Nov. 27, 2006

IRVING (SMU/C-USA) - SMU sophomore punter Thomas Morstead has been named to the Conference USA Football All-Academic Team, as voted upon by the school's sports information directors and released by the league office Monday. The all-academic team consists of 11 student-athletes who have earned a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or better and are starters or key reserves on the football team.

Morstead, who ranks 15th in the nation in punting average, holds a 3.55 GPA in mechanical engineering. Morstead is also a C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member and is on the 2006 Ray Guy Award "Watch List." His 43.8-yard average ranks as the best at SMU since 1982, when Craig James ranked seventh in the nation with a 44.9-yard average.

2006 Conference USA Football All-Academic TeamStudent - Athlete - Cl. - School - GPA - Major - HometownKevin Roach - Sr. - East Carolina - 3.44 - Accounting (Grad) - Williamston, N.C.Wade Koehl - Sr. - Houston - 3.52 - Accounting - Midland, TexasRusty Clayton - Sr. - Memphis - 3.61 - Criminal Justice - Sumrall, Miss.Brandon Patterson - Soph. - Memphis - 3.73 - Finance - Germantown, Tenn.Thomas Morstead - Soph. - SMU - 3.55 - Mechanical Engineering - Pearland, TexasTravis Cooley - Sr. - USM - 3.00 - Sports Admin. & 3.65, H.R. Mgt. - Waynesboro, Miss.Michael Purcell - Sr. - Tulane - 3.64 - Finance - Dripping Springs, TexasMike Mengers - Sr. - Tulsa - 3.74 - Mechanical Engineering - Mustang, Okla.Paul Smith - Jr. - Tulsa - 3.80 - Communication - Owasso, Okla.Sha'reff Rashad - Soph. - UCF - 3.61 - Criminal Justice - Jacksonville, Fla.Reagan Schneider - Sr. - UTEP - 3.34 - Kinesiology - Canyon Lake, Texas