Hunter and White Selected to Play for West Team at Cactus Bowl

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University senior wide receiver Derrick Hunter (6’0”, 180 lbs., Lamesa, TX/Lamesa HS) and senior cornerback Corey White (6’0”, 165 lbs., Lubbock, TX/Estacado HS) have been selected to play for the West team in the 2006 Cactus Bowl, set for Friday, Jan. 6, at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. MST.

Hunter led the Greyhounds in receiving for the fourth consecutive season and finished his ENMU career with a school record 128 receptions for 2,456 yards. White earned 83 career total tackles, while recording 16 pass break-ups the past four seasons.

Overall, 42 players were named to the West team and 42 players were chosen for the East team. The coaching staff for each squad will be announced later this month.

The Cactus Bowl is the NCAA Division II All-Star game. Previous selections from Eastern New Mexico University were defensive tackle Nelson Smith for the 2001 Cactus Bowl, offensive tackle Dustin Fish for the 2002 Cactus Bowl and linebacker Jeff Howard for the 2005 Cactus Bowl. Ken Drake and Michael Walton played in the 1999 Snow Bowl and the 2000 Snow Bowl, respectively, before the All-Star game moved to Kingsville.

ENMU, playing one of the most difficult schedules in NCAA Division II, finished the 2005 season with a 5-6 overall record, including 2-4 in the LSC South (5th place tie). The Greyhounds took on seven teams that were nationally ranked or regionally ranked at the end of the season, including three teams advancing to the NCAA Playoffs. Eastern was led by Mark Ribaudo, in his first season as head coach after eight years as an assistant coach at ENMU.

2006 Snow Bowl — West Team

Hunter was selected First Team All-LSC South for the second consecutive season, after earning Second Team All-LSC South honors in 2003 and Honorable Mention All-LSC South recognition in 2002. He led ENMU in pass receiving all four seasons, including this year, when he caught 18 passes for 364 yards (20.2 avg.) and five touchdowns. During the 2005 season, he also returned six punts for a total of 87 yards (14.5 avg.) and returned six kickoffs for 108 yards (18.0 avg.).

In 2004, he set personal highs with 51 catches for 829 yards and eight touchdowns. While playing for the Greyhounds, he established ENMU career records with 128 catches, 2,456 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. He broke the yardage record (2,104) and touchdown record (20) set by Steve Jackson from 1983-84. He broke the receptions record (126) set by Robert Griggs from 1985-86 and 1988-89.

Hunter was eighth in the LSC in receiving yards per game as a freshman (58.5 avg.), then placed 10th as a sophomore (56.3 avg.) and third as a junior (75.4 avg.). In 2004, he also ranked ninth in the LSC with 4.64 receptions per game and tied for second with eight touchdown catches. During his career, he averaged 19.2 yards per catch, while averaging a touchdown every 6.1 catches.

White recorded 20 unassisted tackles and seven assists this season. His four pass break-ups tied for the team lead, while his two blocked punts led the Greyhounds. He recorded one tackle for a loss, despite providing pass coverage on most downs. He was Eastern’s top defensive back, which gave him primary coverage on the top receiver each week. He was seldom beaten on pass plays and provided many outstanding performances in pass coverage and run support.

White was chosen to the Daktronics All-Southwest Region Second Team this season and was a Third Team All-Southwest Region selection by D2Football.com. He earned First Team All-LSC South honors for the second consecutive year.

In 2004, he led ENMU with four interceptions and seven pass break-ups. He also recorded 33 total tackles, including 29 unassisted stops. He made three tackles for losses and registered one sack. He scored a touchdown on a 25-yard interception return against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 23, 2004.

During his career, White accumulated 83 total tackles, with 69 unassisted tackles and 14 assists. He registered six tackles for losses (36 yards) and had 16 pass break-ups. He intercepted five passes.

White returned kickoffs and punts the past three seasons. In 2005, he averaged 17.5 yards per kickoff return. He also averaged 18.0 yards on two punt returns.

In 2004, he returned 23 kickoffs for 569 yards to rank 17th in NCAA Division II with 24.7 yards per return. He scored on a 100-yard return to open the second half against Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Sept. 11, 2004. He also returned four punts in 2004 for 33 yards (8.2 avg.). In 2003, he contributed 11 kickoff returns for 286 yards (26.0 avg.).