Dec. 4, 2007

Conference USA announced its 2007 Coaches All-Conference football teams today, as selected by the league's 12 head football coaches. Each school was once represented with at least one first team selection, with Southern Miss producing a league-high 10 total selections, followed by C-USA Champion UCF with nine players on the squad and Houston with seven.

Southern Miss produced a pair of first team defensive lineman in seniors Matthew Chatelain and Martavius Prince. That duo was joined on the first team defense by LB Gerald McRath and DB Brandon Sumrall. Offensive lineman Chris Clark and tight end Shawn Nelson round out the Golden Eagles league-best six first team honorees.

Headlining UCF's all-conference players is junior RB Kevin Smith. Smith leads the country in rushing with an incredible 188.1 yards-per-game average. He set a new all-time NCAA FBS record for rushing attempts with 415 and enters the AutoZone Liberty Bowl with 2,448 yards, second in FBS history and 181 yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders all-time mark. He is joined on the first team by Knights DL Leger Douzable, DB Joe Burnett (who was also chosen as the first-team punt returner) and long snapper Michael Buscemi.

Houston nabbed seven selections, including three first-teamers. Cougar senior OL Jeff Akeroyd garnered first-team honors, as well as WR Donnie Avery and DL Phillip Hunt. Running back Anthony Alridge headlined UH's four second team choices.

West Division champion Tulsa, East Carolina and UTEP each had six players earn all-conference recognition. Golden Hurricane senior QB Paul Smith was named to the first team after a record-setting senior season. The Oklahoma native has thrown for over 300 yards in all 13 TU games this season and 14 times in his career. Additionally, he has thrown for three or more TDs in 10 games this year and 14 times in his career. Smith leads the nation and C-USA in points responsible for and set the C-USA single season record for total offense and passing yards. Fellow seniors Chris Chamberlain and Nelson Coleman filled two of the three first team linebacker spots.

East Carolina placed senior Chris Johnson on the first team as a kick returner and the second team as a running back. Two Pirate defensive linemen, Zack Slate and C.J. Wilson, earned second team honors.

UTEP WR Jeff Moturi was chosen as one of the three first-team wide receivers, while teammate Quintin Demps was one of the first team defensive back choices. O'Neill Cousins was a first team offensive linemen and Jose Martinez was the first team kicker, giving the Miners the second-most selections on the first team with four.

Rice had four overall selections, followed by Marshall and Memphis with three. Rice was led by first-team selection WR Jarett Dillard. Dillard became the eighth receiver in NCAA history to reach 40 career TD catches and has scored a touchdown in 17 of his last 18 conference games and in 23 of the last 27 overall. Marshall and Memphis each had a first team offensive lineman with Doug Legursky representing the Thundering Herd and Andy Smith on the list for the Tigers.

Tulane RB Matt Forté, the nation's second-leading rusher at 177.3 ypg., was a first-team selection, while UAB senior DB Will Dunbar represented the Blazers on the first-team defense. SMU was represented by first team punter Thomas Morstead.

The coaches individual awards will be released on Wednesday. Conference USA will conclude the 2007 season by sending six teams to bowl games for the second time in three seasons.

2007 C-USA FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Paul Smith, Sr., Tulsa
Running Back- Matt Forte', Sr., Tulane
Running Back- Kevin Smith, Jr., UCF
Offensive Lineman- Jeff Akeroyd, Sr., Houston
Offensive Lineman- Chris Clark, Sr., Southern Miss
Offensive Linemen- Oniel Cousins, Sr., UTEP
Offensive Lineman- Doug Legursky, Sr., Marshall
Offensive Lineman- Andy Smith, Sr., Memphis
Tight End- Shawn Nelson, Jr., Southern Miss
Wide Receiver- Donnie Avery, Sr., Houston
Wide Receiver- Jarett Dillard, Jr., Rice
Wide Receiver- Jeff Moturi, So., UTEP

DEFENSE

Defensive Lineman- Matthew Chatelain, Sr., Southern Miss
Defensive Lineman- Leger Douzable, Sr., UCF
Defensive Lineman- Phillip Hunt, Jr., Houston
Defensive Lineman- Martavius Prince., Sr., Southern Miss
Linebacker- Chris Chamberlain, Sr., Tulsa
Linebacker- Nelson Coleman, Sr., Tulsa
Linebacker- Gerald McRath, So., Southern Miss
Defensive Back- Joe Burnett, Jr., UCF
Defensive Back- Quintin Demps, Sr., UTEP
Defensive Back- Will Dunbar, Sr., UAB
Defensive Back- Brandon Sumrall, Sr., Southern Miss

SPECIAL TEAMS

Placekicker- Jose Martinez, Jr., UTEP
Punter- Thomas Morstead, Jr., SMU
Kick Returner- Chris Johnson, Sr., East Carolina
Punt Returner- Joe Burnett, Jr., UCF
Long Snapper- Michael Buscemi, Sr., UCF

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Chase Clement, Jr., Rice
Running Back- Chris Johnson, Sr., East Carolina
Running Back- Anthony Alridge, Sr., Houston
Running Back- Damion Fletcher, So., Southern Miss
Offensive Lineman- Josh Coffman, Sr., East Carolina
Offensive Lineman- Nick Dean, Sr., Southern Miss
Offensive Lineman- Robby Heos, Sr., Rice
Offensive Lineman- Ryan McKee, Jr., Southern Miss
Offensive Lineman- Josh Sitton., Sr., UCF
Offensive Lineman- Kyle Smith, Sr., UCF
Tight End- Cody Slate, So., Marshall
Wide Receiver- Duke Calhoun, So., Memphis
Wide Receiver- Trae Johnson, Fr., Tulsa
Wide Receiver- Brennan Marion, Jr., Tulsa

DEFENSE

Defensive Lineman- Moton Hopkins, Jr., Tulsa
Defensive Lineman- Keith Shologan, Sr., UCF
Defensive Lineman- Zack Slate, Jr., East Carolina
Defensive Lineman- C.J. Wilson, So., East Carolina
Linebacker- Jeremy Jones, Sr., UTEP
Linebacker- Jake Kasser, Sr., Memphis
Linebacker- Brian Raines, Jr., Rice
Defensive Back- Kenneth Fontennette, Jr., Houston
Defensive Back- Sha'Reff Rashad, Sr., UCF
Defensive Back- Van Eskridge, So., East Carolina
Defensive Back- C.J. Spillman, Jr., Marshall

SPECIAL TEAMS

Placekicker- Swayze Waters, Jr., UAB
Punter- Britt Barefoot., So., Southern Miss
Kick Returner- Donnie Avery, Sr., Houston
Punt Returner- Quintin Demps, Sr., UTEP
Long Snapper- Norby Juist., Jr., Houston

HONORABLE MENTION

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Case Keenum, Fr., Houston
Quarterback - Bernard Morris, Sr., Marshall
Quarterback - Martin Hankins, Sr., Memphis
Quarterback - Justin Willis, So., SMU
Quarterback - Jeremy Young, Sr., Southern Miss
Quarterback - Trevor Vittatoe, Fr., UTEP
Running Back- Jay Sonnhalter, Sr., East Carolina
Running Back- Tarrion Adams, Jr., Tulsa
Running Back- Charles Clay, Fr., Tulsa
Running Back- Marcus Thomas, Sr., UTEP
Offensive Lineman- Matt Butler, So., East Carolina
Offensive Lineman- Doug Palmer, So., East Carolina
Offensive Lineman- Carl Barnett, So., Houston
Offensive Lineman- Michael Bloesch, Jr., Houston
Offensive Lineman- Dustin Dickinson, Sr., Houston
Offensive Lineman- Sebastian Vollmer, Jr., Houston
Offensive Lineman- Brandon Pearce, Jr., Memphis
Offensive Lineman- David Berken, Jr., Rice
Offensive Lineman- Caleb Peveto, Sr., SMU
Offensive Lineman- Calvin Wilson, Jr., Southern Miss
Offensive Lineman- Aryan Barto, Sr., Tulane
Offensive Lineman- Troy Kropog, Jr., Tulane
Offensive Lineman- Michael Parenton, Jr., Tulane
Offensive Lineman- Justin Morsey, Jr., Tulsa
Offensive Lineman- Rodrick Thomas, Jr., Tulsa
Offensive Lineman- Jake Seitz, So., UAB
Offensive Lineman- Adam Truitt, Sr., UAB
Offensive Lineman- Pat Brown, Jr., UCF
Offensive Lineman- Mike Aguayo, So., UTEP
Offensive Lineman- Robby Felix, Jr., UTEP
Tight End- Davon Drew, Jr., East Carolina
Tight End- Mark Hafner, Jr., Houston
Tight End- Brett Russell, Jr., Memphis
Tight End- David Sigler, Sr., UAB
Tight End- Michael Merritt, Sr., UCF
Tight End- Jake Sears, Sr., UTEP
Wide Receiver- Jamar Bryant, So., East Carolina
Wide Receiver- Jeron Harvey, Sr., Houston
Wide Receiver- Maurice Jones, Jr., Memphis
Wide Receiver- Carlos Singleton, So., Memphis
Wide Receiver- Earnest Williams, Jr., Memphis
Wide Receiver- James Casey, Fr., Rice
Wide Receiver- Emmanuel Sanders, So., SMU
Wide Receiver- Zack Sledge, Sr. SMU
Wide Receiver- Torris Magee, Fr., Southern Miss
Wide Receiver- Frantrell Forrest, Fr., UAB
Wide Receiver- Joseph Webb, So., UAB
Wide Receiver- Lorne Sam, Sr., UTEP
Wide Receiver- Joe West, Sr., UTEP

DEFENSE

Defensive Lineman- Khalif Mitchell, Jr., East Carolina
Defensive Lineman- Jay Ross, So., East Carolina
Defensive Lineman- Ell Ash, Jr., Houston
Defensive Lineman- Byron Tinker, Sr., Marshall
Defensive Lineman- Clinton McDonald, Jr., Memphis
Defensive Lineman- Robert Henderson, Sr., Southern Miss
Defensive Lineman- Antonio Harris, Sr., Tulane
Defensive Lineman- Reggie Scott, Jr., Tulane
Defensive Lineman- Avery Williams, Sr., Tulane
Defensive Lineman- Brandon Jones, Sr., Tulsa
Defensive Lineman- Bruce Miller, So., UCF
Linebacker- Pierre Bell, Jr., East Carolina
Linebacker- Fred Wilson, Sr., East Carolina
Linebacker- Trent Allen, Sr., Houston
Linebacker- Brendan Pahulu, Sr., Houston
Linebacker- Byron Kitchens, Jr., Marshall
Linebacker- Evan Lee, Jr., Tulane
Linebacker- Alain Karatepeyan, Sr., Tulsa
Linebacker- Joe Henderson, Jr., UAB
Linebacker- Adam Vincent, Jr., UTEP
Defensive Back- Travis Williams, Sr., East Carolina
Defensive Back- Rocky Schwartz, Sr., Houston
Defensive Back- LaKeitharun Ford, Sr., Memphis
Defensive Back- Gary Anderson, Sr., Rice
Defensive Back- Brandon King, Jr., Rice
Defensive Back- Andrew Sendejo, So., Rice
Defensive Back- David Skehan, Sr., Tulane
Defensive Back- Steve Craver, Sr., Tulsa
Defensive Back- Defensive Back- Charles Davis, So., Tulsa
Defensive Back- Anthony Germany, Sr., Tulsa
Defensive Back- Roy Roberts, Jr., Tulsa
Defensive Back- Kevin Sanders, Jr., UAB
Defensive Back- Jason Venson, Sr., UCF
Defensive Back- Braxton Amy, So., UTEP
Defensive Back- Cornelius Brown, So., UTEP
Defensive Back- Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, So., UTEP

SPECIAL TEAMS

Placekicker- T.J. Lawrence, Sr., Houston
Placekicker- Justin Estes, Fr., Southern Miss
Placekicker- Michael Torres, Sr., UCF
Punter- Chase Turner, Jr., Houston
Punter - Swayze Waters, Jr., UAB
Kick Returner- Michael Grandberry, Jr., Memphis
Kick Returner- Jessie Henderson, Jr., SMU
Kick Returner- Ade Tuyo, Sr., Tulane
Kick Returner- Roy Roberts, Jr., Tulsa
Kick Returner- Curtis Francis, Sr., UCF
Kick Returner- Fred Rouse, So., UTEP
Punt Returner- Emmanuel Spann, Jr., Marshall
Punt Returner- Earnest Williams, Jr., Memphis
Long Snapper- Wilson Raynor, Jr., East Carolina
Long Snapper- Craig Gelhardt, Jr., Tulane
Long Snapper- John Warren, Jr., Tulsa
Long Snapper- Jeff Hamby, Jr., UAB