"I was so excited when they told me," Naeole said yesterday. "It has been a good year for me. Being named first team All-American is a great way for me to go out at the University of Colorado."
Naeole has come a long way since receiving his first start at the Aloha Bowl in 1993. Born on Christmas Day, the then 19-year-old celebrated his birthday by helping Colorado to a 41-30 win over Fresno State.
The Buffaloes are 30-5 since Naeole's debut. He already had been named first team All-America by The Sporting News, Football News, the American Football Coaches Association and Walter Camp. The talented offensive guard will end his collegiate career at the Hula Bowl next month.
"I don't really think about all the awards," Naeole said. "My main goal is to help my teammates win. I just go out there and try to knock my opponent on his butt every time the ball is snapped."
Even though he was bothered by an ankle sprain last year, Naeole has started 35 consecutive games for Colorado since the Aloha Bowl three years ago.
The former Kahuku High standout and Kaaawa native set a school record with 58 pancake blocks. He also had 30 downfield blocks, 16 touchdown blocks and led the team in offensive snaps this season with 760.
He has yielded only one sack in his career. That occurred early in his sophomore season. This year, he yielded only one hurry.
"He's as good as any I've been around and I've coached college football offensive linemen the last 25 years," Colorado offensive line coach Terry Lewis said.
"I wouldn't trade him for anyone. He has had an opportunity to showcase his talents against some of the better players throughout the country and has just been spectacular. He doesn't just knock guys down - he pins them."
Colorado head coach Rick Neuheisel also has been impressed with Naeole.
"Chris is one of the most dominant players I've ever been associated with at any position," Neuheisel said. "He's a sure-fire professional."
Naeole has the Holiday and Hula bowls left on his schedule before thinking about an NFL career. After the Hula Bowl, he will return to Boulder, Colo., to prepare for the NFL combine the first weekend in February.
"I definitely want to play on Sunday," the probable first-round pick said. "I will graduate with a degree in sociology next week, so things couldn't be going better for me right now.
"I'm really looking forward to coming to the Hula Bowl. When you grow up in Hawaii, that's a game you definitely want to play in. I always look forward to coming back to Aloha Stadium."
OffenseQuarterback Danny Wuerffel, Florida, 6-2, 209, senior, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.Running backs Troy Davis, Iowa State, 5-8, 190, junior, Miami; Byron Hanspard, Texas Tech, 6-0, 193, junior, DeSoto, Texas. Wide receivers Reidel Anthony, Florida, 6-0, 181, junior, South Bay, Fla.; Marcus Harris, Wyoming, 6-2, 216, senior, Minneapolis. Tight end Pat Fitzgerald, Texas, 6-2, 228, senior, Agoura, Calif. Center K.C. Jones, Miami, 6-1, 267, senior, Midland, Texas. Guards-Tackles Chris Naeole, Colorado, 6-4, 305, senior, Kaaawa, Hawaii; Benji Olson, Washington, 6-4, 310, sophomore, Port Orchard, Wash; Orlando Pace, Ohio State, 6-6, 330, junior, Sandusky, Ohio; Juan Roque, Arizona State, 6-8, 319, senior, Ontario, Calif. All-Purpose Kevin Faulk, Louisiana State, 5-10, 192, sophomore, Carencro, La. Placekicker Marc Primanti, North Carolina State, 5-7, 171, senior, Thorndale, Pa.
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DefenseLinemen Peter Boulware, Florida State, 6-3, 255, junior, Columbia, S.C.; Derrick Rodgers, Arizona State, 6-2, 220, junior, Cordova, Tenn.; Reinard Wilson, Florida State, 6-2, 255, senior, Lake City, Fla.; Grant Wistrom, Nebraska, 6-5, 250, junior, Webb City, Mo.Linebackers Canute Curtis, West Virginia, 6-3, 260, senior, Amityville, N.Y.; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, 6-2, 243, senior, Orland Park, Ill.; Jarrett Irons, Michigan, 6-1, 231, senior, The Woodlands, Texas; Matt Russell, Colorado, 6-2, 245, senior, Fairview Heights, Ill. Backs Dre' Bly, North Carolina, 5-10, 190, freshman, Chesapeake, Va.; Chris Canty, Kansas State, 5-10, 190, junior, Voorhees, N.J.; Kevin Jackson, Alabama, 6-2, 206, senior, Dothan, Ala.; Charles Woodson, Michigan, 6-1, 192, sophomore, Fremont, Ohio. Punter Noel Prefontaine, San Diego State, 6-0, 200, senior, Oceanside, Calif.
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SECOND TEAMOffenseQuarterback Jake Plummer, Arizona State.Running backs Darnell Autry, Northwestern; Warrick Dunn, Florida State. Wide receivers Rae Carruth, Colorado; Keith Poole, Arizona State. Tight end Tony Gonzalez, California. Center Aaron Taylor, Nebraska. Guards-Tackles Chris Dishman, Nebraska; Walter Jones, Florida State; Dan Neil, Texas; Steve Scifres, Wyoming. All-purpose Terry Battle, Arizona State. Placekicker Rafael Garcia, Virginia.
DefenseLinemen Cornell Brown, Virginia Tech; William Carr, Michigan; Jared Tomich, Nebraska; Mike Vrabel, Ohio State.Linebackers Andy Katzenmoyer, Ohio State; Dwayne Rudd, Alabama; Brian Simmons, North Carolina; Takeo Spikes, Auburn. Backs Kim Herring, Penn State; Shawn Springs, Ohio State; Bryant Westbrook, Texas; Kenny Wheaton, Oregon. Punter Brad Maynard, Ball State. |
THIRD TEAMOffenseQuarterback Peyton Manning, Tennessee.Running backs Ron Dayne, Wisconsin; Corey Dillon, Washington. Wide receivers Ike Hilliard, Florida; Kevin Lockett, Kansas State. Tight end David LaFleur, Louisiana State. Center Jeff Mitchell, Florida. Guards-Tackles Ben Kaufman, Texas Tech; Adam Meadows, Georgia; Scott Sanderson, Washington State; Jerry Wunsch, Wisconsin. All-Purpose Beau Morgan, Air Force. Placekicker Damon Shea, Nevada.
DefenseLinemen Jason Chorak, Washington; Greg Ellis, North Carolina; Leonard Little, Tennessee; Darrell Russell, Southern California.Linebackers Tyrus McCloud, Louisville; Keith Mitchell, Texas A&M; Antwaune Ponds, Syracuse; Anthony Simmons, Clemson. Backs Eric Allen, Indiana; Ronde Barber, Virginia; Sam Madison, Louisville; Steve Rosga, Colorado. Punter Toby Gowin, North Texas.
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