Jan. 19, 2013
Texas Longhorns senior running back/wide receiver D.J. Monroe helped the National team to a 34-0 win over the American team in the 2013 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
The Angleton, Texas star was one of the draft-eligible seniors competing in the all-star game on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, Calif.
For the game, Monroe had 62 all-purpose yards on 11 plays (5.6 avg).
Monroe staked his team to a fast start when he returned the opening kickoff 31 yards. The game remained scoreless until the second quarter when Monroe added a spark to the National team on their third drive. Monroe carried the ball four times on the drive, including a 15-yard dash to set the National team up with a first and 10 at the American 31-yard line. Kansas quarterback Dayne Crist scored on a one-yard run four plays later to put the National team up 7-0 with 12:12 remaining in the half.
After the National team held the American team to a three-and-out, Monroe was integral to his team's second score. Monroe caught a six-yard pass from Crist and rushed for one more on second and goal. Crist hit Rice tight end Luke Wilson for a seven-yard touchdown pass and the National team went up 14-0.
The National team would add a field goal and go into halftime with a 17-0 lead.
With the score 20-0 in the third quarter, Monroe again contributed to the National team's fortunes as he carried three times on a six-play drive as Washington State's Jeff Tuel hit Norfolk State's Xavier Boyce for nine-yard touchdown and a 27-0 National lead.
Monroe would only have one more carry for seven yards the rest of the game, but the National team would add another touchdown when Texas Tech's Eric Stephens rushed from one yard out in the fourth quarter for the final tally of 34-0.
Former Longhorn star running back Priest Holmes was an assistant coach on the National team.
Monroe was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection as a kick returner and was named to the 2012 CFPA All-Purpose Trophy watch list. He ranks tied for sixth on the FBS active career kickoff return for a touchdown list with a school-record three, including a 100-yard return against Oklahoma State this season. In 2012, Monroe has returned 21 kickoffs for 515 yards (No. 4 UT all-time single season) for a 24.5 average (tied for No. 5 UT all-time) with one TD, and has rushed 19 times for 162 yards (8.5 avg) and three touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 39 yards this season.
Monroe is a fifth-year running back who has played in 49 games, including six starts. He has amassed 1,685 kickoff return yards (No. 2 on UT's career list) on 68 attempts (No. 2 on UT's career list) for a 24.7 yards per return average (No. 5 on UT's career list). Monroe has 2,620 career all-purpose yards on 195 plays (13.4 ypp) and scored on his first-ever collegiate play with an 89-yard kickoff return against ULM in 2009.
For news surrounding the game, follow @NFLPABowl on Twitter and on Facebook at Facebook.com/NFLPACollegiateBowl.
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