June 30, 2006

BERKELEY - Rivals.com College Football has released its 2006 Preseason All-Americans and the University of California has three players on the first and second teams. Junior running back Marshawn Lynch and senior cornerback Daymeion Hughes were first-team selections, while senior defensive tackle Brandon Mebane has been named to the second team.

It is the fifth preseason All-America selection for Hughes, while Lynch and Mebane are appearing on their fourth All-America teams in the preseason.

Hughes, a 6-foot-2, 190-pounder from Los Angeles, earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2005 after he led the conference with 17 passes defended, including 12 break-ups. He ranked second in the league and 16th nationally with five interceptions.

Lynch, a native of Oakland, Calif., has been named by Sports Illustrated's SI.com as the eighth best player in America. The 5-11, 223-pound runner is coming off the third-best rushing season in Cal history with 1,246 yards. Lynch's talent has also been recognized by The Sporting News, which rated him the nation's second-best running back.

Mebane, a teammate of Hughes' in high school at Crenshaw High, battled double teams throughout the 2005 season, yet still earned first team All-Pac-10 honors. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle was ranked by The Sporting News as the second-best defensive lineman in the country.

California is coming off an 8-4 season that included a win at the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl. The Bears ended the 2005 season ranked No. 25 in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls. Cal opens the 2006 season on the road at Tennessee on Sept. 2. The home opener for the Golden Bears is Sept. 9 against Minnesota.

Cal Preseason Top 10 Rankings
No. 6 Street & Smith's (preseason)
No. 7 ESPN.com (post-spring)
No. 8 SI.com (post-spring)
No. 8 Athlon Sports (preseason)
No. 9 Lindy's (preseason)

Cal Preseason All-Americans (first team unless noted)
Desmond Bishop - Street & Smith's
Daymeion Hughes - Blue Ribbon Defense, Playboy Magazine, Rivals.com, Lindy's Football Annual (second team), The Sporting News (second team), Street & Smith's (second team)
Marshawn Lynch - Lindy's Football Annual, Rivals.com, The Sporting News, Street & Smith's, Athlon Sports (second team)
Brandon Mebane - Athlon Sports, Lindy's Football Annual, The Sporting News, Rivals.com (second team), Street & Smith's (third team)
Tim Mixon - Street & Smith's (second team)
Craig Stevens - Street & Smith's (hon. mention)
Nu'u Tafisi - Street & Smith's (second team)

Cal Preseason Watch List Selections
Daymeion Hughes - Bednarik Award, Lott Trophy, Nagurski Trophy
Brandon Mebane - Bednarik Award, Lott Trophy, Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy
Marshawn Lynch - Maxwell Award
Nu'u Tafisi - Hendricks Award