JONESBORO (1/10/10) - Former Arkansas State football record-breaking kicker Josh Arauco (Grand Prairie, Texas) and standout defensive back Marcus Brown (Marianna, Ark.) have accepted invitations to play in the 2010 Texas vs. The Nation all-star game, set for a 1:00 p.m. kick Saturday, Feb. 6 at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas.

Arauco and Brown will both play for the Texas team during the game, which will be televised on CBS College Sports.

The inaugural Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge in 2007 broke the attendance for first-year all-star games with 21,548, and the 2009 game's attendance almost doubled that with more than 40,000 fans in attendance.  The Nation team won two of the first three games.  Ninety-three percent of the 2009 roster went on to sign NFL contracts.

Arauco and Brown become the first two players in school history to compete in the Texas vs. The Nation game, but join defensive end Alex Carrington as players to compete in a post-season all-star game this season.  Carrington played in the 2010 Senior Bowl last Saturday as a starter.

This year, ASU has its most players competing in a post-season all-star game since 1976 when a school-record six players accepted invitations for one of the contests.

The Red Wolves have now had at least one player named to one of the post-season all-star games seven of the last nine years, including the last four in a row with tight end David Johnson competing in the 2008 East-West Shrine Game, safety Tyrell Johnson in the 2008 Hula Bowl and fullback Oren O'Neal in the 2007 Inta Juice North-South All-Star Classic.

Following this year, 32 former ASU players will have participated in one of the post-season all-star games.

Arauco ended his career as the ASU and Sun Belt Conference all-time leader in field goals made (58) and points by kicking (288).  He ranked among the top three players in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring by kick and field goals made in 2009. Arauco kicked a season-high four field goals, which tied his career high, against Florida Atlantic and made multiple field goals in four games last season.

Brown recorded 50 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass break-ups and one forced fumble during the 2009 season.  He finished his ASU career with 123 tackles, including a career-best 57 in 2008.  He had one interception during the 2008 season and nine career pass break-ups.  He returned a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown against ULM in 2008 that was the second longest in school history.