Mesko, Graham Named to Walter Camp All-America Team
12/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 10, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Two University of Michigan football seniors -- punter Zoltan Mesko (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg HS) and senior defensive end Brandon Graham (Detroit, Mich./Crockett Technical HS) -- were named to the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America second team during the ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Thursday night (Dec. 10). The Walter Camp All-America team is college football's oldest All-America squad with the coaches and sports information directors for every school in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) voting on the recipients.
Mesko attended the awards show held at the Dance Hall on Disney's Boardwalk as a finalist for the 2009 Ray Guy Award, presented annually to the nation's outstanding collegiate punter. Mesko and Florida's Chaz Henry were edged out for the award by Georgia's Drew Butler, the national leader in punting. Mesko was the only player from the Big Ten Conference at the ESPNU College Football Awards Show.
An All-Big Ten first team selection for the second straight season, Mesko finished eighth nationally in punting with a U-M season record 44.5-yard average in 2009. He helped the Wolverines list third nationally in net punting with a 40.9-yard average. Mesko was extremely proficient in all phases, with 17 punts over 50 yards, 18 fair caught, three touchbacks and 15 downed inside the opposition's 20-yard line. He punted 52 times for 2,312 yards, including a 66-yard season-long punt against Western Michigan. Mesko completes his collegiate career as Michigan's all-time record holder in punts (252) and yardage (10,703).
Mesko has already been named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and was a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and the Danny Wuerffel Trophy. In the classroom, Mesko earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first team honors this season and collected Academic All-Big Ten accolades for the fourth time in his career. He received U-M's Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award as the leading senior scholar on the football team. Mesko earned his bachelor's degree in spring 2009 from the Ross School of Business, majoring in marketing and finance. He is currently enrolled in the sport management master's program at U-M.
The co-recipient of the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, Graham earned All-Big Ten first team accolades from the coaches and media and received the Bo Schembechler Award as Michigan's Team MVP for the second straight season. He was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Trophy as the nation's outstanding defensive end, won Wednesday (Dec. 9) by TCU's Jerry Hughes. Graham led the nation in tackles for loss (26) and was 15th in sacks (10.5). He recorded a career-high 64 tackles and contributed two pass breakups, one fumble recovery and forced two fumbles. Graham also blocked two punts and returned another for a touchdown.
Mesko Falls in EA Sports College Football Championship Game: The 18 players at the ESPNU College Football Awards Show participated in a video game tournament to determine the champion of EA Sports newest game, College Football 2010. Mesko defeated three opponents to reach the finals but lost a 7-3 game in the finals to champion Earl Thomas of Texas. The two battled until the end with Mesko holding a 3-0 halftime lead. That score held up until the last minute of regulation as Thomas scored on a one-yard touchdown run to complete the victory. Mesko was clearly the road team in the championship game as the contest was played on Texas' home turf.
Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
