DALLAS – Conference USA has announced its 2018 All-Freshman football team, as selected by the league's 14 head football coaches.  Charlotte, FIU and WKU produced a league-high four players on the team, while Marshall, Rice and Southern Miss each had three players selected to the squad. All told, 11 C-USA teams were represented on the all-freshman squad.

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Charlotte had two wide receivers, a linebacker and a placekicker selected.  Victor Tucker (54 receptions for 712 yards) ranked eighth in C-USA in receiving, while Rico Arnold added 22 catches for 302 yards to make up the two receiving spots on the squad.  Henry Segura added 10 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in limited duty, while Jonathan Cruz was the only player to win the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week award three times this season and hit his final seven field goal attempts to finish 17-of-22, while making all 27 of his PATs.
 
FIU is represented by a tight end and a trio of defenders.  Sterling Palmer reeled in 23 receptions for 215 yards and a touchdown.  Defensive back Dorian Hall was fifth on the team with 42 tackles and tied for 10th in the conference with three interceptions.  Defensive lineman Jason Mercier contributed 30 tackles, while linebacker Rocky Jacques-Lewis notched 15 stops and picked off a pair of passes.
 
Running back Joshua Samuel was WKU’s leading rusher, gaining 641 yards to rank ninth in C-USA.  Defensive lineman Juwuan Jones registered 42 total tackles, while also contributing five sacks, six tackles for loss and two pass breakups.  Rex Henderson provided depth at linebacker, while kick returner Garland LaFrance averaged 23.5 yards on 11 returns.
 
Marshall’s three honorees include QB Isaiah Green, DL Darius Hodge and DB Steven Gilmore.  In nine appearances, Green threw for 2,238 yards and 15 touchdowns, ranking fourth in C-USA with an average of 248.7 yards per game.  Hodge posted 10 tackles and Gilmore had 17 stops and a pass breakup as reserves on the Thundering Herd defense.
 
Shea Baker opened the season at center and helped anchor the Rice offensive line, earning him a spot on the rookie squad.  He is joined by a pair of defensive backs in Prudy Calderon and Treshawn Chamberlain.  Calderon was the first Owl to intercept four passes in a season since 2013 and he also contributed 38 tackles.  Chamberlain finished fourth on Rice with 50 total tackles and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
 
Southern Miss C Trace Clopton was one of nine true freshman OL to start during opening week and he went on to make 10 appearances with seven starts.  The Golden Eagles defense was represented by DL Tahj Sykes (11 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss) and DB Shannon Showers (10 tackles).
 
Florida Atlantic placed two players on the rookie unit, while Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, North Texas and UTSA each produced one.  The Owls are represented by quarterback Chris Robison (211.1 yards per game, 12 touchdown passes) and OL BJ Etienne.  Long snapper Reeves Blankenship represents the Bulldogs, RB Chaton Mobley (eighth in C-USA in rushing with 615 yards and four touchdowns) is listed for the Blue Raiders, OL Manase Mose is the Mean Green’s rep and OL Spencer Burford is the Roadrunners choice to the rookie team. 
 
The league’s individual awards, including the Freshman of the Year, will be released Wednesday, December 5.  Conference USA will conclude the 2018 season by sending six teams to bowl games.