Photo by Mark Campbell

EL PASO, Texas -- University of Delaware senior defensive line standout Brandon Gilbeaux (at right) has been selected to play in the third annual Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge football game next weekend.

Gilbeaux, a defensive tackle from Washington, D.C. (Dunbar High School) and a first team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection in 2009, is one of 58 players who will represent the Nation team that will take on the Texas team on Saturday, Feb. 6 at Sun Bowl Stadium at 2 p.m. Eastern time. The game will be televised live on CBS College Sports Television.

The game will pit top collegiate players originally from Texas or who play college football in Texas against top players from around the nation. Last year’s game drew a crowd of 40,000 and of the 119 players who participated, 111 (93 percent) of them signed National Football League contracts.

Gilbeaux, at 6-3 and 271 lbs., was one of the team’s most improved players this fall in his second year with the squad under head coach K.C. Keeler. Playing at both tackle and end, the versatile Gilbeaux led all UD down linemen and ranked fourth on the squad with 58 tackles, including 31 solo stops, and led the team to a 6-5 record.

A second-year transfer from Syracuse, he tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks for 31 yards and ranked second on the team with eight tackles for losses of 37 yards. He also added a pass breakup and a blocked kick. He registered five or more tackles five times and had two sacks in a win over Hofstra. He also was named the Blue Hen Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Week three times.

Gilbeaux is one of 14 players under the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level named to the Nation team, including Colonial Athletic Association players in fullback Chris Zardas of Massachusetts, defensive end Adrian Tracy of William & Mary, defensive end Arthur Moats of James Madison, and offensive lineman Tyler Eastman of Maine.

Gilbeaux is the first Delaware player to take part in a post-season all-star game since current Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco played in the Senior Bowl following the 2007 season.