Campbell named preseason All-Big 12

Kansas State defensive end Ian Campbell has been named to the 2008 Preseason All-Big 12 football team, according to the results of the annual preseason media survey conducted by the conference office.

Campbell, the only returning two-time First Team All-Big 12 selection in the league this season, enters his senior year as one of the top defensive linemen in school history and currently has 16.0 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons. The Cimarron native, who is also a two-time team captain, tied the single-season school record with 11.5 sacks in 2006 and currently needs just two more sacks to enter the school's top 10 career list.

Last season, Campbell totaled 45 tackles, including a team-best 11 tackles for loss and a Big 12-best four fumble recoveries. The preseason All-America and national award candidate also recorded 4.5 sacks and one interception, in which he returned for a score in a win at No. 7 Texas.

In the preseason specialty awards, Chase Daniel (Missouri) was named Preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Auston English (Oklahoma) was selected Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and Darrell Scott (Colorado) was chosen Preseason Newcomer of the Year.

Kansas State, which was picked to finish fifth in the north in the preseason media poll, will participate in the annual Big 12 Football Media Days on Tuesday, July 22, in Kansas City, before opening the 2008 season on August 30 against North Texas. The Wildcats will be represented at Media Days next week by head coach Ron Prince, Campbell, quarterback Josh Freeman and safety Chris Carney.

The opener against the Mean Green, which will kick at 6:05 p.m., will mark the beginning of a season-long celebration of the 1998 Wildcat team that reached No. 1 in the national rankings, while the 2008 Ring of Honor class will also be recognized on August 30.