Hypolite Leads Buffaloes Representation On All-Big 12 Teams

BOULDER, Colo. - University of Colorado senior DT George Hypolite was one of eight football players named to All-Big 12 teams this week, earning second-team nods by both the Associated Press and the Big 12 Conference head coaches.

Hypolite was joined by junior ILB Jeff Smart on the AP second team, while junior CB Cha'pelle Brown, senior OLB Brad Jones and senior C Daniel Sanders each earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors by both the AP and coaches.  Additionally, sophomore WR/KR Josh Smith (all-purpose), junior LB Shaun Mohler and senior FS Ryan Walters all earned AP honorable mention honors, as well.

Hypolite earned All-Big 12 honors for the third straight season, having been named first team by both the AP and coaches in 2007 and honorable mention by the coaches in 2006.  He was a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy and had a solid season clogging up the run.  He played on 80.1 percent of 's snaps on defense (668 of 834) racking up 45 tackles.  He finished with 12 hurries, seven tackles for loss and seven more for a gain of zero and seven third down stops.

Smart earned his first All-Big 12 honor and led the Buffs with 118 tackles, an average of 9.8 per game, ranking in the top 4 in the Big 12.  He compiled nine third down stops, six hurries and four pass break-ups on the season.

Brown finished the season with 84 tackles and led the Buffs in third down stops (14) and pass break-ups (10).  A total of 59 of his tackles were solo, six were behind the line of scrimmage and four more were for gains of zero.  He also played in all but 10 snaps on defense (824 of 834 ? 98.8 percent).  He had two interceptions including one he returned for a touchdown and the winning points against Eastern Washington in a 31-24 victory.

Jones racked up 78 tackles on the season including 14 for loss and a team-best seven sacks.  He also had a team best 14 hurries and also had 12 third down stops.  He forced two fumbles, one of which helped preserve a 14-13 win late in the Kansas State game.

Sanders graded out to 80 percent or better in 11 of 12 games and at over 90 percent in five games.  He graded out to a career high 96 percent against Kansas State and also graded to 94 percent against Texas A&M.  He played on all 843 offensive snaps for the Buffaloes, finishing second on the team with 60.5 knockdown blocks and led the team with six touchdown blocks.  He recorded 10 or more knockdown blocks in two games this season.

Smith finished with 1,987 all-purpose yards, second most in CU history behind Heisman winner Rashaan Salaam (2,349 in 1994).  He set CU records for most kick returns (50) and kick return yards (1,275) and also added 293 punt return yards, 387 receiving yards and 32 rushing yards on the season.  Against Nebraska, he combined for 245 all-purpose yards which vaulted him from fifth to second on the all-time chart ahead of Chris Brown (1,784 ? 2002), Eric Bieniemy (1,818 ? 1990) and Byron White (1,970 ? 1937).

Mohler finished second on the team in tackles with 97 total (65 solo, 8.1 per game) and had eight third down stops, three hurries and three QB chasedowns in his first season in Boulder after transferring junior college.  He tied for the CU lead with two interceptions on the season, including one against Colorado State in his first action as a Buffalo. He recorded a career-high 14 tackles in a 30-14 win over Kansas and then led the Buffs in each of the next two games against Kansas State and Missouri.

Walters finished third on the team with 87 tackles (63 solo) and was involved in several big plays for the Buffaloes this season.  He finished with a pair of interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles.  He recovered three fumbles and had 10 third down stops and two sacks, as well.