LSU football players reap accolades

The honors continue to pour in for LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey as he was recently named to the Sporting News’ All-America team.

In addition to Dorsey’s honor, LSU’s Chad Jones was named to the Sporting News’ First-Team All-America squad. Jones, a native of New Orleans who finished his high school career at Southern Lab in Baton Rouge, made the team as a safety.

Dorsey, who has already made numerous All-America teams, has also won three national awards this year – the Lombardi, the Outland and the Nagurski – on his way to becoming the most decorated defensive player in the history of the LSU football program. He’s also been named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Only Billy Cannon, who captured numerous awards, including the 1959 Heisman Trophy, earned more honors than Dorsey during his career with the Tigers.

Dorsey, a senior, has led the Tigers into the BCS National Championship Game against Ohio State on Jan. 7 in New Orleans. For the year, Dorsey has accumulated 64 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for losses and six sacks for the second-ranked Tigers despite playing the second half of the season with knee and back injuries.

Jones, who was also a member of the SEC Freshman All-SEC team, emerged as LSU’s starter at the sixth defensive back position as well as handling punt returns for the Tigers in 2007. Jones recorded 34 tackles, three tackles for losses and a pair of sacks for a Tiger defense that ranks No. 3 in the nation in yards allowed.

Trio named to All-American team

Glenn Dorsey, Craig Steltz and Ali Highsmith – all members of an LSU defense that ranks as one of the best in the nation – have been named to the CBSSports.com All-America Team.

Steltz, a senior safety from New Orleans, was a finalist for the Thorpe Award and leads the Tigers with 97 tackles. He’s also first in the Southeastern Conference in interceptions with six. He also broke up seven passes and had five tackles for losses.

Highsmith, a senior linebacker from Miami, ranks second on the team with 93 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss. Highsmith also has nine quarterback hurries and eight pass breakups to his credit this year.

Ten honored on All-SEC team

LSU’s Southeastern Conference champion football team collected a record 10 players on the 2007 All-SEC Coaches’ first- and second-teams. The Tigers 10 members on the coaches’ teams, seven on the first-team and three on the second-team, surpassed the program’s previous high of nine members on the 2004 team.

Dorsey was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous first-team selection. Steltz, Highsmith and Chevis Jackson were also voted to the defensive first team.

Herman Johnson, a junior offensive guard, was named to the first-team on offense. Johnson anchored a line that helped LSU average 218 rushing yards per game. LSU earned two of the three first-team honors on special teams. Place kicker Colt David and punter Patrick Fisher each received first-team All-SEC honors.

David, a junior from Grapevine, Texas, set the LSU single-season record with 25 field goals this season. He also led the SEC in scoring with 139 points, including the rushing touchdown against South Carolina. Fisher, a senior from Hyattsville, Md., averaged 43.9 yards per kick to lead the SEC and pinned 12 of his 56 punts inside the 20 yard line. LSU is seven first-team selections are the second most by an LSU team. The 1988 team earned eight first-team all-conference selections.

Offensive tackle Ciron Black and RB Jacob Hester received second-team honors on offense, while linebacker Darry Beckwith was a second-team selection on the defensive side of the ball.

Black started all 13 games for the Tigers, while Hester scored a team-high 11 touchdowns on the ground. Beckwith had 63 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss.

Duo named to All-Freshman team

LSU’s Terrance Toliver and Chad Jones were each named to the eighth annual Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team.

Toliver, a wide receiver from Hempstead, Texas, was one of two unanimous selections on offense, while Jones earned as spot as both a defensive back and as a return specialist.

Jones, a Baton Rouge native, collected 34 tackles as a safety and special teams player. He collected three tackles for a loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks. Jones also had one interception and one forced fumble. Jones had 16 punt returns for 104 yards and averaged 22.5 yards per kickoff return in four attempts.

Toliver pulled down 10 receptions for 249 yards and three scores as a first-year receiver. He also rushed the ball three times for 37 yards.

Tigers drop heart-breaker

The LSU men’s basketball team could not hold a 21-point lead in the second half and fell to No. 25 Villanova, 68-67, on a last-second shot in the Big East/SEC Invitational.

LSU (5-3) was led by Marcus Thornton’s 15 points and 13 rebounds. Terry Martin added 14 points.

The Tigers return to action on Saturday when they play host to Northwestern State at 7 p.m.

Women’s hoops ends long break

The LSU women’s basketball team will end its long break when it takes on Louisiana Tech in Ruston on Sunday, Dec. 15. The No. 7 Lady Tigers (6-2) have not played since routing Tulane, 52-36, on December 2. After its game with Louisiana Tech, LSU takes part in the Caribbean Classic Dec. 18-19 in Mexico.

Bradford named to watch list

LSU senior pitcher Jared Bradford was named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List. The Wallace Award is presented to the nation’s top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual induction festivities. The 2008 award banquet will be held Thursday, July 3, in the United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech University.

Bradford, a right-hander from Hueytown, Ala., completed the 2007 regular season with a 10-4 mark, tying for the most victories among SEC pitchers. Bradford also led LSU with five saves, and he posted either a win or a save in 10 of LSU’s 12 SEC victories.

A 2007 second-team all-SEC selection, Bradford worked a team-high 96 innings, recording 16 walks, 81 strikeouts and a .255 opponents’ batting average. He started 11 games and made 12 relief appearances during the regular season.

Bradford was named a Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week on March 5 after a 13-strikeout performance against Lipscomb. He was also named the Louisiana Sportswriters Association Pitcher of the Week on four occasions during the season.

Lady Tigers dominate All-State team

After wrapping up its most successful season in program history, the LSU soccer team led the way with seven selections to the 2007 Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana Women’s Soccer Team.

The Tigers were honored by the LSWA with the most representatives of any team in the state with five first-team selections and two honorable mention selections.

Sophomores Michelle Makasini, Chelsea Potts and Malorie Rutledge earned first-team honors for the second straight season, while both sophomore striker Rachel Yepez and freshman midfielder Taryne Boudreau were awarded first-team honors for the first time in their LSU careers.

In addition to LSU’s five first-team selections, senior Valerie Vogler and junior Roslyn Jones capitalized on outstanding seasons by receiving honorable mention accolades.

Head coach Brian Lee was also named the Louisiana Coach of the Year for his work in guiding the Tigers to their most successful season in the 13-year history of the program.