Three Beavs to play in all-star games

TWO BEAVS, Jordan Poyer and Markus Wheaton, have officially accepted invitations to the Senior Bowl, to be played Sat., Jan. 26 in Mobile, Ala. The game will air live on the NFL Network at 1 p.m. PST.

In addition, senior defensive tackle Andrew Seumalo will play in the 2013 Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game Fri., Jan. 11 in Tucson, Ariz.

It’s the first time two Beavers have been selected to the prestigious all-star game in the same year since tight end Joe Newton and safety Sabby Piscitelli following the 2006 season.

Markus Wheaton is the first receiver from OSU to accept an invitation since James Newson in 2003 while Jordan Poyer is the first defensive back since Keenan Lewis in 2008.

The last OSU player in the game was defensive tackle Stephen Paea after the 2010 season. Defensive end Bill Swancutt was named the defensive MVP of the 2005 game.

Poyer is a consensus All-America pick and ranks second in the nation for interceptions with seven this season. The Astoria, Ore., native earned Pac-12 Conference First Team honors and will represent OSU at next month’s Walter Camp Foundation Awards Dinner in Connecticut. For his career, the co-team captain has 153 tackles, 13 interceptions and 2,293 all-purpose yards.

Wheaton is the school’s career record holder for receptions with 227 and has a combined 2,994 receiving yards. The co-team captain also has 21 career touchdowns and 3,774 all-purpose yards. The Chandler, Ariz., native earned All-America and First Team Pac-12 honors this season.

Seumalo, a team co-captain, arrived at Oregon State as a walk on before working his way into the defensive line rotation and eventually earning a scholarship. Seumalo finished his career with 77 tackles, including nine tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks. He blocked two kicks and recovered a pair of fumbles as a junior.