The 2007 edition of KU football will go down as one of the best in school history. Having completed a season with a school-record 12 wins, the national coach of the year, and an Orange Bowl Championship, Jayhawk fans are already looking forward to 2008, and with good reason.

Multiple players return for the Orange Bowl champions, including linebacker Joe Mortensen and center Ryan Cantrell, who have both received preseason recognition.

Mortensen was recently named to the Watch List for the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the best defensive player in college football. Earlier this off-season, he was named to the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award. That honor is given to the nation's top defensive player, who plays on the defensive line or within five yards of the football.

Senior Cantrell was named to the 2008 Spring Watch List for the Rimington Trophy, which is annually awarded to the nation's top center.

While returning Jayhawks are garnering well-deserved preseason honors, four former Jayhawks have begun their professional football careers.

Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib, a consensus All-American for the Jayhawks last season, was selected as the 20th pick of the first round of the National Football League draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Talib, a junior this past season, became the first KU player drafted since defensive end David McMillan was selected in the fifth round by Cleveland in 2005. He also became the ninth Jayhawk to be taken in the first round and the first opening round pick since defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield was chosen 26th overall by San Francisco in 1993.

No Jayhawk has been drafted higher than 20th since wide receiver David Verser was the 10th overall pick by Cincinnati in 1981.

Talib, the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl MVP, recorded 66 tackles, five interceptions and 13 passes broken up last season. He finished his Kansas career ranked second in career interceptions with 13.

Anthony Collins, Derek Fine and Marcus Henry joined first-round selection Talib to give KU four players taken in the NFL draft through 175 picks, the first time the Jayhawks have had four players taken in the same draft since 1996.

Collins, an All-America First Team selection, who opted to make himself available for the NFL draft after his junior season last year, was selected in the fourth round by Cincinnati on Sunday.

Just 20 picks later, teammate tight end Derek Fine was selected by Buffalo. The New York Jets selected Henry, a wide receiver, in the sixth round with the 171st overall pick.

The Bengals made Collins, the 112th overall pick. Collins, an Outland Trophy finalist and an All-America First Team selection by the Associated Press, Walter Camp, Football Writer's Association of America, SI.com, CBSSportsline.com and Rivals.com last year, became the first KU offensive lineman selected in the draft since Adrian Jones was picked in the fourth round by the New York Jets.