Sproles and Buhl named All-Americans by AP

Junior running back Darren Sproles and senior linebacker Josh Buhl were named first and second team All-Americans, respectively, as the Associated Press announced its 2003 All-America teams Monday.

Sproles, the nation's leader in both total rushing yardage (1,948) and all-purpose yardage (2,650) in 2003, is Kansas State's 10th first-team AP All-America selection but the first Wildcat offensive player to earn the distinction.

The Associated Press is the fourth All-America team to tap Sproles as a first teamer as the junior was previously named first team All-American by Sports Illustrated, College Football News and Rivals.com.

"It's a great honor for him, and I'm sure he will feel very honored to be selected," said Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder. "Darren is a unique young guy. Quite obviously he is a very, very talented football player, but what I appreciate about him so much is his quality and depth of his character and the intrinsic values that he possesses that I think certainly parallel the physical talent that he has.

"He is a team-oriented young guy and a very responsible young man; extremely hard-working, very humble. He's just a neat, neat young person."

Buhl, who lead the Big 12 in total tackles with 171, became the 32nd Wildcat and the 28th player under Snyder to be honored by the Associated Press with his second-team selection. A first team All-American by The Sporting News and a second team All-American by Sports Illustrated and College Football News, Buhl is seventh Wildcat linebacker honored by the AP - the most of any position at K-State.

The selection of Sproles and Buhl marks the sixth time Kansas State has produced multiple AP All-Americans in the same season. K-State has also placed at least one player on one of the AP's All-America teams in each of the last 12 seasons, including cornerback Terence Newman in 2002.

2003 AP All-America Team

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Jason White, Oklahoma, senior.

Running backs: Darren Sproles, Kansas State, junior; Chris Perry, Michigan, senior.

Wide receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh, sophomore; Mike Williams, Southern California, sophomore.

Tight end: Kellen Winslow, Miami, junior.

Center: Jake Grove, Virginia Tech, senior.

Guards-Tackles: Shawn Andrews, Arkansas, junior; Alex Barron, Florida State, junior; Robert Gallery, Iowa, senior; Jacob Rogers,

Southern California, senior.

Kicker: Nate Kaeding, Iowa, senior.

All-Purpose: Antonio Perkins, Oklahoma, junior.

DEFENSE

Linemen: David Ball, UCLA, senior; Tommie Harris, Oklahoma, junior; Chad Lavalais, LSU, senior; Kenechi Udeze, Southern California, junior.

Linebackers: Derrick Johnson, Texas, junior; Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma, senior; Grant Wiley, West Virginia, senior.

Backs: Will Allen, Ohio State, senior; Keiwan Ratliff, Florida, senior; Derrick Strait, Oklahoma, senior; Sean Taylor, Miami, junior.

Punter: Dustin Colquitt, Tennessee, junior.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Eli Manning, Mississippi

Running backs: Kevin Jones, Virginia Tech; Michael Turner, Northern Illinois.

Wide receivers: Mark Clayton, Oklahoma; Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma State.

Tight end: Ben Troupe, Florida.

Center: Ben Wilkerson, LSU.

Guards-Tackles: David Baas, Michigan; Jamaal Brown, Oklahoma; Tony Pape, Michigan; Stephen Peterman, LSU.

Kicker: Nick Browne, TCU.

All-purpose: Derek Abney, Kentucky.

DEFENSE

Linemen: David Pollack, Georgia; Shaun Phillips, Purdue; Bo Schobel, TCU; Will Smith, Ohio State.

Linebackers: Josh Buhl, Kansas State; Karlos Dansby, Auburn; Jonathan Vilma, Miami.

Backs: Josh Bullocks, Nebraska; Will Poole, Southern California; Bob Sanders, Iowa; Corey Webster, LSU.

Punter: Tom Malone, Southern California.

THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (Ohio).

Running backs: Steven Jackson, Oregon State; Quincy Wilson, West Virginia.

Wide receivers: Michael Clayton, LSU; Roy Williams, Texas.

Tight end: Kris Wilson, Pittsburgh.

Center: Greg Eslinger, Minnesota.

Guards-Tackles: Vernon Carey, Miami; Tillman Holloway, Texas; Alex Stepanovich, Ohio State; Claude Terrell, New Mexico.

Kicker: Jonathan Nichols, Mississippi.

All-purpose: Skyler Green, LSU.

DEFENSE

Linemen: Dan Cody, Oklahoma; Shaun Cody, Southern California, Darnell Dockett, Florida State; Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma.

Linebackers: Rod Davis, Southern Mississippi; Michael Boulware, Florida State; D.J. Williams, Miami.

Backs: Sean Jones, Georgia; Antrel Rolle, Miami; Stuart Schweigert, Purdue; Nathan Vasher, Texas.

Punter: B.J. Sander, Ohio State.