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Iowa State University Athletics
Stephens, Smith Earn AP All-Big 12 First-Team Honors
12.04.2009 | Football
AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State center Reggie Stephens, who had started 36 straight games before missing just one game after a mid-season appendectomy, was named to the Associated Press 2009 All-Big 12 first team Saturday. Cyclone linebacker Jesse Smith of Altoona, who leads the Big 12 in tackles, was also named to the first team.
ISU offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele, a native of Houston, was named to the second-team. Osemele, a sophomore, has started all 12 games this season at left tackle and did not allow a sack.
Stephens turned heads with his performance against All-American defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh in the Cyclones' 9-7 win over Nebraska on Oct. 24. Early the next week he had his appendix removed. Stephens, a senior co-captain from Rowlett, Texas, missed only the ISU contest at Texas A&M the following weekend.
Smith, a former walk-on, has averaged 10.67 tackles per game this season. The Altoona native leads the Big 12 and ranks 11th nationally in that category. The senior has made 298 career tackles. Smith has broken up a team-high seven passes this season and has made a pair of interceptions and forced two fumbles.
Iowa State running back Alexander Robinson earned honorable mention honors after averaging 96.1 yards per game, rushing for 1,058 yards on 210 carries and six TDs. The Minneapolis, Minn., native crossed the 1,000-yard barrier despite missing all or parts of several games due to injury. Free safety James Smith was an honorable mention selection after making 88 tackles this season on a defense that held three league opponents to 10 points or less for this first time since 1965.
Players Mentioned
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