July 8, 2005

Seniors Alvin Nnabuife and Brad Kieschnick were named preseason All-Conference USA by CollegeFootballNews.com. Nnabuife earned first-team recognition as a defensive back and is ranked as the 14th best player in the league's "Top 30". Kieschnick garnered second-team honors for his work on the offensive line.

Nnabuife is entering his third season as a starter on defense and was the team defensive MVP in 2004. He led the team with 80 tackles while moving from safety to linebacker due to several injuries in the linebacking corp. Nnabuife also returned two fumbles and an interception for touchdowns last season.

Kieschnick is also entering his third season as a starter. He started every game at center in 2004 and earned the Charles H. Trigg Award as the team's top offensive lineman. Kieschnick also serves as the snapper on PATs and field goals.

FIRST TEAM (OL is regardless of position)OffenseQB - Darrell Hackney, Sr. , UABRB - Jovon Jackson, Sr., TulaneRB -  DeAngelo Williams, Sr., MemphisWR - Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. . UTEPWR - Vincent Marshall, Sr. HoustonTE -  Garrett Mills, Sr., TulsaOL -  Matt Batusic, Sr., UABOL -  Seth Cook, Jr. , MarshallOL -  Jose Garcia, Sr., UTEPOL -  Jeff Parrett, Soph., TulsaOL -  SirVincent Rogers, Soph., Houston
DefenseDL - Akeem Lockett, Sr., Southern MissDL - Larry McSwain, Jr., UABDL - Chris Mineo, Sr., UTEPDL - John Syptak, Sr., RiceLB - Trevis Coley, Jr. , Southern MissLB - Thomas Howard, Sr.. UTEPLB - Chris Moore, Sr., East CarolinaDB - John Eubanks, Sr., Southern MissDB - Alvin Nnabuife, Sr., SMU (LB/S)DB - Curtis Keyes, Jr., MarshallDB - Wesley Smith, Sr., Memphis
Special TeamsPK - Stephen Gostkowski, Sr., MemphisP - Ian O'Connor, Jr., MarshallKR - Ashlan Davis, Sr. , TulsaPR - Travis Williams, Soph. East Carolina
SECOND TEAMOffense (OL is regardless of position)QB - Kevin Kolb, Jr., HoustonRB - Ahmad Bradshaw, Soph., MarshallRB - Uril Parrish, Sr., TulsaWR - Maurice Avery, Sr.. MemphisWR - Mike Walker, Jr., UCFTE - Darcy Johnson, Sr., UCFOL - Willie Henderson, Jr., MemphisOL - Josh House, Sr. UTEPOL - Dominic Ignelzi, Soph., UCFOL - Brad Kieschnick, Sr., SMUOL - Chris McGee, Sr., Tulane
DefenseDL - Brandon Lohr, Sr., TulsaDL - Marcus West, Sr., MemphisDL - Zach West, Jr., UTEPDL - Sam Williamson, Sr., UABLB - Nick Bunting, Jr., TulsaLB - Anthony Cannon, Sr., TulaneLB - Adam Herrin, Sr., RiceDB - Tra Boger, Sr., TulaneDB - Dominique Cosper, Sr., UABDB - Chris Royal, Sr ., MarshallDB - Willie Smith, Sr., Marshall
Special TeamsPK - Darren McCaleb, Jr. Southern MissP - Chris Beckman, Jr., TulaneKR - John Eubanks, Sr., Southern MissPR - Fred Smith, Jr. TulaneTop 30 Conference USA Players1. RB DeAngelo Williams, Sr. Memphis2. QB Darrell Hackney, Sr. UAB3. QB Kevin Kolb, Jr., Houston4. DE John Syptak, Sr. Rice5. LB Thomas Howard, Sr., UTEP6. WR Vincent Marshall, Sr. Houston7. TE Garrett Mills, Sr., Tulsa8. LB Trevis Coley, Jr., Southern Miss9. DE Larry McSwain, Jr., UAB10. KR/CB John Eubanks, Sr., Southern Miss11. LB Chris Moore, Sr., East Carolina12. SS Curtis Keyes, Jr., Marshall13. FS Wesley Smith, Sr., Memphie14. S/LB Alvin Nnabuife, Sr., SMU15. LB Anthony Cannon, Sr., Tulane16. QB Jordan Palmer, Jr., UTEP17. WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr., UTEP18. WR/KR Ashlan Davis, Sr., Tulsa19. FS Tra Boger, Sr., Tulane20. QB Lester Ricard, Jr., Tulane21. FS Chris Royal, Sr., Marshall22. RB Jovon Jackson, Sr., Tulane23. WR Mike Walker, Jr., UCF24. CB Willie Smith, Sr., Marshall25. FS Dominique Cosper, Sr., UAB26. LB Nick Bunting, Jr., Tulsa27. DE Akeem Lockett, Sr., Southern Miss28. LB Adam Herrin, Sr., Rice29. RB Ahmad Bradshaw, Soph., Marshall30. RB Uril Parrish, Sr., Tulsa