A trio of senior standouts headline the list of 2014 preseason Conference USA Football award winners, as chosen by the league's 13 head coaches. Marshall senior QB Rakeem Cato was tabbed the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Marshall senior DL James Rouse was named the Defensive Player of the Year and UAB senior P Hunter Mullins earned Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

2014 C-USA FOOTBALL COACHES PRESEASON AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Year
Rakeem Cato, Sr., QB, Marshall

Defensive Player of the Year
James Rouse, Sr., DL, Marshall

Special Teams Player of the Year
Hunter Mullins, Sr., P, UAB

First Team Offense
QB Rakeem Cato, Sr., Marshall
RB Kenneth Dixon, Jr., Louisiana Tech
RB Aaron Jones, So., UTEP
OL Scott Inskeep, Sr., UTSA
OL Chris Jasperse, Sr., Marshall
OL Cyril Lemon, Sr., North Texas
OL Clint Van Horn, Jr., Marshall
OL Mason Y'Barbo, Sr., North Texas
WR Jamarcus Nelson, Sr., UAB
WR Tommy Shuler, Sr., Marshall
WR Jordan Taylor., Sr., Rice
TE Eric Tomlinson, Sr., UTEP

First Team Defense
DL Vernon Butler, Jr., Louisiana Tech
DL Christian Covington, Jr., Rice
DL Ra'Shawde Myers, Sr., Marshall
DL James Rouse, Sr., Marshall
LB T.T. Barber, Sr., Middle Tennessee
LB Evan McKelvey, Sr., Marshall
LB Andrae Kirk, Jr., Florida Atlantic
DB Kevin Byard, Jr., Middle Tennessee
DB Bryce Callahan, Sr., Rice
DB D'Joun Smith, Sr., Florida Atlantic
DB Triston Wade, Sr., UTSA

First Team Special Teams
K Sean Ianno, Sr., UTSA
P Hunter Mullins, Sr., UAB
KR Autrey Golden, Jr., UTEP
PR Kenny Harrison, Sr., UTSA
LS Jesse Medrano, Sr., UTSA

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

EAST DIVISION Pts
1. Marshall 91
2. Middle Tennessee 73
3. Florida Atlantic 60
4. WKU 57
5. Old Dominion 33
6. UAB 31
7. FIU 19

WEST DIVISION Pts
1. North Texas 66
2. Rice 65
3. UTSA 62
4. Louisiana Tech 38
5. Southern Miss 24
6. UTEP 18

http://www.conferenceusa.com/sports/m-fo...14aaf.html

Hoorah, best punter in the league. Hopefully not the most active punter in the league.

Basically a toss up in the West.

With them only naming a first team, I can readily accept Cato being named ahead of Heinicke, though I do believe they are clearly the two best quarterbacks in the conferece.

I do believe however that Antonio Vaughan will prove to be one of the top three wide receivers in the conference.

Way to jinx us, coaches.

First Team Defense
DB Triston Wade, Sr., UTSA

I think UNT's James Jones is a more deserving DB. Wade had a really good season, but think Jones' numbers look just as good if not a little better.

Wade finished with 49 solo tackles, 94 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 5 passes broken up.

Jones had 49 solo tackles, 67 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception, 7 passes broken up, but he also recorded 2 sacks, forced 3 fumbles, and recovered 2 fumbles.

Just my opinion.

Cannot wait to see the postseason all CUSA team and finish! I get that current coaches do not know what WKU brings to the table, but my guess is DB Cam Thomas will be first team all conference performer before the season is out....He is projected as 9th best CB right now among NFL prospects.....

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prosp...gs/2015/CB

(07-16-2014 12:12 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  Wade finished with 49 solo tackles, 94 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 5 passes broken up.

Jones had 49 solo tackles, 67 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception, 7 passes broken up, but he also recorded 2 sacks, forced 3 fumbles, and recovered 2 fumbles.

Just my opinion.

I'll throw another name in there for consideration:

Adarius Barnes:

49 total tackles (31 solo, 18 assisted).
1 Sack
4 Interceptions
2 fumble recoveries
1 forced fumble
7 pass breakups

This was his Sophomore season and first season to play DB in college.

I bet it's hard to select the All Conference team. A lot of good players in CUSA!

(07-16-2014 01:01 PM)T_Won1 Wrote:  

(07-16-2014 12:12 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  Wade finished with 49 solo tackles, 94 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 5 passes broken up.

Jones had 49 solo tackles, 67 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception, 7 passes broken up, but he also recorded 2 sacks, forced 3 fumbles, and recovered 2 fumbles.

Just my opinion.

I'll throw another name in there for consideration:

Adarius Barnes:

49 total tackles (31 solo, 18 assisted).
1 Sack
4 Interceptions
2 fumble recoveries
1 forced fumble
7 pass breakups

This was his Sophomore season and first season to play DB in college.

I bet it's hard to select the All Conference team. A lot of good players in CUSA!

I was about to say the same. He was 2nd Tech name I expected to see after Dixon. You can also add a TD to those stats (UTSA game)

Wade is the best FS in the conference and a 2013 2nd Team selection. None of the players being brought up deserve the nod over him.

I'd like to see a game with a linebacking group of Barber (MT), McKelvey (Marshall), and Kirk (FAU).

That's bringing the lightening, the thunder, and the hammer from the East.

(07-16-2014 01:06 PM)correcamino Wrote:  Wade is the best FS in the conference and a 2013 2nd Team selection. None of the players being brought up deserve the nod over him.

That is your opinion. I agree Wade had a very good season, but if they are selecting the best DBs and not the best FS, than the numbers indicate Jones from UNT and maybe Barnes from LA Tech were at least as good.

Forcing fumbles, recovering fumbles, and recording sacks, all have a great impact on games. When a DB (Jones) does those things while recording the same number of solo tackles as Wade, in addition to breaking up more passes, he certainly deserves consideration. That is my opinion, and I believe any reasonable person would agree.

(07-16-2014 03:53 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  That is your opinion.

Sure, but its an opinion that is shared by C-USA coaches and the Jim Thorpe award committee. T-Wade is better than your guy and Tech's and that's not a knock on them, our guy is just that good.

(07-16-2014 01:59 PM)TruBlu Wrote:  I'd like to see a game with a linebacking group of Barber (MT), McKelvey (Marshall), and Kirk (FAU).

That's bringing the lightening, the thunder, and the hammer from the East.

I'd take that LB core over the other conference's any day.