Marshall senior Gary Thompson (59) along with Chase Hancock (37) sack the Akron quarterback, during a non-conference game at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, on September 17.
Alex Hawley/OVP Sports
IRVING, Texas — A sure sign that the future looks bright.
The Marshall football team landed eight players on the 2016 Conference USA all-league teams, including four on the all-freshman team.
Conference USA released its all-league first team, second team, honorable mention list and all-freshman team on Tuesday, and the lists were voted on by the 13 coaches within the conference.
Marshall — which went 3-9 this fall, with a 2-6 conference record — was the only league team without a player on the first or second team, but the Herd landed four honorable mentions and four all-freshman team honors.
For the second straight season, defensive lineman Gary Thompson and tightend Ryan Yurachek were named all-conference honorable mention.
Thompson — a redshirt senior from La Mesa, California, — came up with 43 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and five sacks this fall. Thompson is the lone senior honoree for the Herd, and he finishes his college career with 150 tackles and 19 sacks.
Yurachek — a junior from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — hauled in 28 passes for 298 yards and five scores this season. Yurachek has caught at least one pass in 29 consecutive games.
Joining Thompson and Yurachek as all-conference honorable mentions are defensive lineman Ryan Bee and defensive back Rodney Allen.
Bee — a redshirt sophomore from Ashland, Ohio — recorded 54 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks this season. Bee was a Conference USA all-freshman team selection last year.
Allen — a redshirt junior from Dallas, Texas — came up with 76 tackles, 12 pass break-ups, two interceptions and a team-best four forced fumbles this season.
On the all-rookie team for the Herd were redshirt freshmen Ty Tyler and Levi Brown, as well as true freshmen Chris Jackson and Matt Beardall.
Tyler — a defensive end from Punta Gorda, Florida — posted 22 tackles, seven tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks this fall. Tyler found the endzone twice for the MU defense, scoing on a pair of fumble recoveries.
Brown — an offensive lineman from Franklin, Georgia — started the first 11 games of the year for MU.
Jackson — a defensive back from Tallahassee, Florida — recorded 41 tackles, four tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, nine pass break-ups and two interceptions in his inaugural campaign.
Beardall — a long snapper from Merritt Island, Florida — missed the first three games of the year, but appeared in the final nine for the Herd.
On Wednesday, Conference USA announced its awards.
Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz was named Coach of the Year, after leading the Bulldogs to an 8-5 record, including 6-2 in league. The Bulldogs represented the west division in the Conference USA title game, in which they fell to Western Kentucky.
LTU quarterback Ryan Higgins was named conference Most Valuable Player, completing 300-of-456 passes for 4,208 yards and 37 touchdowns.
Bulldogs wide receiver Carlos Henderson earned both the Offensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year awards, becoming the first player in Conference USA history to win both awards in the same season.
The Defensive Player of the Year award went to Florida Atlantic defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who posted 50 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks this campaign.
The Freshman of the Year award went to University of Texas at San Antonio linebacker Josiah Tauaefa, who recorded a school-record 104 tackles this fall.
The league’s Newcomer of the Year honor went to Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White, who led the Hilltoppers to a second straight-conference title. White completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 4,027 yards and 38 touchdowns in his junior season.
Alex Hawley can be reached at 740-446-2342, ext. 2100.
2016 C-USA FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Ryan Higgins, Sr., Louisiana Tech
RB – I’Tavius Mathers, Sr., Middle Tennessee
RB – Aaron Jones, Jr., UTEP
OL – Darrell Brown, Sr., Louisiana Tech
OL – Cameron Tom, Sr., Southern Miss
OL – Will Hernandez, Jr., UTEP
OL – Max Halpin, Sr., WKU
OL – Forrest Lamp, Sr., WKU
TE – Hayden Plinke, Sr., UTEP
WR – Carlos Henderson, Jr., Louisiana Tech
WR – Trent Taylor, Sr., Louisiana Tech
WR – Richie James, So., Middle Tennessee
WR – Taywan Taylor, Sr., WKU
DEFENSE
DL – Larry Ogunjobi, Sr., Charlotte
DL – Trey Hendrickson, Sr., Florida Atlantic
DL – Jaylon Ferguson, So., Louisiana Tech
DL – Dylan Bradley, Sr., Southern Miss
LB – TJ Ricks, Sr., Old Dominion
LB – Emmanuel Ellerbee, Jr., Rice
LB – Josiah Tauaefa, Fr., UTSA
LB – Keith Brown, Sr., WKU
DB – Xavier Woods, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DB – Jeremy Cutrer, Sr., Middle Tennessee
DB – D’Nerius Antoine, Sr., Southern Miss
DB – Branden Leston, Sr., WKU
SPECIAL TEAMS
K – Canon Rooker, Jr., Middle Tennessee
P – Eric Keena, Sr., North Texas
KR – Carlos Henderson, Jr., Louisiana Tech
PR – Nacarius Fant, Jr., WKU
LS – William Eads, Sr., Middle Tennessee
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Mike White, Jr., WKU
RB – Ito Smith, Jr., Southern Miss
RB – Anthony Wales, Sr., WKU
OL – Joseph Brunson, Sr., Louisiana Tech
OL – O’Shea Dugas, So., Louisiana Tech
OL – Daniel Stephens, Sr., Middle Tennessee
OL – Troy Butler, Sr., Old Dominion
OL – Darrell Williams, Jr., Sr., WKU
TE – Jonnu Smith, Sr., FIU
WR – Zach Pascal, Sr., Old Dominion
WR – Nicholas Norris, Sr., WKU
DEFENSE
DL – Rashaad Coward, Sr., Old Dominion
DL – Oshane Ximines, So., Old Dominion
DL – Marcus Davenport, Jr., UTSA
DL – Omarius Bryant, Sr., WKU
LB – Anthony Wint, Jr., FIU
LB – Jordan Harris, Sr., Louisiana Tech
LB – Alvin Jones, Jr., UTEP
DB – Kishawn McClain, Jr., North Texas
DB – Brandon Addison, Jr., Old Dominion
DB – Michael Egwuagu, Sr., UTSA
DB – Joe Brown, Jr., WKU
SPECIAL TEAMS
K – Jonathan Barnes, Jr., Louisiana Tech
K – Parker Shaunfield, So., Southern Miss
P – Jake Collins, So., WKU
KR – Kylen Towner, Jr., WKU
PR – Trent Taylor, Sr., Louisiana Tech
LS – Darrell Travis, Sr., Louisiana Tech
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE
QB – Brent Stockstill, So., Middle Tennessee
QB – David Washington, Sr., Old Dominion
QB – Nick Mullens, Sr., Southern Miss
RB – Kalif Phillips, Sr., Charlotte
RB – Alex Gardner, Jr., FIU
RB – Devin Singletary, Fr., Florida Atlantic
RB – Jarred Craft, Jr., Louisiana Tech
RB – Ray Lawry, Jr., Old Dominion
OL – Nate Davis, So., Charlotte
OL – Dieugot Joseph, Sr., FIU
OL – Michael Montero, Sr., FIU
OL – Dillon DeBoer, Sr., Florida Atlantic
OL – Antonyo Woods, Jr., Florida Atlantic
OL – Chandler Brewer, So., Middle Tennessee
OL – Josh Chester, Sr., Middle Tennessee
OL – Maurquice Shakir, Sr., Middle Tennessee
OL – Jordan Murray, So., North Texas
OL – Sam Rice, Sr., North Texas
OL – Calvin Anderson, So., Rice
OL – Trey Martin, Jr., Rice
OL – Jevonte Domond, Sr., UTSA
TE – Kam McKnight, So., Louisiana Tech
TE – Ryan Yurachek, Jr., Marshall
TE – Julian Allen, Jr., Southern Miss
WR – Austin Duke, Sr., Charlotte
WR – Thomas Owens, Jr., FIU
WR – Kalib Woods, Jr., Florida Atlantic
WR – Dennis Andrews, Sr., Middle Tennessee
WR – Ty Lee, Fr., Middle Tennessee
WR – Jonathan Duhart, Jr., Old Dominion
WR – Allenzae Staggers, Jr., Southern Miss
WR – Josh Stewart, Jr., UTSA
DEFENSE
DL – Brandon Banks, Sr., Charlotte
DL – Aaron Brown, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DL – Deldrick Canty, Jr., Louisiana Tech
DL – Ryan Bee, So., Marshall
DL – Gary Thompson, Sr., Marshall
DL – Chris Hale, Sr., Middle Tennessee
DL – Shaquille Huff, Sr., Middle Tennessee
DL – Jimal McBride, Sr., Middle Tennessee
DL – Steven Rhodes, Sr., Middle Tennessee
DL – Bunmi Rotimi, Jr., Old Dominion
DL – Xavier Thigpen, Jr., Southern Miss
DL – Chris Johnson, Jr., WKU
LB – Nick Cook, Sr., Charlotte
LB – Treyvon Williams, Jr., FIU
LB – Azeez Al-Shaair, So., Florida Atlantic
LB – Russell Farris, Jr., Louisiana Tech
LB – Chris Melton, So., Middle Tennessee
LB – D.J. Sanders, Jr.., Middle Tennessee
LB – Joshua Wheeler, Jr., North Texas
LB – Anthony Wilson, Sr., Old Dominion
LB – Alex Lyons, Sr., Rice
LB – Elijah Parker, Sr., Southern Miss
LB – Nick Usher, Sr., UTEP
LB – Joel Iyiegbuniwe, So., WKU
LB – T.J. McCollum, Jr., WKU
DB – Niko Gonzalez, Jr., FIU
DB – Raekwon Williams, Jr., Florida Atlantic
DB – Jalen Young, So., Florida Atlantic
DB – Secdrick Cooper, Jr., Louisiana Tech
DB – Prince Sam, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DB – Rodney Allen, Jr., Marshall
DB – Nate Brooks, So., North Texas
DB – Eric Jenkins, Jr., North Texas
DB – Tabari McGaskey, Sr., Rice
DB – Jordan Moore, Sr., UTSA
DB – Leverick Johnson, Jr., WKU
SPECIAL TEAMS
K – Austin Taylor, Sr., FIU
K – Greg Joseph, Jr., Florida Atlantic
K – Trevor Moore, Jr., North Texas
K – Skyler Simcox, So., WKU
P – Dalton Schomp, Sr., Florida Atlantic
P – Jack Fox, So., Rice
P – Tyler Sarrazin, Sr., Southern Miss
P – Alan Luna, Jr., UTEP
KR – Chris Montgomery, Jr., Charlotte
KR – Kerrith Whyte, Fr., Florida Atlantic
KR – Tyler Wilson, Fr., North Texas
PR – Terry Juniel, So., UTEP
LS – Keaston Sinicki, Sr., Charlotte
LS – Sam Medlock, Sr., FIU
LS – Reed Buce, Jr., Old Dominion
LS – Matt Bayliss, Jr., UTSA
LS – Nolan Dowling, Sr., WKU
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Mason Fine, North Texas
RB – Devin Singletary, Florida Atlantic
RB – Quinton Baker, WKU
OL – Ethan Reed, Louisiana Tech
OL – Levi Brown, Marshall
OL – Devin Hannan, Old Dominion
OL – Ty Pollard, Southern Miss
OL – Greg Long, UTEP
TE – Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic
WR – Stantley Thomas, FIU
WR – Ty Lee, Middle Tennessee
DEFENSE
DL – Eric Kendzior, Louisiana Tech
DL – Ty Tyler, Marshall
DL – Tyshun Render, Middle Tennessee
DL – LaDarius Hamilton, North Texas
DL – Chris Richardson, UTEP
LB – Tyriq Harris, Charlotte
LB – Jayson VanHook, UTEP
LB – Josiah Tauaefa, UTSA
DB – Ben DeLuca, Charlotte
DB – Ephraim Kitchen, Louisiana Tech
DB – Chris Jackson, Marshall
DB – Justin Rogers, UTEP
SPECIAL TEAMS
K – Brad Davis, Old Dominion
P – Bailey Cate, Old Dominion
KR – Kerrith Whyte, Florida Atlantic
PR – Darrell Brown, Old Dominion
LS – Matt Beardall, Marshall
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