DALLAS – Conference USA announced its 2024 All-Conference football teams Tuesday, as selected by the league’s 10 head football coaches. Nine of the 10 schools placed at least one player on the first team, with Conference USA champion and Cure Bowl-bound Jax State producing a league-high six selections, followed by Liberty with four.
 
WKU had the most combined first and second-team members with nine, followed by Jax State with eight and Liberty with seven. FIU and NM State accounted for six total spots, while Sam Houston garnered five selections. Kennesaw State, MTSU and UTEP each earned four spots, and LA Tech rounded out the teams with three honorees.
 
Four of Jax State’s first-team selections came on the offensive side of the ball, in 2024 CUSA Championship Game MVP Tyler Huff, running back Tre Stewart and offensive linemen Clay Webb and Will O’Steen. Defensively, the Gamecocks were represented by linebacker Reginald Hughes and defensive back Fred Perry. Huff compiled 3,522 yards of total offense and 27 total touchdowns, including a CUSA single season record 14 rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
 
Stewart has 264 carries for 1,604 yards (6.1 YPC) and 23 touchdowns, which is tied for fifth most in a season in CUSA history. Webb and O’Steen paved the way for the nation’s second-best rushing offense (267.3) and anchored an offensive line that led CUSA and ranked in the top 35 nationally in sacks allowed (1.38) and tackles for loss allowed (4.08) per game.
 
Liberty also accounted for four spots on the first team offense, including three offensive linemen in Jordan White, Xavior Gray and Aaron Fenimore. The Flames were also represented by running back Quinton Cooley. The trio of big men up front were pivotal in Liberty ranking third nationally in rushing yards per game (258.7) and 25^th in tackles for loss per game (4.27). Last year’s CUSA Newcomer of the Year, Cooley saw an uptick in rushing yards per game (114.0), which ranked 11^th in FBS. He also ranked 20^th in yards per carry (6.1) and 26^th in rushing touchdowns (13).
 
WKU was represented by three players on the first team in defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler, defensive back Upton Stout and kicker Lucas Carneiro. Wheeler racked up 74 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, two blocked kicks, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Stout logged 52 tackles, 7.5 TFL, a sack, an interception and a pass breakup. Carneiro is tied for fourth nationally in field-goal percentage (.944) and has converted a school-record 17-straight attempts after missing his first kick of the year. Carneiro (6-6) joins Michigan’s Dominic Zvada (7-7) as the only kickers that are perfect on at least six attempts from more than 50 yards.
 
FIU produced three first team selections in wide receiver Eric Rivers, linebacker Travion Barnes and defensive back JoJo Evans. Rivers finished the season top five in FBS in receiving yards per game (97.7) and receiving touchdowns (12), while Barnes logged top-10 numbers in tackles (11.7) and solo tackles (5.4). Evans ranked fifth in CUSA in pass breakups (seven), along with 93 tackles (52 solo), 2.5 TFL, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
 
All three of Sam Houston’s first team honorees came on the defensive side of the ball in defensive end Chris Murray, linebacker Kavian Gaither and defensive back Caleb Weaver. A nightmare for opposing linemen, Murray ranks second in CUSA in TFL (11.5) and is tied for fourth in sacks (5.5), and he logged a pair of forced fumbles. Gaither posted 85 tackles (59 solo), 7.5 TFL, six quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and an interception. Weaver led CUSA with four interceptions and ranked fifth in passes defended (10). He led the team with 86 tackles, including 5.2 solo stops per game, which ranked 12^th nationally.
 
MTSU had a pair of pass catchers as part of their first team contingent, along with long snapper Brody Butler, who earns his third straight first team recognition after he was perfect on all 82 attempts this season. Tight end Holden Willis and wide receiver Omari Kelly both ranked in the top 30 nationally in receiving yards per game. Willis ranked 27^th overall and third among TE with 79.2 yards per game, while Kelly followed closely at 29^th (79.2). Kelly also earned second-team punt return specialist honors after averaging 10.4 yards per return with a touchdown.
 
Coming off its first year of FBS competition, Kennesaw State earned a pair of first-team selections on special teams. Punter Jacob Ulrich led CUSA and ranked sixth nationally in punting (46.0), including a league best 23 punts that traveled more than 50 yards and a long of 77 yards. He had 26 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Kick returner Qua Ashley ranked third nationally in kick return average (29.4) and was one of just three FBS student-athletes with multiple kickoff returns for touchdowns.
 
UTEP was represented on the first team by defensive end Maurice Westmoreland and punt return specialist Kam Thomas. Westmoreland earns his second-straight first team nod after he led CUSA and ranked 22^nd nationally with 0.67 sacks per game, along with 9.5 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries and one pass breakup. Thomas averaged 20 yards per return with a touchdown – a 93-yard return that sparked a comeback victory over rival NM State in the regular season finale.
 
LA Tech placed two on the first team in wide receiver Tru Edwards and defensive tackle David Blay. Edwards was a reliable option for freshman quarterback Evan Bullock as Edwards led the league and ranked 17^th nationally in receptions per game (6.4), turning those into 897 yards and six touchdowns. Blay finished third in CUSA in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (10.5) and logged a pair of quarterback hurries.
 
While NM State did not earn a spot on the first team, the Aggies manufactured six second-team selections. NM State grabbed both second team running back slots in Seth McGowan and Mike Washington, who each rushed for more than 700 yards and combined for 11 rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns. The Aggies’ special teams unit was also well recognized in kicker Abraham Montaño, who ranked 23^rd in FBS in field goals per game (1.5) and drilled 10 field goals over 40 yards, and punter George Eberle, who ranked 17^th nationally in punting (44.7). Eberle had 15 punts travel further than 50 yards and 18 downed inside the 20-yard line.
 
 
First Team
Offense
QB Tyler Huff, Jax State
RB Tre Stewart, Jax State
RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
WR Eric Rivers, FIU
WR Omari Kelly, MTSU
WR Tru Edwards, LA Tech
TE Holden Willis, MTSU
OL Jordan White, Liberty
OL Clay Webb, Jax State
OL Xavior Gray, Liberty
OL Aaron Fenimore, Liberty
OL Will O’Steen, Jax State
 
Defense
DE Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
DT David Blay, LA Tech
DT Hosea Wheeler, WKU
DE Chris Murray, Sam Houston
LB Travion Barnes, FIU
LB Reginald Hughes, Jax State
LB Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston
DB Fred Perry, Jax State
DB Caleb Weaver, Sam Houston
DB Upton Stout, WKU
DB JoJo Evans, FIU
 
Special Teams
K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
P Jacob Ulrich, Kennesaw State
KR Qua Ashley, Kennesaw State
PR Kam Thomas, UTEP
LS Brody Butler, MTSU
 
Second Team
Offense
QB Caden Veltkamp, WKU
RB Seth McGowan, NM State
RB Mike Washington, NM State
WR Kisean Johnson, WKU
WR Kenny Odom, UTEP
WR Dean Patterson, FIU
TE Carson Kent, Kennesaw State
OL Ethan Hagler, Sam Houston
OL AJ Vaipulu, NM State
OL Quantavious Leslie, WKU
OL James Dawn II, Sam Houston
OL Marshall Jackson, WKU
 
Defense
DE J-Rock Swain, Jax State
DT Kyran Duhon, UTEP
DT Jeramy Passmore, FIU
DE TJ Bush, Liberty
LB Joseph Carter, Liberty
LB Kolbe Fields, LA Tech
LB Tyler Martinez, NM State
DB Devonte’ Mathews, WKU
DB Geimere Latimer, Jax State
DB JeRico Washington Jr., Kennesaw State
DB Brylan Green, Liberty
 
Special Teams
K Abraham Montaño, NM State
P George Eberle, NM State
KR C’Quan Jnopierre, FIU
PR Omari Kelly, MTSU
LS Rex Robich, WKU
 
Honorable Mention
Offense
QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
RB Jay Ducker, Sam Houston
RB Qua Ashley, Kennesaw State
WR Easton Messer, WKU
WR Simeon Evans, Sam Houston
WR Jimmy Holiday, LA Tech
TE Eli Finley, LA Tech
OL Canaan Yarro, NM State
OL Travon Taylor, WKU
OL Evan Wibberley, WKU
OL Bert Hale, LA Tech
OL Otis Pitts III, UTEP
 
Defense
DE CJ Bazile Jr., LIberty
DT Dallas Walker, WKU
DT KD Johnson, UTEP
DE Deante McCray, WKU
LB Zach Zimos, LA Tech
LB Laletia Hale, Jax State
LB Darius Thomas, WKU
DB Tyler Hallum, Kennesaw State
DB A’Khori Jones, Liberty
DB Xavier Williams, MTSU
DB Kory Chapman, UTEP
 
Special Teams
K Austin Welch, Kennesaw State
P Grant Chadwick, MTSU
KR Demarcus Griffin-Taylor, LA Tech
PR Brylan Green, Liberty
LS Bryce Robinson, Kennesaw State