Five From LSU's National Champs To Play In Senior Bowl
MOBILE, Ala.- The national champs are coming to Mobile.

Photo - WR Early Doucet - LSU

Five members of LSU’s 2007 college football national champions – wide receiver Early Doucet, running back Jacob Hester, linebacker Ali Highsmith and defensive backs Chevis Jackson and Craig Steltz – have accepted invitations to the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl, officials have announced.

The talented quintet all played integral roles in LSU’s 38-24 victory over Ohio State in Monday’s BCS Championship Game, giving the Tigers their second national championship in five seasons.

Early Doucet is a big-play threat and the team’s “go to” receiver. Doucet caught seven passes for 51 yards and a touchdown against Ohio State and led the Tigers in receiving with 57 catches, good for 525 yards, in 2007 despite being sidelined for five weeks due to injury.

A second-team All-SEC pick this season, the 6-1, 210-pounder from St. Martinville, La., finished his career ranked among the school’s all-time leaders in several receiving categories including third in career receiving touchdowns with 20, fourth in career receptions with 160, and ninth in career receiving yards with 1,943.

Highsmith led the Tigers with eight tackles and 1.5 sacks in the victory to cap off an outstanding senior season that saw him earn first-team All-American honors.

The 6-1, 223-pounder from Miami, Fla., also earned first-team All-SEC and second-team AP All-American honors and tied for the team lead with 101 total tackles, adding nine tackles for loss, eight pass break-ups and three sacks during the season.

Hester rushed for a team-high 86 yards and a touchdown against the Buckeyes, giving him a team-leading 1,103 on the season with 12 scores.

The 59th annual Under Armour Senior Bowl will be played on January 26, 2008, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m. (CST). The game and its week-long practice sessions will be televised live by the NFL Network.

For tickets and more information, access the bowl’s website at www.seniorbowl.com.