Conference USA announced its 2004 All-Freshman football team today, as selected by the league’s 11 head football coaches and media members in each conference city. Each school was represented with at least one selection, while East Carolina and Houston placed a league-high four players on the squad.

Headlining East Carolina’s selections is Chris Johnson, who earned a spot on the team as both a running back and a kick returner. Johnson led the Pirates in rushing yards (561) and rushing touchdowns (5), while also catching 32 passes, including a pair of scoring strikes. As a kick returner, Johnson had 37 returns for 765 yards, a 20.7 average. ECU also placed punt returner Travis Williams, who led the league with a 17.7 yard average, on the unit.

Among Houston’s four choices is defensive back Rocky Schwartz, who led all C-USA freshmen tacklers with 74. He added five tackles for loss, intercepted three passes and had six pass break-ups. The Cougars also produced two of the four offensive linemen on the squad, with Byron Alfred and SirVincent Rogers garnering recognition to the team.

Tulane and USF were next in line with three All-Freshman selections. Topping the Green Wave’s choices were defensive end Antonio Harris and running back Matt Forte. Harris registered 35 tackles, including seven for losses, and had three sacks, while Forte led all C-USA freshmen in rushing, picking up 624 yards to finish the regular season ranked 10th in the league. Included was a 216-yard, four touchdown effort in a win over Army.

The USF trio was led by safety Danny Verpaele, who made seven starts and closed the year third on the squad with 55 tackles. He added five tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. The Bulls also placed wide receiver Johnny Peyton on the team after he caught 22 passes for a team-high 469 yards and two touchdowns.

Four schools, Army, Cincinnati, Louisville and Southern Miss, produced a pair of All-Freshman selections. Army defensive back Caleb Campbell racked up 54 tackles, including 35 solo stops, while UC tight end Doug Jones finished third on the team in receptions (21), while catching four touchdowns. Louisville was led by part-time quarterback Brian Brohm and kicker Arthur Carmody, who broke the all-time NCAA record for consecutive PATs made with 72, while Southern Miss placed offensive lineman Chris Clark and defensive lineman Martavious Prince on the squad.

Memphis (LB Greg Hinds), TCU (DL Tommy Blake) and UAB (DB Durrell Fuqua) each had one representative.

Conference USA will announce its Freshman of the Year on Wednesday, December 8.

2004 C-USA FOOTBALL ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

OFFENSE
Quarterback – Brian Brohm, Louisville
Running Back- Matt Forte, Tulane
Running Back - Chris Johnson, East Carolina
Offensive Lineman- Byron Alfred, Houston
Offensive Lineman- SirVincent Rogers, Houston
Offensive Lineman- Chris Clark, Southern Miss
Offensive Lineman- Aryan Barto, Tulane
Tight End- Doug Jones, Cincinnati
Wide Receiver- Jeremy Trimble, Army
Wide Receiver- Donnie Avery, Houston
Wide Receiver- Johnny Peyton, USF

DEFENSE
Defensive Lineman- Anthony Hoke, Cincinnati
Defensive Lineman- Martavious Prince, Southern Miss
Defensive Lineman- Tommy Blake, TCU
Defensive Lineman- Antonio Harris, Tulane
Linebacker- Durwin Lamb, East Carolina
Linebacker- Greg Hinds, Memphis
Linebacker- Ben Moffit, USF
Defensive Back- Caleb Campbell, Army
Defensive Back- Rocky Schwartz, Houston
Defensive Back- Danny Verpaele, USF
Defensive Back- Durrell Fuqua, UAB

SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker- Arthur Carmody, Louisville
Kick Returner- Chris Johnson, East Carolina
Punt Returner- Travis Williams, East Carolina