Nov. 30, 2007
WACO, Texas -- Baylor sophomore free safety Jordan Lake was named second-team All-Big 12 Conference by three news outlets this week; he was so honored by The Associated Press, The Dallas Morning News and the Austin American-Statesman. Sophomore linebacker Joe Pawelek earned second-team all-conference honors from The Associated Press and the Austin American-Statesman, while junior offensive tackle Jason Smith was named honorable mention by The Associated Press.
Four Bears also were named to The Sporting News Freshman All-Big 12 team, released Friday: cornerback Antareis Bryan, punter Derek Epperson and linebackers Chris Francis and Earl Patin. Bryan is a redshirt freshman, while Epperson, Francis and Patin all are true freshmen.
A product of Houston's Memorial High School, Lake led Baylor with 120 tackles this season; that tied for the 11th-best, single-season total in school history. Lake's 10.0 tackles-per-game average currently ranks third in the Big 12 and tied for 31st nationally; his average is first in the conference and fifth nationally among defensive backs. Lake also recorded two interceptions, broke up six passes, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles this season. He tallied 10-plus tackles in six games this season, including four of the final five.
Pawelek, a sophomore from Smithson Valley High School in Spring Branch, Texas, was second on the squad with 99 tackles, the most by a Baylor linebacker since 1996. He was second on the team with 8.0 tackles for loss, including 2.0 sacks. Pawelek, the 2006 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, also intercepted a pass, broke up two others, forced three fumbles and recovered two fumbles. He tallied 10-plus tackles in four games this season.
Smith, a junior from W.T. White High School in Dallas, Texas, earned honorable mention honors despite missing five of Baylor's 12 games due to injury. He was a part of a Baylor offensive line unit that allowed 21 sacks on 582 pass plays this season for an average of one sack per 27.8 pass plays.
Bryan appeared in 10 games and tallied 17 tackles, including one for a loss; he also had one interception. Epperson averaged 39.1 yards on 66 punts with eight punts of 50-plus yards and 12 inside the 20; he also had three touchbacks and 17 punts that were fair caught. Francis saw action in 11 games, recording 19 tackles with one interception. Patin played in all 12 games and tallied 29 tackles, one for a loss, with two quarterback hurries.
