University of Missouri sophomore tailback Henry Josey (Angleton, Texas) has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2011 Doak Walker Award, which is awarded annually by the PxCSMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors, and goes to the nation’s top running back.

Despite beginning the season third on the depth chart, Josey has burst into the national scene, as he leads the Big 12 Conference, and ranks 5th nationally, with his average of 127.67 yards per game.  Josey’s per-carry average of 8.57 yards is second-best in the nation, and he’s doing his damage against a schedule that is ranked as toughest in the nation by the latest Sagarin rankings, and as the 4th-toughest by the NCAA.

Josey’s big-play abilities have seen him muster a nation-leading 43 rushes of 10 or more yards and 13 runs of 20 or more yards this season, and his 263-yard (3 TDs) outing against Western Illinois is the 3rd-highest single-game total on the year.  Josey has four-straight 100-yard games entering Saturday’s showdown with #16 Texas, and he’s got six games overall this year over the century mark, including a 162-yard effort in leading MU to an overtime win at #16 Texas A&M – coming against an Aggie defense which entered the game ranked 5th in the nation against the run, allowing just 79.86 yards per game.

Josey has 1,149 yards on the season, which is already 6th-most on the Mizzou single-season rushing chart.

— MU Sports Information —

Mizzou’s men’s basketball program has announced a standout group of student-athletes who have signed a National Letter of Intent to attend and play basketball at the University of Missouri under Head Coach Frank Haith.

“I’m really pleased with this group, we’ve been able to get some really talented and versatile guys who will be a great fit for our style of play,” said Haith, who is in his first season at Mizzou. “We wanted to get size in this class and we were able to accomplish that, not just on the front line but in the backcourt. With this class we were able to accomplish athleticism along with skill, size and toughness. That was our focus when we started the recruiting process,” he said.

DOMINIQUE BULL

Fr., G, 6-3, 215, Tilton, N.H. (Tilton School)
Known as a tough, physical guard with a nice shooting touch who is also a defensive standout that can lockdown opposing scorers with his high-energy style of play … Very effective with dribble-drive penetration who has an outstanding first step and is strong enough to get through contact to the rim, where he shows tremendous finishing ability … Comes from a winning background, and is known to have an unselfish mindset and a desire for doing whatever it takes for the team … Played AAU ball for BABC which recently won the Nike Peach Jam … High school coach – Marcus O’Neil … Parents – Janice Eatmon and Albert Bull … Chose Mizzou over schools such as Miami, Fla., Pittsburgh, Rhode Island, Virginia Commonwealth, Providence, Virginia Tech, Charlotte and Western Kentucky, among others.

ANTHONY CRISWELL

Jr., F, 6-8, 230, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Douglass HS/ UAB / Independence [Kan.] CC)
Regarded as one of the top power forward prospects to come out of the junior college ranks for the 2012 class … Is considered a physical power forward with the ability to play inside and out with a nice mid-range scoring touch … Runs the floor well and uses his physicality to rebound on both ends of the floor … Began his collegiate career at Alabama-Birmingham before transferring to Independence Community College after last season … Redshirted at UAB his first year, then played in 21 games during the 2010-11 season, and averaged 3.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, while shooting a solid 54.0% from the floor (27-of-50 FGs) … Had 12 points and 8 rebounds (on 5-of-5 shooting) in one game versus Memphis … Junior college coach – Patrick Nee … Chose Mizzou over Arkansas, Auburn, Marquette, Texas Tech, Oregon, Nebraska and Washington State, among others.

STEFAN JANKOVIC

Fr., F/C, 6-11, 225, Mississauga, Ontario (Huntington [W.V.] Prep)
One of the top prep forwards in the nation who brings a wide mix of talents, and who has an offensive skill set that is rare at the prep level … At 6-foot-11 possesses the shooting ability of a guard … Joins teammate Negus Webster-Chan as a pair of Huntington Prep standouts who will be Mizzou Tigers … Is a native of Serbia and a resident of Canada who is a European style of power forward who can play on the perimeter and score from all over the floor … Provides a tough matchup for opposing defenders because of his ability to play all over the floor … Is a member of the Canadian Youth National Team … Parents – Drago & Aida Jankovic … Chose Mizzou over Georgetown, West Virginia, Purdue, Wake Forest and Florida State, among others.

RYAN ROSBURG

Fr., C/F, 6-10, 240, Chesterfield, Mo. (Marquette HS)
Native Missourian who will be fulfilling a dream to represent Mizzou in the black and gold uniform … Ranked by ESPN.com as the nation’s No. 20 center prospect … Is a skilled scorer in both the high and low posts who runs the floor well in transition … High school coach – Shane Matzen, a Mizzou graduate who served as a student manager under former legend Norm Stewart … Parents – Paul & Cindy Rosburg … Will join his older brother, Andy, who is in his first year as a walk-on forward for the Mizzou basketball program … Chose Mizzou over Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Creighton, Illinois, Southern Illinois and Missouri State, among others.

NEGUS WEBSTER-CHAN

Fr., G/F, 6-7, 195, Scarborough, Ontario (Pope John Paul II HS / Huntington [W.V] Prep)
Considered to be among the top strong forward prospects in the prep ranks … Is a long and athletic wing player who can play a number of spots … Has good ball skills and gives a nice combination of a slasher and a skilled shooter … Has been high school and AAU teammates with fellow 2012 signee Stefan Jankovic … A member of the Canadian Youth National Team who helped his squad to a bronze medal in the World Championships … Began his prep career at Pope John Paul II in Scarborough, Ontario, where he averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists as a sophomore … Mother – Sharon Webster … Chose Mizzou over Louisville, Kentucky, Texas, West Virginia, USC, Cincinnati, Marquette, Clemson and Baylor, among others.

— MU Sports Information —