Dec. 30, 2008
Mobile, Ala. — After wrapping up their collegiate careers in Wednesday’s Chick-fil-A bowl against LSU, a pair of Georgia Tech defensive linemen will turn their attention towards next month’s Under Armour Senior Bowl. Defensive end Michael Johnson and defensive tackle Vance Walker have both accepted invitations to the 60th game on January 24th, bowl officials announced Tuesday.
This marks the sixth consecutive year Georgia Tech has been represented in the Senior Bowl. Last year, five Yellow Jackets — Durant Brooks, Tashard Choice, Gary Guyton, Darrell Robertson and Philip Wheeler — all participated.
Kickoff for the Under Armour Senior Bowl is scheduled for 6 pm (CT) in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium and the game will be televised by the NFL Network.
Johnson was named first team All-ACC, first team AFCA Coaches’ All-America and was a finalist for both the Bednarik and Hendricks awards this season. The Selma, Alabama native totaled 43 tackles in 2008, 15 of which were for a loss.
The 6-7, 260 pounder also led the Jackets in sacks with seven and returned his only interception of the year for a touchdown against Miami. He enters Wednesday’s game against the Tigers with 17 career sacks and 11 pass break-ups.
Walker, like Johnson, was also a first team All-ACC selection and finalist for the Bednarik Award in 2008. He currently has 33 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks on the season. For his career, Walker has 13 sacks and 110 total tackles. He also recorded the Jackets’ first safety since 2005 this season.
Tickets for the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket office (151 Dauphin Street), select Regions Bank locations, online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.
The Under Armour Senior Bowl is college football’s premier pre-draft event, annually featuring the nation’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams coached by NFL coaching staffs. Senior Bowl practices and game week festivities are attended by more than 800 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from all 32 National Football League teams, making Mobile and the Under Armour Senior Bowl the week-long host to a one-of-a-kind NFL Coaches Convention. For more information on the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl please visit the bowl’s website at www.seniorbowl.com.
Under Armour® is a leading developer, marketer and distributer of branded performance apparel, footwear and accessories. The brand’s moisture-wicking synthetic fabrications are engineered in many different designs and styles for wear in nearly every climate to provide a performance alternative to traditional natural fiber products. For further information please visit the Company’s website at www.underarmour.com.
The NFL Network is the year-round programming network fully owned and operated by the NFL, offering standard definition, high definition and Video-On-Demand services through your television provider, plus NFL Mobile content via Sprint, online video and editorial content through NFL.com and downloadable video content through iTunes. The NFL Network will air more than 20 hours of programming during Senior Bowl week, including live coverage of practices and recap shows. For more information on the NFL Network please visit www.nfl.com/nflnetwork.
