January 23, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A pair of South Carolina football standouts ? cornerback Sheldon Brown and offensive tackle Melvin Paige ? are on the South Team and will play in this Saturday?s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. The all-star game will be televised nationally by ESPN (5 p.m.). The South Team is coached by the staff of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

Brown, a 5-10, 190-pounder from Ft. Lawn, S.C., was a 2001 All-America selection (third-team by The Sporting News) and was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference pick (coaches team). He made 57 total tackles, broke up a team-high 12 passes and was tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Brown had two interceptions in the win over Clemson and a crucial interception and return in the Outback Bowl against Ohio State, which set up Daniel Weaver’s game-winning 42-yard field goal as time expire. Brown was a three-year starter for USC and was a first-team All-America choice by the American Football Coaches Association in 2000, when he was among the SEC leaders with four interceptions.

Paige, a 6-5, 305-pounder from Dillon, S.C., was a second-team 2001 All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches. Paige finished his USC career having started 38 games at offensive tackle. He was a four-year starter for the Gamecocks and was the team’s most consistent linemen the past two seasons. His development played a key role in the improvement of the USC offense over the past two years.

South Carolina finished 9-3 in 2001 and was ranked 13th in both of the final national polls.