LJWorld.com

Kansas University defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements is leaving KU to take over the defensive ends coaching position at rival Kansas State, Wildcats coach Bill Snyder announced Thursday.

Clements, who is in his first season as a Jayhawks assistant, was part of 10 bowl games as both a player and coach with Kansas State and spent a total of seven years working under the legendary Snyder, who will return to the Wildcats’ sideline next season after a three-year hiatus. Clements represents the first known member of Snyder's new staff.

After walking on to the Kansas State team prior to the 1996 season, Clements developed into an honorable mention all-Big 12 selection before graduating in 1999. He remained at KSU when his playing career was over, serving as a student and graduate assistant before taking over as defensive ends coach from 2003-05. He also spent two seasons as the defensive line coach at San Diego State before joining KU coach Mark Mangino's staff earlier this year.

Clements will not coach the Jayhawks in their yet-to-be-determined bowl game, Kansas officials said Thursday.

“We’ll absorb his responsibilities among the staff,” associate athletics director Jim Marchiony said. “That’s what will likely happen.”

A Kansas State spokesman, meanwhile, said Clements will begin recruiting for the Wildcats immediately.

Notes:

Kansas senior linebacker James Holt and junior safety Darrell Stuckey were both named to the 2008 Associated Press all-Big 12 first team on Thursday, as voted on by members of the media.

Sophomore receiver Dezmon Briscoe was a second-team selection.

Holt emerged as arguably the team's top defensive player in 2008, finishing the regular season with a team-high 97 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and shared the team-lead in sacks with seven. His six forced fumbles also ranked second nationally.

Stuckey, who was named first-team all-conference by the league's coaches earlier this week, led the Jayhawks with five interceptions and was second on the team with 94 total tackles.

Briscoe, meanwhile, caught 78 passes for 1,206 yards and 12 touchdowns in the team’s 12 regular season games. He also ranks in the top 10 nationally in total receiving yards and receiving yards per game.

Five Kansas players earned honorable mention honors, including offensive linemen Ryan Cantrell and Adrian Mayes, receiver Kerry Meier, running back Jake Sharp and linebacker Joe Mortensen.

Texas swept player of the year honors, with Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy earning offensive honors and defensive lineman Brian Orakpo getting the nod defensively.

Texas Tech's Mike Leach was named coach of the year.