PHILADELPHIA - Senior defensive tackle Dan Klecko was named a second team Associated Press All-American on Tuesday, December 17. The highly-touted standout adds the honor to a growing list of accolades that includes 2002 Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Klecko also became only the eighth player in the history of the league to earn unanimous, first team honors multiple times.
Klecko becomes the first Owl to be mentioned on an AP All-America list since former linebacker Loranzo Square garnered honorable mention honors in 1988. Joe Klecko, Dan's father, received Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America accolades at Temple in 1974 and '75.
Klecko is the sixth player in Temple history to be named to an Associated Press First, Second or Third Team All-American squad following Phil Slosburg (2nd Team, HB, 1947), Randy Grossman (3rd Team, TE, 1972), Steve Joachim (3rd Team, QB, 1974), John Rienstra (1st Team, OG, 1985) and Paul Palmer (1st Team, RB, 1986).
Klecko (6-1, 280) led the Big East Conference in both sacks (10, 0.91 per game) and tackles-for-loss (22.5, 2.05 per game) and placed 11th and fourth, respectively, in those categories nationally. In 11 games, he made 68 tackles (46 solo), 21 quarterback hurries and forced four fumbles. Klecko, a team captain who entered the season as the only unanimous All-Big East selection in Temple history, is the first Owl to win a major Big East award.
Previous Big East Defensive Players of the Year include Edward Reed (Miami, 2001), Dan Morgan (Miami, 2000), Corey Moore (Virginia Tech, 1998-99), Donovin Darius (Syracuse, 1997), Warren Sapp (Miami, 1994), Michael Barrow (Miami, 1992) and Darrin Smith (Miami, 1991).
Players to earn unanimous, All-Big East First Team honors multiple times are Klecko (2001-02), Ken Dorsey (QB, Miami, 2001-02), Dwight Freeney (DE, Syracuse, 2000-01), Corey Moore (DE, Virginia Tech, 1998-99), Donovin Darius (DB, Syracuse, 1996-97), Donovan McNabb (QB, Syracuse, 1995 and 1998), Pete Mitchell (TE, Boston College, 1993-94) and Stephen Boyd (LB, Boston College, 1993-94).
