July 24, 2007

Junior wide receiver Jarett Dillard of Rice has been picked as the Conference USA preseason Offensive Player of the Year in a vote of the league's 12 head coaches. Dillard was one of three Owls to earn preseason honors from the coaches in their voting. Linebacker Brian Raines and offensive guard Robby Heos joined Dillard as preseason All C-USA selections.

Reigning C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Albert McClellan of Marshall was picked as the preseason favorite to repeat as the conference's top defensive player. He led C-USA in sacks (11) and tackles for loss (19), while registering 77 total tackles in 2006.

UCF cornerback Joe Burnett was tabbed as preseason Special Teams Player of the Year. Burnett had 11 punt returns for 132 yards, good for a 12.0 per return average and was named first team punt returner by the C-USA coaches in 2006.

2007 C-USA FOOTBALL COACHES PRESEASON AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Year
Jarett Dillard, WR, Rice (91 catches, 1,247 yds., 13.7 avg., 21 TD)

Defensive Player of the Year
Albert McClellan, DE, Marshall (77 tackles, 19.0 TFLs, 11.5 sacks)

Special Teams Player of the Year
Joe Burnett, PR, UCF (11 returns, 132 yds., 12.0 avg.)

First Team Offense
QB Paul Smith, Sr., Tulsa
RB Damion Fletcher, So., Southern Miss
RB Kevin Smith, Jr., UCF
OL Doug Legursky, Sr., Marshall
OL Jeff Akeroyd, Sr., Houston
OL Chris Clark, Sr., Southern Miss
OL Brandon Pearce, Jr., Memphis
OL Robby Heos, Sr., Rice
WR Jarett Dillard, Jr., Rice
WR Emmanuel Sanders, So., SMU
WR Donnie Avery, Sr., Houston
TE Shawn Nelson, Jr., Southern Miss

First Team Defense
DL Albert McClellan, Jr., Marshall
DL Martavius Prince, Sr., Southern Miss
DL Marcus Hands, Jr., East Carolina
DL Philip Hunt, Jr., Houston
LB Joe Henderson, Jr., UAB
LB Brian Raines, Jr., Rice
LB Nelson Coleman, Sr., Tulsa
DB Quintin Demps, Sr., UTEP
DB Brandon Sumrall, Sr., Southern Miss
DB Will Dunbar, Sr., UAB
DB Kenneth Fontenette, Jr., Houston

First Team Special Teams
K Ben Bell, Jr., Houston
P Thomas Morstead, Jr., SMU
KR Chris Johnson, Sr., East Carolina
PR Joe Burnett, Jr., UCF