JEREMY ASHCRAFT SELECTED TO PLAY IN 15TH-ANNUAL VALERO CACTUS BOWL DIVISION II ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME

        KINGSVILLE, Texas – Arkansas Tech’s Jeremy Ashcraft was one of 43 players named to the East All-Star squad for the 15th-Annual Valero Cactus Bowl on Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, in Javalina Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Kickoff for the 2009 game is set for 6:35 p.m. CST.

Ashcraft was one of 12 players from the Gulf South Conference selected to play for the East squad in the all-star game. In addition to the 12 GSC players selected to play on the East Team, Henderson State defensive back Devon Hughes was picked to play on the West Team. The other GSC players selected to the East Team were North Alabama running back Mike McClendon, Ouachita Baptist receiver Julius Pruitt, Henderson State receiver Garett Manning, North Alabama receiver Ed Gant, Delta State receiver Chad Schroeder, Ouachita Baptist tight end Bob Ruffing, Henderson State offensive linemen Louis West, Harding offensive lineman Ross Conn, Delta State offensive lineman Mark Ellis, North Alabama kicker Tom Schneider and Delta State linebacker Anthony King.

“What at nice honor for Jeremy to be selected to play in this prestigious all-star football game,” Tech Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Steve Mullins said.

The Valero Cactus Bowl is an all-star game featuring NCAA Division II senior football players and the proceeds from the game will once again go to the Shiners Hospital for Children. This year’s Cactus Bowl will feature 19 All-Americans and is headlined by six of the 24 Harlon Hill candidates – Minnesota-Duluth quarterback Ted Schlafke, Nebraska-Omaha running back Brian McNeill, West Texas A&M receiver Charley Martin, Tusculum quarterback Cory Russell, California [PA] quarterback Kevin McCabe and West Chester receiver Mike Washington. Russell, McCabe and Washington will all play with Ashcraft on the East squad.

With his selection, Ashcraft becomes the seventh Wonder Boy football player all-time to be named to the Cactus Bowl and the first since offensive lineman Bailey Dickson was selected to play in the 2006 game. Other former Wonder Boys who have played in the event include Kyle Jackson (2005), Jonathan Hayes (2004), Tommy Edwards (2003), Todd Mathews (1999) and D.J. Krane (1999).

Ashcraft, a senior from Marshall, Texas, started all 10 games for the Wonder Boys in 2008 at right tackle and averaged a grade of 81 percent on the season. In addition, he led the Wonder Boys with 78 knockdown blocks and had 13 pancake blocks and helped Tech’s offensive line allow just eight sacks in 10 games, which was tied for the fourth-best total in all of Division II football. The Cactus Bowl will be the second all-star game this season for Ashcraft as he played on the South squad at the 2008 East Coast Bowl in Petersburg, Va., on Nov. 29. This past season, Ashcraft was named a First-Team All-GSC selection and a Second-Team Daktronics All-South Region honoree.  

For more information on the 2009 Valero Cactus Bowl, visit the internet at http://www.cactusbowl.org.

 -- Tech Athletics --