Dec. 3, 2009

By Jason Clay
www.SIUSalukis.com

DALLAS, Texas - Southern Illinois senior running back Deji Karim has been selected as one of the first 25 invitees for the fourth annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Texas vs. the Nation Challenge, as was announced on Thursday.

The game will be held Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.

Karim becomes the second Saluki to play in the Texas vs. the Nation all-star game, as quarterback Nick Hill was a participant of the inaugural game in 2007. Karim is the 16th Saluki chosen to play in a post-season all-star game and he joins the likes of Arkee Whitlock (2006 Hula Bowl), Brandon Jacobs (2004 East-West Shrine Game), Muhammad Abdulqaadir (2003 All-American Bowl) and Damon Jones (1996 Senior Bowl).

Karim has led Southern Illinois to the No. 1 national ranking and into the quarterfinals of the 2009 NCAA Division I Football Championships, where the Salukis face No. 6 William & Mary on Saturday. He has rushed for 1,667 yards this year and has scored 20 total touchdowns (18 rushing, one receiving, one kickoff return).

It was announced on Monday, Nov. 30, that Karim is one of three finalists for the 2009 Walter Payton Award given to the most outstanding player in the FCS. The winner will be named on Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, Tenn., at The Sports Network's annual awards banquet.

The first 25 invitees for the game were released last week and include:
 QB Tim Hiller, Western Michigan RB Andre Dixon, Connecticut RB Joique Bell, Wayne State (MI) RB Deji Karim, Southern Illinois FB Cory Jackson, Maryland WR Taylor Price, Ohio WR Jared Perry, Missouri WR Juamorris Stewart, Southern WR Stephen Williams, Toledo TE Gerald Harris, Mississippi OG Brandon Carter, Texas Tech OT Marlon Winn, Texas Tech OT Selvish Capers, West Virginia OT Jared Veldheer, Hillsdale (MI) DE Jammie Kirlew, Indiana DE Hall Davis, UL-Lafayette DE Danny Batten, South Dakota State DE Austen Lane, Murray State DT Travis Ivey, Maryland LB Justin Cole, San Jose State LB Carl Ihenacho, San Jose State CB Patrick Stoudamire, Western Illinois CB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Indiana (PA) S Damon Cromartie-Smith, UTEP S Lucien Antoine, Oklahoma State University