Headlining Houston's all-conference players is senior QB Kevin Kolb, a unanimous first team selection.  Kolb leads the league and ranks 12th in the nation in passing this season and is UH's all-time leader in passing yards.  He is joined on the first team by Cougar senior offensive lineman Sterling Doty and senior defensive back Will Gulley.

 

Southern Miss produced a pair of first team offensive lineman in seniors George Batiste and Travis Cooley.  That duo help paved the way for true freshman RB Damion Fletcher, who set new school and conference records for rushing yards by a freshman with 1,240. 

 

SMU produced nine members on the All-Conference squads, while East Carolina, Tulsa and UTEP each had eight players earn recognition on the teams.  Three members of the SMU defense earned first team honors, as defensive lineman Adrian Haywood and Justin Rogers are joined by defensive back Joe Sturdivant.  East Carolina produced a pair of special teams standouts on first team in junior kick returner Chris Johnson and senior punter Ryan Dougherty.  Tulsa placed offensive linemen Jeff Perrett and linebacker Nelson Coleman on the first team unit.  UTEP tied for the most first team selections with five, including senior Johnnie Lee Higgins, who was tabbed a first teamer at wide receiver and at punt returner.

 

Marshall also garnered five first team choices, led by junior RB Ahmad Bradshaw, the league's leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.  The Thundering Herd had seven total selections.  Rice finished with six total choices, topped by sophomore wide receiver Jarett Dillard, the league's leading scorer with a record 20 touchdown catches.  Memphis has five players listed as all-league, including the conference's inaugural first team long snapper, Rusty Clayton.  UCF had four all-conference picks, including senior wide receiver Mike Walker, who caught a school-record 90 passes. 

 

Tulane and UAB both produced two all-Conference performers.  UAB senior defensive end Larry McSwain was named to the first team, while Tulane had a pair of third team choices in junior running back Matt Forte' and junior defensive back David Skehan.

 

C-USA will announce the media's selections for Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams Players of the Year, as well as the Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year on Wednesday.  The coaches selections for these awards will be released on Wednesday, December 6.

 

Conference USA will stage its second annual Championship Game this Friday night when Houston hosts Southern Miss (8 p.m. EST on ESPN 2). 

 

2006 C-USA FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

 

FIRST TEAM

 

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Kevin Kolb, Sr., Houston

Running Back- Ahmad Bradshaw, Jr., Marshall

Running Back- Damion Fletcher, Fr., Southern Miss

Offensive Lineman- George Batiste, Sr., Southern Miss

Offensive Lineman- Sterling Doty, Sr., Houston

Offensive Lineman- Travis Cooley, Sr., Southern Miss

Offensive Lineman- Doug Legursky, Jr., Marshall

Offensive Lineman- Jeff Perrett, Sr., Tulsa

Tight End- Cody Slate, Fr., Marshall

Wide Receiver- Jarett Dillard, So., Rice

Wide Receiver- Johnnie Lee Higgins, Sr., UTEP

Wide Receiver- Mike Walker, Sr., UCF

 

DEFENSE

Defensive Lineman- Adrian Haywood, Sr., SMU

Defensive Lineman- Albert McClellan, So., Marshall

Defensive Lineman- Larry McSwain, Sr., UAB

Defensive Lineman- Justin Rogers, Sr., SMU

Linebacker- Nelson Coleman, Jr., Tulsa

Linebacker- Troy Collavo, Sr., UTEP

Linebacker- Brian Raines, Sr., Rice

Defensive Back- Quintin Demps, Jr., UTEP

Defensive Back- Will Gulley, Sr., Houston

Defensive Back- Curtis Keyes, Sr., Marshall

Defensive Back- Joe Sturdivant, Sr., SMU

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

Placekicker- Reagan Schneider, Sr., UTEP

Punter- Ryan Dougherty, Sr., East Carolina

Kick Returner- Chris Johnson, Jr., East Carolina

Punt Returner- Johnnie Lee Higgins, Sr., UTEP

Long Snapper- Rusty Clayton, Sr., Memphis

 

 

 

SECOND TEAM

 

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Jordan Palmer, Sr., UTEP

Running Back- Anthony Alridge, Jr., Houston

Running Back- Quinton Smith, Sr., Rice

Offensive Lineman- Jeff Akeroyd, Jr., Houston

Offensive Lineman- Eric Graham, Sr., East Carolina

Offensive Lineman- Robby Heos, Jr., Rice

Offensive Lineman- Ben Poynter, Jr., SMU

Offensive Lineman- Aaron Dannenhauer, Sr., Tulsa

Tight End- Shawn Nelson, So., Southern Miss

Wide Receiver- Aundrae Allison, Sr., East Carolina

Wide Receiver- Vincent Marshall, Sr., Houston

Wide Receiver- Idris Moss, Sr., Tulsa

 

DEFENSE

Defensive Lineman- Courtney Gordon, Sr., Rice

Defensive Lineman- Robert Henderson, Jr., Southern Miss

Defensive Lineman- Phillip Hunt, So., Houston

Defensive Lineman- Cory Muse, Jr., SMU

Linebacker- Nick Bunting, Sr., Tulsa

Linebacker- Reggie Carrington, Sr., SMU

Linebacker- Matt Couch, Jr., Marshall

Defensive Back- Bobby Blackshire, Sr., Tulsa

Defensive Back- Andray Downs, Sr., Rice

Defensive Back- Brandon McDonald, Sr., Memphis

Defensive Back- Pierre Parker, Sr., East Carolina

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

Placekicker- Ben Bell, So., Houston

Punter- Michael Gibson, Sr., Memphis

Kick Returner- Jessie Henderson, So., SMU

Punt Returner- Joe Burnett, So., UCF

Long Snapper- Aaron King, Sr., UTEP