Jan. 19, 2005

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Senior offensive tackle Dan Connolly of Southeast Missouri State University will participate in the Las Vegas All-America Classic on Saturday. The game kicks off at 11 a.m. (CST) at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.

The All-America Classic is an all-star game featuring 110 of the top senior players in the nation. Connolly will start at offensive tackle for the East squad and will wear number 74. He is one of just 30 non Division I-A players invited to participate.

A four-year starter at Southeast, Connolly has also been invited to the select National Football League Combine in Indianapolis, Ind. on Feb. 23 to March 1. Only the top 200 players nationally are selected to participate in the combine.

Expected to be an NFL draft choice, Connolly would become the third Southeast player in three years to be drafted by an NFL team. Wide receiver Willie Ponder was selected in the sixth round of the 2003 draft by the New York Giants and offensive center Eugene Amano was selected in the seventh round of the 2004 draft by the Nashville Titans. Both remain active in the NFL.

"I think Dan Connolly has an excellent chance to be drafted and how well he plays in the all-star game and performs at the combine will be a factor," said Mike Chavez, his offensive line coach at Southeast. "The pro scouts love Mike's athletic ability and most project him as a guard or center in the NFL.

"It is really a tribute to our football program at Southeast to have the potential of having three draft picks in three years. A lot of I-A teams have never had that accomplishment. It just shows all the young players out there that you don't have to go to a Michigan or Southern California to be recognized by the pros."