Nov. 29, 2012

IRVING (C-USA/SMU) - SMU junior linebacker Randall Joyner has been named to the 2012 Conference USA All-Academic Team, as selected by the league's Sports Information Directors, the conference announced today.

Joyner, a sport management major with a 3.464 GPA, has played in all 12 games this season, making six starts. He leads the team and is 18th in the league with 89 tackles. He is also tied for the team lead with three interceptions. He set career-highs with 14 tackles and two interceptions at UTEP, earning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week for his play in El Paso.

The all-academic team consists of student-athletes who have earned a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or better and are a starter or key reserve on their team.

Joyner and his Mustang teammates will begin practice next week for the 2012 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

2012 C-USA All-Academic Team (Name, School, Yr., GPA, Major, Hometown)Adhem Elsawi, East Carolina, R-Jr., 3.51, Biology, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.Matt Milner, East Carolina, R-Jr., 4.00, Physics, Raleigh, N.C.Dominick LeGrande, Marshall, Grad., 3.50, Adult & Technical Education, Staten Island, N.Y.Jacob Karam, Memphis, Grad., 3.71, Arts & Liberal Studies, Friendswood, TexasTanner Leland, Rice, R-Jr., 3.65, Mathematics, Katy, TexasRandall Joyner, SMU, Jr., 3.46, Sports Management, Carrollton, TexasCorey Acosta, Southern Miss, R-So., 3.90, Biological Sciences, Memphis, Tenn.Brandon Francesconi, Southern Miss, Sr., 3.62, Business Management, Burlingame, Calif.Ryan Griffin, Tulane, Sr., 3.36, Management, Westlake Village, Calif.Sam Scofield, Tulane, So., 3.82, Business, Lafayette, La.Jared St. John, Tulsa, Sr., 3.34, History & Education, Edmond, Okla.Taylor Klein, UAB, Sr., 3.57, Accounting, Lexington, Ky.Ray Shipman, UCF, Grad., 3.43, Communications, Miramar, Fla.Jordan Leslie, UTEP, So., 3.56, Electrical Engineering, Houston, Texas