12.3.2003 C-USA Football All-Conference Teams
Rod Davis |
Conference USA announced its 2003 All-Conference football teams today, as selected by the league?s 11 head coaches and media members in each conference city. C-USA concludes its eighth regular season this weekend when Army faces Navy at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon.
Regular season champion Southern Miss placed a league-high 15 players on the all-conference teams, with eight first team selections. Eight members of the Golden Eagles nationally-ranked defense (including five first team choices) dot the list, led by linebackers Michael Boley and Rod Davis. Boley is third in C-USA in tackles with 138, while Davis is fourth with 137. Boley is tied for the league-high in tackles for loss with 22 and is second in sacks with 10, while Davis has 17 TFL?s. With 499 career tackles, Davis has become the conference?s all-time leading tackler. USM also produced the first team kick returner and punt returner in John Eubanks and Marvin Young, respectively.
Runner-up TCU produced 11 all-league selections with four players earning a spot on the first team. All-American kicker Nick Browne and DE Bo Schobel headline the Horned Frogs selections. Browne, who is also an academic All-American, has set a new Conference USA single-season record with 27 field goals and has scored 115 points, just one shy of that league mark. Schobel is tied for third in the nation in sacks this season, setting a new school record with 14.
Louisville and Memphis will each go into postseason play armed with eight all-league choices. Stefan LeFors becomes the third straight Cardinal quarterback to earn first team honors, following Dave Ragone and Chris Redman. In his first year as the U of L signal-caller, LeFors completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,921 yards and 15 TDs. One of his favorite targets, J.R. Russell, is listed on the first team after catching 68 passes for 1.069 yards and five scores. Louisville TE Ronnie Ghent became the first player in league history to earn first team all-conference honors in four straight seasons. The Tigers resurgence has been led by sophomore RB DeAngelo Williams, the league?s leading rusher. Williams set new school and conference records by rushing for more than 100 yards in 10 consecutive games, finishing the regular season with 1,430 yards, while scoring 10 touchdowns. Defensive end Eric Taylor, who produced 76 tackles and 5.5 sacks, is one of five Memphis defensive players that earned all-league accolades.
Houston and Tulane both have seven All-Conference choices on their rosters. Center Rex Hadnot and wide receiver Brandon Middleton represent the Cougars? first team choices. Hadnot was the key blocker for true freshman QB Kevin Kolb and 1,000-yard rusher Anthony Evans, both third team choices. Middleton set a C-USA single-season record for receiving yardage with 1,225 and scored a league-high 14 touchdowns. First team Green Wave RB Mewelde Moore had his season cut short by three games, but still ran for 915 yards and scored nine TDs. He closes his collegiate career with 23 Tulane records and seven Conference USA marks. Green Wave wideout Roydell Williams, who caught 66 passes for 1,009 yards and nine touchdowns, was named to the first team, while senior QB J.P. Losman, who is tied for fourth in the nation with 33 TD passes, earned a spot on the second team.
Cincinnati, East Carolina and USF all produced six all-league picks. First team defensive end Trent Cole (75 tackles, 17 TFLs and 5.5 sacks) tops the Bearcats selections. ECU offensive lineman Brian Rimpf was chosen to the first team for the third straight season, while Pirate punter Ryan Dougherty was the only freshman to earn first team honors. USF senior J.R. Reed earned first team all-conference accolades at safety and second team honors as a kick returner.
UAB had three all-league selections, while Army had two. Blazer junior linebacker Zac Woodfin was named to the first team after breaking his won school record for tackles with 149. Army wide receivers Aaron Alexander and William White both grabbed third team honors.
Conference USA will announce its Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams Players of the Year, as well as the Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year on Thursday, December 4.
2003 C-USA FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback ? Stephan LeFors, Jr., Louisville
Running Back- Mewelde Moore, Sr., Tulane
Running Back- DeAngelo Williams, So., Memphis
Offensive Lineman- Anthony Alabi, Jr., TCU
Offensive Lineman- Rex Hadnot, Sr., Houston
Offensive Lineman- Jeremy Parquet, Sr., Southern Miss
Offensive Lineman- Brian Rimpf, Sr., East Carolina
Offensive Lineman- Kyle Takavitz, Jr., Cincinnati
Tight End- Ronnie Ghent, Sr., Louisville
Wide Receiver- Brandon Middleton, Sr., Houston
Wide Receiver- J.R. Russell, Jr., Louisville
Wide Receiver- Roydell Williams, Jr., Tulane
DEFENSE
Defensive Lineman- Trent Cole, Jr., Cincinnati
Defensive Lineman- Terrell Paul, Sr., Southern Miss
Defensive Lineman- Chad Pugh, Sr., TCU
Defensive Lineman- Bo Schobel, Sr., TCU
Linebacker- Michael Boley, Jr., Southern Miss
Linebacker- Rod Davis, Sr., Southern Miss
Linebacker- Zac Woodfin, Jr., UAB
Defensive Back- Greg Brooks, Sr., Southern Miss Defensive Back- Etric Pruitt, Sr., Southern Miss
Defensive Back- J.R. Reed, Sr., USF
Defensive Back- Wesley Smith, So., Memphis
SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker- Nick Browne, Sr., TCU
Punter- Ryan Dougherty, Fr., East Carolina
Kick Returner- John Eubanks, So., Southern Miss
Punt Returner- Marvin Young, Jr., Southern Miss
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback ? J.P. Losman, Sr., Tulane
Running Back- Robert Merrill, Fr., TCU
Running Back- Marvin Townes, Jr., East Carolina
Offensive Lineman- Jim Hicks, Sr., Southern Miss
Offensive Lineman- Chase Johnson, Jr., TCU
Offensive Lineman- Travis Leffew, So., Louisville
Offensive Lineman- Matt Mattox, Sr., Houston
Offensive Lineman- Jason Spitz, So., Louisville
Tight End- Terrell Bowden, Sr., Southern Miss
Wide Receiver- Maurice Avery, So., Memphis
Wide Receiver- Terrance Copper, Jr., East Carolina
Wide Receiver- Reggie Harrell, Jr., TCU
DEFENSE
Defensive Lineman- Joe Clay, Jr., Houston
Defensive Lineman- Andre Frazier, Jr., Cincinnati
Defensive Lineman- Marcus Jones, Jr., Louisville
Defensive Lineman- Eric Taylor, Sr., Memphis
Linebacker- Maurice Jones, Sr., USF
Linebacker- Chris Moore, So., East Carolina
Linebacker- Coot Terry, Sr., Memphis
Defensive Back- Tra Boger, Jr., Tulane
Defensive Back- Daven Holly, Jr., Cincinnati
Defensive Back- Zach Norton, Sr., Cincinnati
Defensive Back- Mark Walker, Jr., TCU
SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker- Nick Hayes, Jr., UAB
Punter- Chris Beckman, Fr., Tulane
Kick Returner- J.R. Reed, Sr., USF
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback ? Kevin Kolb, Fr., Houston
Running Back- Anthony Evans, So., Houston
Running Back- Eric Shelton, So., Louisville
Offensive Lineman- Gene Frederic, Jr., Memphis
Offensive Lineman- Chris McGee, So., Tulane
Offensive Lineman- Jeremy Rone, Jr., Memphis
Offensive Lineman- Derrick Sarosi, Jr., USF
Offensive Lineman- Chris White, Jr., Southern Miss
Offensive Lineman- Doug White, Sr., East Carolina
Tight End- Jonathan Pritchett, Sr., Houston
Wide Receiver- Aaron Alexander, Jr., Army
Wide Receiver- Roddy White, Jr., UAB
Wide Receiver- Marvin Young, Jr., Southern Miss
DEFENSE
Defensive Lineman- Ronald Jones, Sr., Southern Miss
Defensive Lineman- Robert Pollard, Sr., TCU
Defensive Lineman- Eric Scott, Jr., Southern Miss
Defensive Lineman- Lee Roy Selmon, Sr., USF
Linebacker- Derrick Ballard, Sr., Memphis
Linebacker- Jamar Enzor, Jr., Cincinnati
Linebacker- Robert McCune, Jr., Louisville
Defensive Back- Marvin Godbolt, Jr., TCU
Defensive Back- Sean Lucas, So., Tulane
Defensive Back- Alex Ray, Sr., Southern Miss
Defensive Back- Kevin Verpaele, Sr., USF
Defensive Back- Scott Vogel, Jr., Memphis
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kick Returner- William White, Jr., Army
Punt Returner- Cory Rodgers, Fr., TCU