LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech defensive end Brandon Sharpe (Lyons, Ga.) and offensive lineman Brandon Carter (Longview, Texas) have been named to the All-Big 12 Conference first team in a vote by the 12 league coaches. The three teams, which feature 10 Red Raiders, were announced by the Big 12 office Tuesday morning.
Sharpe's selection is another notch in the senior's belt as he also is a two-time Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week. The first-year starter finished second in the regular season sacks standings with a school-record 15 and also is second nationally. Sharpe leads a Red Raider defense that ranks second nationally with 40 sacks, which ties for the school record.
A preseason All-America selection, Carter once against dominated in the trenches, helping pave the way for an offensive unit that not only finished the regular season second in the country in passing offense, but a unit that also produced on the ground. Behind Carter's leadership up front, Texas Tech scored 22 touchdowns on the ground, the fifth-best total under Mike Leach and the fifth-best since 1990.
Defensive end Daniel Howard (Wichita, Kan.) and cornerback Jamar Wall (Plainview, Texas) were selected to the second team. Howard teamed with Sharpe to provide an effective one-two punch on the outside as Howard totaled eight sacks on the season. Wall, one of the top corners in school history, is tied second in the Big 12 with 13 pass breakups.
Red Raiders receiving honorable mentions include running back Baron Batch (Midland, Texas), linebacker Bront Bird (Odessa, Texas), defensive tackle Colby Whitlock (Noble, Okla.) and offensive lineman Marlon Winn (Waxahachie, Texas). Safety Cody Davis (Stephenville, Texas) and wide receiver Alex Torres (El Paso, Texas) were also named honorable mention and were finalists for defensive and offensive freshmen of the year, respectively.
The Red Raiders finished the regular season with an 8-4 record, 5-3 in conference play, and await the annual post-season bowl announcement Sunday afternoon.