ELEVEN ECU Pirates Earn All-Conference USA Honors

IRVING, Texas – Conference USA announced its 2009 All-Conference football teams today, as selected by the league’s 12 head football coaches.  Eleven schools were represented with at least one overall selection, with conference champion East Carolina producing the most first team (seven) and total selections (12).  Marshall and UCF had the second-highest number of first team selections (four), while Houston had the second-most overall selections (eight).

 

The Pirates first team selections include four starters on their defense.  Defensive lineman Linval Joseph (57 tackles, 12.5 TFL’s) and C.J. Wilson (56 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles) are joined by defensive backs Emanuel Davis (64 tackles, 13 pass breakups) and Van Eskridge (93 tackles, six interceptions).  Offensive lineman Sean Allen and punter Matt Dodge (league-high 45.8 avg.) earned first team honors, while junior Dwayne Harris was named first team as a wide receiver (79 receptions, 914 yards, six TDs) and second team as a kick returner (27.4 avg., C-USA-record three kickoff returns for touchdowns). 

 

Marshall’s four first team selections include a pair of special teams performers in kicker Craig Ratanamorn (a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award) and long snapper Sean McClellan, along with tight end Cody Slate (50 receptions, 607 yards) and linebacker Mario Harvey (105 tackles, five sacks).

 

Three members of UCF’s league-leading defense earned spots on the squad.  Included are defensive lineman Bruce Miller and Jarvis Geathers who rank among the top 10 in the nation in sacks with 12 and 11, respectively.  Linebacker Cory Hogue (team-high 99 tackles, 11.5 TFL’s) is also a first team selection, along with offensive lineman Jah Reid.

 

Houston’s eight all-conference selections are led by three record-setting first team performers.  Quarterback Case Keenum has set Conference USA single-season records for pass attempts (659) and completions (468), throwing for 5,449 yards (fourth-highest total in FBS history) and 43 touchdowns with just nine interceptions.  Wide receiver James Cleveland had a C-USA single-game record 19 receptions in the conference championship game, giving him 101 for the season, good for 1,182 yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns.  Kick returner Tyron Carrier leads the league with a 27.5 average and has set a new league single-season record with three returns for TDs.

 

SMU and UTEP each filled three first team spots.  Two of the Mustangs spots are held by Emmanuel Sanders, who gained first team recognition as a wide receiver (91 receptions for 1,215 yards) and a punt returner (C-USA-best 15.4 avg. with one return for a TD).  UTEP’s selections include running back Donald Buckram, who ran for a UTEP single-season record 1,594 yards and scored a league-high 21 touchdowns.  SMU also placed linebacker Chase Kennemer on first team, while UTEP had offensive lineman Mike Aguayo and defensive back Da’mon Cromartie-Smith earn spots.

 

Southern Miss had a pair of first team choices, while Memphis and UAB each had one.  The Golden Eagles first teamers included offensive lineman Ryan Hebert and defensive back Eddie Hicks (60 tackles, five interceptions).  Memphis placed running back Curtis Steele (1,239 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games) on the team, while UAB is represented by offensive lineman Jake Seitz, who helped pave the way for quarterback Joe Webb’s record-breaking campaign.

 

The league’s individual awards will be released on Wednesday, December 9.  Conference USA will conclude the 2009 season by sending six teams to bowl games for the fourth time in five seasons.

 

2009 C-USA Football All-Conference Teams

 

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

QB- Case Keenum, Jr., Houston

RB- Curtis Steele, Sr., Memphis

RB- Donald Buckram, Jr., UTEP

OL- Sean Allen, Sr., East Carolina

OL- Ryan Hebert, Sr., Southern Miss

OL- Jake Seitz, Sr., UAB

OL- Jah Reid, Jr., UCF

OL- Mike Aguayo, Jr., UTEP

TE- Cody Slate, Sr., Marshall

WR- Dwayne Harris, Jr., East Carolina

WR- James Cleveland, Jr., Houston

WR- Emmanuel Sanders, Sr., SMU

 

DEFENSE

DL- Linval Joseph, Jr., East Carolina

DL- C.J. Wilson, Sr., East Carolina

DL- Jarvis Geathers, Sr., UCF

DL- Bruce Miller, Jr., UCF

LB- Mario Harvey, Sr., Marshall

LB- Chase Kennemer, Sr., SMU

LB- Cory Hogue, Sr., UCF

DB- Emmanuel Davis, So., East Carolina

DB- Van Eskridge, Sr., East Carolina

DB- Eddie Hicks, Sr., Southern Miss

DB- Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith, Sr., UTEP

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K- Craig Ratanamorn, Sr., Marshall

P- Matt Dodge, Sr., East Carolina

KR- Tyron Carrier, So., Houston

PR- Emmanuel Sanders, Sr., SMU

LS- Sean McClellan, Sr., Marshall

 

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

QB- Joe Webb, Sr., UAB

RB- Darius Marshall, Jr., Marshall

RB- Damion Fletcher, Sr., Southern Miss

OL- Terence Campbell, Sr., East Carolina

OL- Jarve Dean, Jr., Houston

OL- Daniel Baldridge, Sr., Marshall

OL- Scott Mitchell, Jr., Rice

OL- Kelvin Beachum, So., SMU

TE- Leroy Banks, Sr., Southern Miss

WR-Patrick Edwards, So., Houston

WR- Duke Calhoun, Sr., Memphis

WR- DeAndre Brown, So., Southern Miss

WR- Damaris Johnson, So., Tulsa

 

DEFENSE

DL- Tyrell Graham, Sr., Houston

DL- Albert McClellan, Sr., Marshall

DL- Scott Solomon, Jr., Rice

DL- Torrell Troup, Sr., UCF

LB- Nick Johnson, Sr., East Carolina

LB- Marcus McGraw, So., Houston

LB- Korey Williams, So., Southern Miss

DB- Brandon Brinkley, Sr., Houston

DB- James Lockett, Sr., Tulsa

DB- Hiram Atwater, Jr., UAB

DB- Josh Robinson, Fr., UCF

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K- Ben Hartman, Sr., East Carolina

P- Matt Reagan, Sr., Memphis

KR- Dwayne Harris, Jr., East Carolina

PR- Damaris Johnson, So., Tulsa

LS- Cody Tawater, Sr., Southern Miss

 

EAST CAROLINA HONORABLE MENTION

RB- Dominique Lindsay, Sr.

OL- D.J. Scott, Jr.

OL- Willie Smith, Jr.

DL- Scotty Robinson, Sr.

DL- Jay Ross, Sr.

LB- Jeremy Chambliss, Sr.

DB- Levin Neal, Sr.

DB- Travis Simmons, Jr.

LS- William Smith, So.