy Preseason All-Americans

1961     *Joe Romig, OG

1966     Sam Harris, DL

1968     *Mike Montler, OL

1970     *Don Popplewell, C

1971     *Herb Orvis, DE

1972     *Cullen Bryant, DB

1974     #Dave Logan, WR

1976     *Don Hasselbeck, TE

1976     #Leon White, OL

1978     *Matt Miller, OT

1983     Victor Scott, SS

1987     Curt Koch, DT

1990     Tom Rouen, P

              Mark Vander Poel, OT

              *Alfred Williams, OLB

1991     *Jay Leeuwenburg, C

1993     #Michael Westbrook, WR

1994     *Chris Hudson, CB

1995     *Bryan Stoltenberg, C       

1996     *Chris Naeole, OG

1999     Ryan Johanningmeier, OG

2005     Mason Crosby, PK

(*?earned postseason first-team honors same year; #--earned following year)