July 16, 2008

MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis' Duke Calhoun and Brandon Pearce were named to the C-USA Preseason All-Conference USA team as announced by the league office Wednesday afternoon.

Pearce, who was also listed on the preseason team prior to the 2007 season, started all 13 games last season at right tackle. The senior was part of a Tiger offensive line that led Conference USA in fewest sacks allowed with 14, which also ranked 10th nationally. He also helped pave the way for the Tiger offense which ranked 13th nationally in passing offense and 23rd in total offense.

The Tigers' leading receiver in 2007, Calhoun was named to the C-USA second team last year after logging 890 yards and five touchdowns on 62 receptions. He will open the 2008 season on a 24-game receiving streak, which ranks in a tie for third in the U of M record book. In just two seasons, Calhoun ranks seventh in career receiving yards at Memphis with 1,571 and eighth with 104 total receptions.

In addition to the preseason team, the league office also released the Preseason Coaches Poll and Memphis is predicted to finish fourth in the East Division behind UCF, East Carolina and Southern Miss. UCF was picked to win the East, while Tulsa, Houston and UTEP make up the top three in the West Division. In 2007, the Tigers were predicted to finish fifth in the East, but ended the year with a 6-2 league record and tied for second with ECU. The six wins were the most for the Tigers since the league began playing football in 1996, and also marked the fourth time Memphis has logged more than five C-USA victories in a season.

All 12 C-USA coaches and select players from each team will be in Memphis this weekend for Conference USA's Football Media Day on Sunday. Fans can watch the C-USA Football Media Blitz Presented by AutoZone and AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Sunday, July 20, from 3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. CT on CBS College Sports Network. The show will be hosted by Carter Blackburn and Trev Alberts, and will offer fans an inside look at C-USA football. The Memphis segment is scheduled to run from 3:35 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

The show will also be available for free via online streaming by clicking on the All-Access box on the Memphis Athletic department website, www.GoTigersGo.com or on C-USA's site at www.ConferenceUSA.com.

The players from each team will also visit St. Jude Children's Research Center on Monday for a community service event.

Click Here to Watch the C-USA Media Blitz Live on Sunday .

Preseason Coaches Poll

East1.  UCF2.  East Carolina3.  Southern Miss4.  Memphis5.  Marshall6.  UAB
West1.  Tulsa2.  Houston3.  UTEP4.  Rice5.  SMU6.  Tulane
2008 C-USA Preseason All-Conference USA Team
Player of the YearDamion Fletcher, RB, Southern Miss
Defensive Player of the YearGerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss
Special Teams Player of the YearJoe Burnett, PR, UCF
First Team OffenseQB  Chase Clement, Sr., RiceRB  Tarrion Adams, Sr., TulsaRB  Damion Fletcher, So., Southern MissOL  Patrick Brown, Sr., UCFOL  Robby Felix, Sr., UTEPOL  Ryan McKee, Sr., Southern MissOL  Doug Palmer, Jr., East CarolinaOL  Brandon Pearce, Sr., MemphisWR  Duke Calhoun, Jr., MemphisWR  Jarett Dillard, Sr., RiceWR  Brennan Marion, Sr., TulsaWR  Jeff Moturi, Jr., UTEPTE  Cody Slate, Jr., Marshall
First Team DefenseDL  Albert McClellan, Sr., MarshallDL  Moton Hopkins, Sr., TulsaDL  Philip Hunt, Sr., HoustonDL  Zach Slate, Sr., East CarolinaDL  C.J. Wilson, Jr., East CarolinaLB  Joe Henderson, Sr., UABLB  Gerald McRath, Jr., Southern MissLB  Brian Raines, Sr., RiceDB  Will Dunbar, Sr., UABDB  Kenneth Fontenette, Sr., HoustonDB  Andrew Sendejo, Jr., RiceDB  C.J. Spillman, Sr., Marshall
First Team Special TeamsK   Jose Martinez, Sr., UTEPP   Thomas Morstead, Sr., SMUKR  Darius Marshall, So., MarshallPR  Joe Burnett, Sr., UCF