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C-USA Announces Football All-Conference Teams
Dec. 6, 2011
Conference USA announced its 2011 All-Conference football teams today, as selected by the league's 12 head football coaches. All 12 schools were represented with at least two overall selections and 10 placed at least one player on first team. West Division champion Houston produced the most total selections with 12 and the Cougars, along with SMU, had the most first team choices with six. Bowl-bound teams Tulsa and Southern Miss ranked second and third in total selections with the Golden Hurricane producing nine and the Golden Eagles placing eight. The Cougars' first team selections include five on its nation-leading offense. Record-setting quarterback Case Keenum (383-of-534 for 5,099 yards and 45 TD passes) is joined by running back Charles Sims (team-high 782 rushing yards, 545 receiving yards and 13 total touchdowns), wide receiver Patrick Edwards (79 catches for 1,524 yards and a nation-leading 18 receiving touchdowns), tight end Justin Johnson (75 receptions for 1,081 yards) and offensive lineman Chris Thompson in earning first team honors. Linebacker Sammy Brown (88 tackles, nation-leading 28 TFL's and 12.5 sacks) represents UH on the first team defense. SMU has four first-teamers from its offense and two from its defense. Junior RB Zach Line earned a place after leading the league in rushing for the second straight season (1,224 yards) and scoring a league-best 17 touchdowns in just 10 games before suffering a season-ending injury. Senior OL Kelvin Beachum, who helped pave the way for Line to gain those yards, was listed along with a pair of wide receivers in senior Cole Beasley (79 catches for 954 yards, a league-high 7.2 receptions per game) and junior Darius Johnson (72 receptions for 998 yards and seven TDs). Tulsa's first team all-league choices include one each on offense, two on defense and one on special teams. A quartet of seniors represent the Golden Hurricane, including OL Clint Anderson, DL Tyrunn Walker (8 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss), LB Curnelius Arnick (second in C-USA with 142 tackles) and K Kevin Fitzpatrick (15-of-17 field goals, 93 points). Southern Miss also had one offensive, two defensive and one special teams selection. Senior OL Lamar Holmes is joined by senior DL Cordarro Law (the nation's active leader in career tackles for loss and has 17.5 TFL's this season), senior DB Marquese Wheaton (55 tackles, three interceptions, one INT return for a touchdown and two fumbles returned for TDs) and senior PR Tracy Lampley (12.1 yards per return and one return for a touchdown). Marshall and UCF each had a pair of first team choices. The Thundering Herd is represented by senior DL Vinny Curry (11 sacks, second in the nation with 21 tackles for loss, 72 total tackles, league-high six forced fumbles) and senior DB Omar Brown (107 tackles, four interceptions, three forced fumbles). The Knights list junior DB Josh Robinson (48 tackles, league-high 17 pass breakups, two interceptions, one INT return for a TD) on first team and KR Rannell Hall (league-high 31.0 yards per return), the lone freshman among the first teamers. UAB senior OL Matt McCants, Tulane junior LB Trent Mackey, Rice senior P Kyle Martens and UTEP LS Matt Camilli round out the first team selections. The league's individual awards will be released on Wednesday, December 7. Conference USA will conclude the 2011 season by sending five teams to bowl games, including two teams that are ranked in the top 20. 2011 C-USA FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS FIRST TEAM
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