OBU’s Johnson selected to 2010 Valero Cactus Bowl

K INGSVILLE, Texas- Ouachita Baptist Senior running back Keldrick Johnson has been named to the 2010 Valero Cactus Bowl squad after an impressive four-year career for the Tigers. The selection of Johnson marks the third-straight season that Ouachita Baptist has garnered a member to the Division II Senior Bowl.

The 2010 Valero Cactus Bowl festivities began on Monday with both teams having gone through practice, NFL scouting drills and tests. The Valero Cactus Bowl has annually attracted some of the top talent in NCAA Division II and this year will be no different. Among the invitees are nine American Football Coaches Association All-Americans and 20 Daktronics All-Americans playing in this year’s game.

The game is set to kick off on Friday at 6:35 p.m. Central Standard Time at Javelina Stadium. The game will be featured on Fox College Sports Channel 617 on DirecTV and will also be webcast on www.cactusbowl.org. Local Corpus Christi ESPN affiliate KSIX 1230 AM will broadcast the game on the radio.

Johnson led the Gulf South Conference in rushing in 2009 with 1,122 yards on 231 attempts and 12 touchdowns. The Monroe, La., native is a Daktronics Second Team All-Region selection, as well as First Team All-Gulf South Conference selection and was named to the preseason All-GSC and D2Football.com All-GSC teams. Johnson finished among the top 10 in several GSC categories: third in scoring (touchdowns), fifth in scoring, sixth in all-purpose yards and ninth in total offense. Ouachita Baptist led the GSC in rushing offense with 197 yards rushing per game, while averaging 30.6 points per game. In 2008, Johnson led all GSC running backs with 996 yards on 200 carries and 10 touchdowns, en route to being named to the All-GSC Second Team. The senior finished his four-year career with 2,651 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns.

“KJ has had a great career at Ouachita,” Ouachita Baptist Head Coach Todd Knight said. “He will be hard to replace. I know his work ethic and hard work in our program is now paying off and it has shown with his academic progress. He has been in a very tough major and has hung in and looks to be making good progress toward his degree. Were very excited about his selection into the cactus bowl. When you get selected it gives you chance to perform in front of many pro scouts and to play in one more college football game.”

Among those also representing the Gulf South Conference will be Arkansas Tech quarterback Nick Graziano, wide receiver Frantz Simeon and center Torrance Wright. Others include Delta State linebacker Lardester Hicks-Green and offensive tackle Brad Latham, Harding safety Josh Jones, West Alabama safety J. D. Douglas and Southern Arkansas defensive end Ryan Terry.