Jan. 8, 2010

MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Pro Football Hall of Fame Texas vs. the Nation Challenge announced Friday that Tiger running back Curtis Steele has been selected to participate in its fourth annual all-star challenge set to kick off at 12 pm MST at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas on Saturday, Feb. 6.

Texas vs. the Nation is a collegiate senior all-star game that pits top players with ties to the state of Texas against top seniors from across the nation. The all-star game attracts hundreds of NFL, CFL, and European league scouts each year and provides athletes with the opportunity to be seen by the pros one last time before the draft.

Steele will join an elite group of players who have made the rosters of this three-year-old all-star game. Since the inaugural game in 2007, a total of 292 participants have gone on to sign NFL contracts. Some of the outstanding past participants include Chicago Bears WR Johnny Knox, Indianapolis Colts WR Pierre Garcon, Denver Broncos DT Marcus Thomas, Cincinnati Bengals RB Bernard Scott, Jacksonville Jaguars DT Terrance Knighton, and Arizona Cardinals RB Tim Hightower.

Steele earned Conference USA first-team honors and received the Tigers' Offensive Player of the Year Award after totaling 1,239 yards and 15 touchdowns on 198 carries. He scored multiple touchdowns in the final four games of the season, including four in the overtime loss to Tulsa in the season finale. He registered six 100-yard rushing games again in 2009 to bring his career total to 12, which ranks second in school history behind DeAngelo Williams. Included in the six 100-yard games this past season were a 240-yard effort versus UTEP and a 232-yard performance against Tulsa. Steele finished his two-year career at Memphis ranked third all-time in rushing yards with 2,462 and fourth in rushing touchdowns with 22

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Texas vs. the Nation Challenge will be nationally televised on CBS College Sports Network. To find out more, please visit the official game website at www.texasvsthenation.com. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.