DALLAS – Conference USA released the 2023 preseason watch list, as selected by the league’s nine head coaches on Friday. Five student-athletes from each of the conference’s nine member institutions are recognized as key players to watch ahead of the 2023 season.
Additionally, each of the nine institutions has highlighted one academic performer ahead of the 2023 season, which is also listed below.
The Conference USA slate opens on Saturday, Aug. 26, with five teams in action, highlighted by a pair of league contests. The league’s 19th Conference USA Football Championship Game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1.
OFFENSE
QB Gavin Hardison, RS Sr., UTEP
QB Grayson James, Jr., FIU
QB Diego Pavia, Sr., New Mexico State
QB Austin Reed, RS Sr., WKU
RB Anwar Lewis, RS Jr., Jacksonville State
RB Frank Peasant, Jr., Middle Tennessee
WR Ife Adeyi, Sr., Sam Houston
WR Malachi Corley, Jr., WKU
WR Noah Frith, Sr., Liberty
WR Smoke Harris, RS Sr., Louisiana Tech
TE Sean Brown, RS Jr., Jacksonville State
OL Carson Bruno, RS So., Louisiana Tech
OL X’Zauvea Gadlin, Sr., Liberty
OL Ethan Hagler, Sr., Sam Houston
OL Elijah Klein, RS Sr., UTEP
OL Quantavious Leslie, Jr., WKU
OL Jacob Peace, Sr., FIU
OL Shiyazh Pete, RS So., New Mexico State
OL Keylan Rutledge, So., Middle Tennessee
DEFENSE
DE Praise Amaewhule, RS Sr., UTEP
DE J-Rock Swain, Jr., Jacksonville State
DL Kendy Charles, Sr., Liberty
DL Marley Cook, RS Jr., Middle Tennessee
DL Jordan Guerad, RS So., FIU
DL Deshon Hall, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DL Chris Hardie, RS Jr., Jacksonville State
DL Markel Perry, Gr., Sam Houston
DL Dion Wilson Jr., Jr., New Mexico State
LB JaQues Evans, Jr., WKU
LB Kavian Gaither, Jr., Sam Houston
LB Tyrice Knight, RS Sr., UTEP
LB Donovan Manuel, Sr., FIU
DB Quinton Reese, Sr., Liberty
DB Willie Roberts, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DB Teldrick Ross, RS Sr., Middle Tennessee
DB Andre Seldon, RS So., New Mexico State
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Nick Brown, So., Liberty
K Alen Karajic, Jr., Jacksonville State
K Zeke Rankin, Jr., Middle Tennessee
K/P Jadon Cardell, RS So., Sam Houston
P Tom Ellard, RS So., WKU
P Daton Montiel, RS Jr., FIU
P Joshua Sloan, Jr., UTEP
PR/KR Smoke Harris, RS Sr., Louisiana Tech
KR Jonathan Brady, So., New Mexico State
ACADEMIC PERFORMER
OL Jacob Peace, Sr., FIU
DL Jackson Luttrell, Sr., Jacksonville State
QB Trey Lowe, Sr., Liberty
OL Abraham Delfin, Gr., Louisiana Tech
LB Devyn Curtis, RS So., Middle Tennessee
OL Canaan Yarro, RS Jr., New Mexico State
LB Trevor Williams, Gr., Sam Houston
OL Andrew Meyer, RS Sr., UTEP
OL Vincent Murphy, RS Jr., WKU