All-Decade Football Team

Time for the last of my Central Oklahoma all-decade teams of the 2000s and we'll finish up with football. Once again, some tough choices here and I'm sure some may disagree with my picks, but here's what I came up with.

I picked 11 players on offense, 11 on defense and four on special teams.

On the defensive line I went with Claude Davis, Danny Nephew, Ryan Cooper and Jermelle Cudjo.

Big Claude played just one year (2000) in this decade, but he was an All-American that season and is the most dominating d-lineman I've seen in 22-plus years of following the Bronchos. Nephew played in 2002-03 and was a two-time All-LSC North Division pick, while Coop had a steady -- and sometimes spectacular -- career from 2000-03. Jermelle finished his four-year tour with UCO last fall as a three-time All-LSC North performer and could often overwhelm an offense with his strength and quickness.

At linebacker we've got K.C. Asiodu, Terry Hardeman and Will Clewis, a superb trio of tacklers who all shared an intense competitive fire on the field.

Asiodu played at UCO just one year, but he made a number of huge plays in 2008 to win LSC North Linebacker of the Year and showed just how good he really is by making the St. Louis Rams roster this past fall. Terry ended his three-year career in 2009 and was the emotional leader of the Broncho defense his final two seasons. Will was an amazing talent who earned All-America recognition both seasons (2006 and '07) at UCO, racking up 230 tackles with 26 for loss in those two years.

Filling out the secondary is Anthony Byrd, Giorgio Durham, Fred Shaw and Brandon Smith.

A.B. (2002-05) started throughout his stellar four-year career and was as consistent a defensive back as I've seen at UCO. Durham just finished his sophomore season for the Bronchos last fall, but he was the LSC North Division Defensive Back of the Year and an All-American after picking off a conference-high eight passes. Shaw (2004-05) was a tremendous athlete, earning All-LSC North honors at defensive back as a junior and then making it as a receiver the following year despite not switching to offense until mid-way through the season. Smith was an excellent cover corner and a two-time All-LSC North selection in 2006 and '07.

On the offensive side we'll also start with the line and taking up my five spots are John Fitzgerald, Dustin Finn, Luke Sapolu, B.J. Bender and Bobby Brooks.

Fitz made it just one year in this decade (2000), but he was an All-American that season for the third straight time in finishing off one of the most decorated careers in school history. Dustin (2005-08) moved from defense to offense after his sophomore year and missed just a handful of snaps his last two seasons, earning LSC North Lineman of the Year accolades as a senior. He also has the distinction of making two all-decade teams as he was also my pick at heavyweight on the wrestling squad. Sapolu was UCO's starting guard in 2008 and switched to center last year, performing well enough to pick up LSC North Lineman of the Year honors in spearheading a prolific offensive attack. B.J. was a three-time All-LSC North peformer during his career from 2000-03, serving as a vocal team leader on UCO's last playoff team in his final season. Brooks (2003-06) earned All-LSC North recognition twice during his productive career.

My receivers are Dee Dee Carter, Zach Edwards and Brandon Whiteley.

Dee Dee (2000-03) burst on the national scene as a sophomore in 2001 when he set a school-record with 1,469 receiving yards in earning All-America honors. A big-play threat throughout his career, he averaged an astounding 19.4 yards a catch for his CAREER and owns school marks for all-time catches (173) and yards (3,357). Edwards caught seemingly every ball that got close to him during his two years (2003-04) with the Bronchos. He set a school record with 79 catches in '04 and had 126 receptions for 1,940 yards in just two years. Brandon (2000-03) was a two-time All-LSC pick at tight end who was a fierce blocker and clutch receiver throughout his career.

In the backfield is Alex Aguilar, Greg Briley and Brandon Noohi.

Aguilar is our blocking back who could also see action at tailback if needed. Alex is one of just four players in school history to earn all-conference honors four times and he was one tough cookie during his time with the Bronchos from 2003-06. Greg is perhaps the most under-rated running back in school history, even though he rolled up 3,263 rushing yards -- third on UCO's career list -- from 1998-01. Not as flashy or as fast or others who have carried the ball for the Bronchos, all Briley did was get the job done. Brandon got the nod at quarterback with his unique run-pass ability as he set nine school records while directing the offense in 2008 and '09. Noohi amassed 5,433 yards total offense in just two years, including 3,301 last fall when he passed for 2,757 and ran for 544.

Rounding out the all-decade team is our special teams unit of Jason Dixon, A.J. Haglund, Brent Ingram and Ryan Gallimore.

Dixon made the squad at punter, though he did those duties just one season while also serving as UCO's place-kicker in 2005-06. Jason had 22 punts downed inside the 20 during his one year as punter and he also made 22 career field goals. A.J. was a no-brainer pick as the kicker after setting school records for single-game (five), season (15) and career (40) field goals during his time from 2001-04. He ranks second in all-time scoring at UCO with 259 points and has been an ultra-successful kicker in the indoor professional ranks since leaving the Bronchos. Brent doubled as a wide receiver and was dangerous running back both punts and kickoffs during his career from 2000-02. Ryan is also a wide receiver of soon note -- having already caught 130 career passes with the 2010 season still to go -- and he can do damage as a kick returner on the side, having scored on a 95-yard runback.

There it is, the all-decade football team. Let the debate begin.