Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Tom Zbikowski.

Senior safety already named to the preseason watch lists for the Bednarik and Nagurski Trophy as well as the Lott Award.

Aug. 15, 2007

Notre Dame's two-time All-American strong safety Tom Zbikowski was selected to the ESPN.com Preseason All-America Team. Zbikowski has also been named preseason first-team All-American by Athlon, The Sporting News and Phil Steele.

Zbikowski (Sr./Arlington Heights, Ill.) earned second-team All-America accolades from the Walter Camp Football Foundation last year and was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press for the second straight season. He recorded 79 tackles with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on defense and averaged 9.0 yards on 16 punt returns with one touchdown return in 2006.

Zbikowski, chosen as a 2007 Notre Dame captain for the second-consecutive season, is considered the top strong safety in the nation by Sporting News and Phil Steele while ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper tabbed him the top senior safety in 2007. He was also named to the preseason watch lists for the Bednarik and Nagurski Trophy as well as the Lott Award.

Notre Dame opens the 2007 season against ACC foe Georgia Tech on Sept. 1. Game time is scheduled 3:30 p.m. in Notre Dame Stadium.

-- ND --