The Sporting News Honors 14 C-USA Football Players

CHICAGO ? A total of 14 Conference USA football players were named to the 2001 Sporting News All-American and Freshman All-American teams, the publication announced on Monday. Six Conference USA players were named to one of four All-American teams, while eight other players earned Freshman All-American honors.

Three players were named to All-American Third Team: Louisville senior wide receiver Deion Branch, East Carolina senior RB Leonard Henry, Louisville sophomore defensive end Dewayne White. Branch posted his second straight 1,000-yard season, Henry set a new Conference USA record with 1,432 rushing yards and White was named as the league?s Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 15 sacks and setting a school record with 24 tackles for loss.

Tulane junior kicker Seth Marler is joined by a pair of linebackers, Rod Davis of Southern Miss and Pernell Griffin of East Carolina, on the All-American fourth team. Marler won the Lou Groza Award after hitting 15-of-16 field goals and 39-of-40 extra points for the Green Wave. Davis led USM with 92 tackles and 10 sacks, to go along with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Griffin set the C-USA all-time record for tackles, finishing with 153 this season, in addition to eight sacks and six pass breakups.

Conference USA had a pair of first team Freshman All-American selections in Tulane tight end Bobby Hoover and Louisville defensive lineman Bobby Leffew. Defensive backs Doug Monaghan (Cincinnati) and Marvin Godbolt (TCU) were named to the second team, while Southern Miss defensive lineman Skylor Magee, Houston defensive back Jermain Woodard and Memphis punter James Gaither all earned spots on the third team. Cincinnati quarterback Gino Guidugli, C-USA?s Freshman of the Year, rounded out the league?s selection with his spot on the All-American fourth team.


TSN ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS

FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
WR Jabar Gaffney, 6-1, 191, So., Florida
WR Josh Reed, 5-11, 200, Jr., LSU
TE Daniel Graham, 6-3, 245, Sr., Colorado
C LeCharles Bentley, 6-2, 290, Sr., Ohio State
G Andre Gurode, 6-4, 320, Sr., Colorado
G Toniu Fonoti, 6-4,335, Sr., Nebraska
T Mike Pearson, 6-7, 291, Jr., Florida
T Bryant McKinnie, 6-9, 330, Sr., Miami (Fla.)
QB Eric Crouch, 6-1, 200, Sr., Nebraska
RB William Green, 6-1, 215, Jr., Boston College
RB Luke Staley, 6-1, 218, Jr., BYU

DEFENSE
E Julius Peppers, 6-6, 270, Jr., North Carolina
T John Henderson, 6-7, 290, Sr., Tennessee
E Dwight Freeney, 6-1, 250, Sr., Syracuse
LB Rocky Calmus, 6-2, 234, Sr., Oklahoma
LB Kalimba Edwards, 6-6, 262, Sr., South Carolina
LB Robert Thomas, 6-2, 237, Sr., UCLA
LB E.J. Henderson, 6-2, 238, Jr., Maryland
CB Keyuo Craver, 5-10, 190, Sr., Nebraska
CB Quentin Jammer, 6-1, 198, Sr., Texas
SS Roy Williams, 6-0, 221, Jr., Oklahoma
FS Ed Reed, 6-0, 190, Sr., Miami (Fla.)

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Travis Dorsch, 6-6, 211, Sr., Purdue
P Jeff Ferguson, 5-10, 190, Sr., Oklahoma
KR Roman Hollowell, Colorado, 5-6, 160, Sr., Colorado


SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Lee Evans, 5-11, 190, Jr., Wisconsin
WR Marquise Walker, 6-3, 212, Sr., Michigan
TE Trent Smith, 6-5, 229, Jr., Oklahoma
C Seth McKinney, 6-3, 302, Sr., Texas A&M
G Fred Weary, 6-4, 301, Sr., Tennessee
G Eric Heitmann, 6-4, 295, Sr., Stanford
T Mike Williams, 6-6, 339, Sr., Texas
T Joaquin Gonzalez, 6-5, 290, Sr., Miami (Fla.)
QB Joey Harrington, 6-4, 220, Sr., Oregon
RB DeShaun Foster, 6-1, 215, Sr., UCLA
RB Travis Stephens, 5-9, 190, Sr., Tennessee

DEFENSE
E Alex Brown, 6-4, 262, Sr., Florida
T Alan Harper, 6-2, 267, Sr., Fresno State
T Wendell Bryant, 6-4, 293, Sr., Wisconsin
E Greg Gathers, 6-1, 260, Jr., Georgia Tech
LB Andra Davis, 6-1, 250, Sr., Florida
LB Larry Foote, 6-1, 228, Sr., Michigan
LB D.D. Lewis, 6-1, 245, Sr., Texas
CB Dennis Weathersby, 6-1, 203, Jr., Oregon State
CB Lito Sheppard, 5-10, 189, Jr., Florida
SS Mike Doss, 5-11, 197, Jr., Ohio State
FS Lamont Thompson, 6-2, 213, Sr., Washington State

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Todd Sievers, 6-3, 215, Jr., Miami (Fla.)
P Travis Dorsch, 6-6, 211, Sr., Purdue
KR Herb Haygood, 6-0, 191, Sr., Michigan State


THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Deion Branch, 5-10, 195, Sr., Louisville
WR Ashley Lelie, 6-3, 178, Jr., Hawaii
TE Tracey Wistrom, 6-5, 230, Sr., Nebraska
C Kyle Young, 6-3, 280, Sr., Clemson
G Michael Collins, 6-6, 292, Sr., Wake Forest
G Jonathan Goodwin, 6-4, 294, Sr., Michigan
T Doug Kaufusi, 6-6, 308, Sr., Utah
T Terrence Metcalf, 6-3, 315, Sr., Mississippi
QB Rex Grossman, 6-1, 216, So., Florida
RB Levron Williams, 6-3, 222, Sr., Indiana
RB Leonard Henry, 6-1, 200, Sr., East Carolina

DEFENSE
E Kenyon Coleman, 6-6, 276, Sr., UCLA
T Larry Tripplett, 6-1, 300, Sr., Washington
T David Pugh, 6-3, 271, Sr., Virginia Tech
E Dewayne White, 6-2, 270, So., Louisville
LB Levar Fisher, 6-1, 230, Sr., N.C. State
LB Josh Thornhill, 6-2, 234, Sr., Michigan State
LB Ben Taylor, 6-2, 226, Sr., Virginia Tech
CB Eugene Wilson, 5-11, 183, Jr., Illinois
CB Sheldon Brown, 5-10, 192, Sr., South Carolina
S Troy Polamalu, 5-10, 210, Jr., USC
S Michael Lewis, 6-1, 210, Sr., Colorado

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Asen Asparuhov, 6-5, 215, Jr., Fresno State
P Dave Zastudil, 6-4, 219, Sr., Ohio
KR Nathan Vasher, 5-11, 170, So., Texas


FOURTH TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Rodney Wright, 5-9, 175, Sr., Fresno State
WR Darius Watts, 6-2, 175, So., Marshall
TE Jeremy Shockey, 6-6, 236, Jr., Miami (Fla.)
C Melvin Fowler, 6-3, 295, Sr., Maryland
G David Moreno, 6-2, 290, Sr., San Diego State
G Zac Zedalis, 6-3, 280, Sr., Florida
T Jim Adams, 6-4, 295, Oregon
T Brett Williams, 6-6, 317, Jr., Florida State
QB Ken Dorsey, 6-5, 210, Jr., Miami (Fla.)
RB Larry Ned, 5-11, 215, Sr., San Diego State
RB Chester Taylor, 5-10, 205, Toledo

DEFENSE
E Ryan Denney, 6-7, 275, Sr., BYU
T Brandon Hicks, 6-2, 260, Sr., Bowling Green
E Dennis Johnson, 6-7, 259, Jr., Kentucky
LB Rod Davis, 6-3, 238, So., Southern Miss
LB Pernell Griffin, 6-1, 253, Sr., East Carolina
LB Trev Faulk, 6-3, 225, Jr., LSU
LB Bradley Jennings, 6-3, 230, Sr., Florida State
CB Sammy Davis, 6-0, 180, Jr., Texas A&M
CB Kevin Thomas, 5-11, 180, Sr., UNLV
S Stuart Schweigert, 6-3, 210, So., Purdue
S Marques Anderson, 6-0, 201, Sr., UCLA

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Seth Marler, 6-0, 178, Jr., Tulane
P Freddie Capshaw, 5-11, 190, Jr., Miami (Fla.)
KR Bernard Berrian, 6-2, 190, Jr., Fresno State


TSN FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS
* denotes redshirt freshman; otherwise true freshman

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Kelley Washington, 6-4, 225, Tennessee
WR Reggie Williams, 6-4, 215, Washington
TE Bobby Hoover, 6-4, 240, Tulane
OL (T) Nat Dorsey, 6-6, 325, Georgia Tech
OL (T) Shawn Andrews, 6-6, 330, Arkansas
OL (G) Doug Buckles, 6-5, 290, Mississippi*
OL (G/T) Wes Sims, 6-5, 300, Oklahoma*
OL (T) Logan Mankins, 6-4, 290, Fresno State*
QB Chris Rix, 6-4, 205, Florida State*
RB Anthony Davis, 5-8, 185, Wisconsin*
RB Cedric Benson, 6-0, 200, Texas

DEFENSE
DL (E) Travis Johnson, 6-5, 282, Florida State*
DL (T) Tommie Harris, 6-3, 275, Oklahoma
DL (T) Shaun Cody, 6-5, 255, USC
DL (T) Bobby Leffew, 6-4, 270, Louisville*
LB Derrick Johnson, 6-4, 215, Texas
LB Bradley Vance, 6-1, 211, Minnesota
LB Robert Rodriguez, 6-1, 230, UTEP*
DB (CB) Matt Ware, 6-3, 195, UCLA
DB (CB) Marlin Jackson, 6-1, 182, Michigan
DB (SS) Mitch Meeuwsen, 6-3, 208, Oregon State*
DB (FS) Jason Shivers, 6-1, 190, Arizona State

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Justin Ayat, 6-0, 198, Hawaii*
P Tony Yelk, 6-0, 201, Iowa State*
KR Charles Frederick, 6-0, 190, Washington


SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Derrick Hamilton, 6-4, 190, Clemson*
WR Fred Gibson, 6-4, 180, Georgia
TE Tory Humphrey, 6-3, 230, Central Michigan
OL (G) Eyoseph Efseaff, 6-3, 295, UCLA*
OL (T) Rob Petitti, 6-6, 330, Pittsburgh*
OL (G) Patrick Babcock, 6-6, 295, Illinois*
OL (G) William Whitticker, 6-6, 299, Michigan State*
OL (C) Ben Wilkerson, 6-4, 275, LSU
QB David Greene, 6-3, 222, Georgia*
RB Carnell Williams, 5-11, 193, Auburn
RB Kevin Jones, 6-1, 205, Virginia Tech

DEFENSE
DL (E) Brandon Kania, 6-3, 230, Idaho
DL (T) Donnell Washington, 6-6, 320, Clemson*
DL (T) Brandon Dabdoub, 6-1, 295, Colorado*
DL (E) Kenechi Udeze, 6-3, 295, USC*
LB Mayo Sowell,, 6-2, 220, Auburn*
LB Barrett Ruud, 6-2, 220, Nebraska
LB Ronald Stanley, 6-2, 210, Michigan State
DB (CB) Antonio Perkins, 6-0, 175, Oklahoma*
DB (CB) Carlos Rogers, 6-1, 167, Auburn
DB (SS) Marvin Godbolt, 5-11, 195, TCU*
DB (SS) Doug Monaghan, 6-3, 200, Cincinnati

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Nick Novak, 6-0, 186, Maryland*
P Derek McLaughlin, 6-2, 190, Washington
KR Alvin Pearman, 5-10, 192, Virginia


THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Josh Davis, 6-1, 195, Marshall*
WR Michael Clayton, 6-4, 185, LSU
TE Ben Hall, 6-5, 240, Clemson
OL (T) Nick Kaczur, 6-6, 300, Toledo
OL (T) Calvin Armstrong, 6-8, 298, Washington State*
OL (G) Justin Smiley, 6-3, 292, Alabama*
OL (T) C.J. Brooks, 6-5, 304, Maryland*
OL (C) Vince Carter, 6-3, 265, Oklahoma
QB Ben Roethlisberger, 6-5, 209, Miami (Ohio)*
RB Marion Barber, 5-11. 195, Minnesota
RB Chance Kretschmer, 6-2, 220, Nevada*

DEFENSE
DL (E) Alfred Peterson, 6-3, 245, Rutgers
DL (E) Rashad Jeanty, 6-3, 230, Central Florida
DL (T) Skylor Magee, 6-1, 270, Southern Miss*
LB Anthony Schlegel, 6-2, 220, Air Force
LB Justin Beriault, 6-3, 190, Ball State*
LB Matt Grootegoed, 5-11, 205, USC*
LB Nick Speegle, 6-5, 235, New Mexico*
DB (CB) Marcus McGruder, 5-9, 180, Wake Forest*
DB (CB) Ahmad Carroll, 5-11, 190, Arkansas
DB (SS) Matt Pusateri, 5-11, 195, Miami (Ohio)*
DB (FS) Jermain Woodard, 5-11, 195, Houston*

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Xavier Beitia, 5-10, 180, Florida State
P James Gaither, 6-4, 220, Memphis
KR Jahmal Fenner, 5-9, 175, UTEP


FOURTH TEAM

OFFENSE
WR Terrence Murphy, 6-1, 190, Texas A&M
WR Taylor Stubblefield, 6-1, 166, Purdue*
TE Chris Holmes, 6-5, 259, Toledo*
OL (T) Uriah Moenoa, 6-4, 331, Hawaii*
OL (T) Wesley Britt, 6-8, 304, Alabama*
OL (G) Dan Buenning, 6-4, 299, Wisconsin*
OL (G) Marcus Johnson, 6-6, 320, Mississippi*
OL (G) Chris Snee, 6-2, 300, Boston College*
QB Gino Guidugli, 6-4, 205, Cincinnati
RB Alex Haynes, 5-11, 220, Central Florida*
RB Frank Gore, 5-10, 190, Miami (Fla.)

DEFENSE
DL (T) David Pollack, 6-2, 260, Georgia
DL (T) Randy Starks, 6-5, 290, Maryland
DL (T) Thomas Derricks, 6-1, 295, Northwestern
DL (T) Lorenzo Alexander, 6-3, 280, California
LB James King, 6-1, 195, Central Michigan*
LB Jim Scharrer, 6-3, 233, Duke
LB Kirk Morrison, 6-0, 230, San Diego State*
DB (CB) Lornell McPherson, 5-9, 175, Nebraska*
DB (CB) DeAngelo Hall, 6-0, 190, Virginia Tech
DB (S) Jonas Buckles, 5-11, 213, North Texas*
DB (S) Dustin Fox, 6-0, 190, Ohio State

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Johnny Beck, 6-1, 200, Kansas
P Jared Cook, 5-10, 185, Mississippi State*
KR Dominique Dorsey, 5-8, 165, UNLV