Dec. 16, 2008

CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M outside linebacker, Jared Brock, offensive lineman Devario Dorsey, wide receiver Charly Martin and quarterback Keith Null have been selected to participate in the 2009 Valero Cactus Bowl. The trio of Brock, Martin and Null will play for the West squad, while Dorsey will compete for the East squad.

A native of Abernathy, Texas, Brock (6-1, 232, Sr-3L), Brock led the Buffs with 83 total tackles (43 solo, 40 assist). He also had a team-high 14 tackles for minus-72 yards in losses, as well as 6.5 sacks for minus-48 yards, three pass breakups, 10 quarterback hurries, a pair of fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and one forced fumble. He earned AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) all-America, as well as Daktronics all-America honors, was named to the Lone Star Conference South Division first-team and was selected as LSC-South Linebacker of the Year.

Dorsey (6-4, 310, Sr-1L), is a native of Corinth, Miss.  He was a 13-game starter at offensive guard for the Buffs this past season and was an instrumental part of an offensive line that helped set WT records in passing yardage and total offense, while allowing just 19 sacks (1.4 per game).  He was named as a second-team all LSC offensive lineman.

Jared Brock

Devario Dorsey

Keith Null

Martin (6-2, 210, Sr-3L), a native of Farmington, N.M., earned Daktronics first-team all-America honors and was named LSC South Receiver of the Year while ranking first in the nation in receiving yards per game, as well as being among the national leaders in both total receptions and scoring. Martin climbed atop both the WT and LSC career touchdown receptions charts, with 44, as well as the WT all-time receiving yardage list, with 4,108. He also ranks first on the WT career receptions list, with 244, becoming just the second player to grab 200 receptions in a WT uniform. Plus, he is the WT single-season receiving yardage leader AND he ranks second on the WT career scoring chart, with 270 points.

Lampasas, Texas, native Keith Null (6-4, 220, Sr-3L), holds the WT single-season and career records for passing yardage, TDs and total offense and became the first WT quarterback to pass for 9,000 yards during his career. He ranks first, nationally, in passing yards per game and second in total offense and threw for at least 300 yards in all but two games this past season (he was pulled after throwing for 227 yards and two TDs against Tarleton and 261 yards and two TDs in two quarters against Northeastern State). He recorded his second 500-yard passing game of the season when he completed 42-of-63 passes for 595 yards and sevens TDs at Abilene Christian in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The game, which will take place January 9, 2009, at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas, features the top Division II senior football players from across the country, with teams divided by an East-West format. There have been over 100 players drafted into the NFL who have played in the Cactus Bowl.

All net profits from the game are donated to Shriners Hospitals for Children.