March 8, 2005

MEMPHIS, TENN. - NationalChamps.net released its sixth annual preview, and in doing so also released its 2005 Preseason All-American Team. Listed on the first team with Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson was Memphis' own DeAngelo Williams. Listed to the third-team was senior kicker Stephen Gostkowski.

Defensively, Marcus West and Wesley Smith were picked to the honorable mention squad.

Named to several All-America teams last season, Williams was a key factor in the Tigers finishing the year with an 8-4 record and an appearance in the GMAC Bowl. It was the first time in school history that the Tigers would enjoy back-to-back bowl invitations. In his three seasons, Williams has rewritten the rushing section of the Tiger record book, and has received numerous honors.

A two-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year (04, 03), Williams also received recognition as a C-USA Player of the Week twice during the 2004 season. He ended the campaign as a finalist for the Maxwell Award, the Doak Walker Award, the Hossman Trophy and the John Wooden Cup. He also was named an all-American by Pro Football Weekly (first-team), the Associated Press (third-team), and SI.com (second team), and was tabbed as a member of the Conference USA All-Decade Team. Prior to the start of the season, CBSSportsline named Williams No. 45 among the 50 most relevant people in college football. CollegeSportsReport.com named Williams a first-team selection on their All-Junior Offense and a second-team pick for their All-America Offense.

Williams finished his junior campaign with 1,948 rushing yards on 313 attempts, both of which led C-USA and are school records. He also led the nation in rushing touchdowns with 22. Nationally, he was second in scoring (138 points) and all-purpose yards (2,230 yards), and third in rushing. Including the GMAC Bowl, during which he sustained a broken leg and left the game in the third quarter, Williams rushed for more than 100 yards in 10 of the 12 games. He also totaled more than 200 yards in three of the last five games, and is the only U of M player in school history to rush for multiple 200-yard games. In the fifth game of the season, against Houston, he broke the single game school record for rushing yards in a game with 262 against the Cougars. The previous record was 260 yards set by Paul Gowen against Tulsa in 1969. In that Houston game, Williams also became the all-time leading rusher at the U of M. He came back in the final regular season game against USF and set an even higher single game standard with 263 yards against the Bulls. In 2004, Williams also tied the single-game school record for touchdowns after scoring four TDs against Chattanooga, Houston and East Carolina. He recorded the longest play from scrimmage in `04 with a 75-yard touchdown run against Southern Miss.

In only three seasons, Williams owns career records for 100-yard games (24), rushing yards (4,062), attempts (659), touchdowns scored (41) and all-purpose yards (5,498). Williams enters the 2005 season primed to become Conference USA's all-time leading rusher. He will need just 303 yards to surpass former Tulane back Mewelde Moore, who totaled 4,364 yards from 2000-03. The Wynne, Ark., native is currently tied for the all-time C-USA lead in rushing touchdowns with 37, and is third all-time in the league in all-purpose yards. He holds the conference record in career touchdowns with 41.

Though the football season ended following the GMAC Bowl on Dec. 22, the accolades continued for Williams. He was flown to Los Angeles in January as a finalist for the John Wooden Cup, and also traveled to Columbus, Ohio, where he was named as an outstanding collegiate running back and a Player to Watch for 2005 by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. Most recently, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame honored Williams as the Male Amateur Athlete of the Year, and the Tennessee Sports Writers Association will present him their Player of the Year Award in June.

Gostkowski was named to the All-C-USA First-Team in 2004. A Lou Groza Award semifinalist, he was the number two scoring threat for Memphis, totaling 108 points in 2004. He ended his junior year with 268 career points kicking, which is a school record, and ranks sixth in C-USA. He hit 87 consecutive PATs before missing his fourth try vs. USM (backed up due to penalty).

The Madison, Miss., native finished the year ranked eighth nationally in field goals, and was second in C-USA after hitting 20 of his 24 attempts. He connected on 6-of-6 field goals from 40-49 yards, including a 49-yard make against Cincinnati, and booted four field goals against Arkansas State. Following the ASU victory, Gostkowski was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week. He received the honor again following the Louisville game when he was 3-of-3 FGs and 4-of-4 PATs. He currently holds the school record with 124 PATs, and has hit 48 of his 67 career FG attempts.

West was named to the All-C-USA Second-Team in 2004, and was Memphis' leading sack contributor through 12 games. He totaled six sacks for a loss of 43 yards. In 2004, he tallied 52 tackles, with 9.5 TFLs for 50 yards. He also had a forced fumble and a pass break up. He recovered his third career fumble in the win over Houston, and his fourth over Louisville.

Smith was named to the All-C-USA First-Team last season. He was third on the squad with a total of 89 tackles, 40 of which were solo stops. He was responsible for four pass break ups, and totaled 3.0 TFLs for 11 yards. He set a new career high against Arkansas State with 17 tackles (10 solo, 7 assists) and was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week following that performance. He was also named a league player of the week in 2003.

2005 Preseason All-Americans
 First-Team
QB Matt Leinart - Sr. - Southern California
RB Adrian Peterson - So. - Oklahoma
RB DeAngelo Williams - Sr. - Memphis
WR Mike Hass - Sr. - Oregon State
WR Jarrett Hicks - Jr. - Texas Tech
TE Leonard Pope - Jr. - Georgia
OT Marcus McNeill - Sr. - Auburn
OG Max Jean-Gilles - Sr. - Georgia
C   Greg Eslinger - Sr. - Minnesota
OG Grayling Love - Sr. - Arizona State
OT Jonathan Scott - Sr. - Texas
K   Andrew Wellock - Jr. - Eastern Michigan
KR Ashlan Davis - Sr. - Tulsa
DE Mathias Kiwanuka - Sr. - Boston College
DT Jesse Mahelona - Sr. - Tennessee
DT Haloti Ngata - Jr. - Oregon
DE Darryl Tapp - Sr. - Virginia Tech
LB Ahmad Brooks - Jr. - Virginia
LB Chad Greenway - Sr. - Iowa
LB Spencer Havner - Sr. - UCLA
LB A.J. Hawk - Sr. - Ohio State
CB Charles Gordon - Jr. - Kansas
CB Jimmy Williams - Sr. - Virginia Tech
S   Jason Allen - Sr. - Tennessee
S   Jaxson Appel - Sr. - Texas A&M
P   Daniel Sepulveda - Jr. - Baylor
PR Ted Ginn - So. - Ohio State


Second-Team
QB Omar Jacobs - Jr. - Bowling Green
RB Reggie Bush - Jr. - Southern California
RB Jamario Thomas - So. - North Texas
WR Derek Hagan - Sr. - Arizona State
WR Greg Lee - Jr. - Pittsburgh
TE Tim Day - Sr. - Oregon
OT Travis Leffew - Sr. - Louisville
OG Davin Joseph - Sr. - Oklahoma
C   Marvin Philip - Sr. - California
OG Mark Setterstrom - Sr. - Minnesota
OT Andrew Whitworth - Sr. - Louisiana State
K   Mason Crosby - Jr. - Colorado
KR Lance Bennett - Jr. - Indiana
DE Eric Henderson - Sr. - Georgia Tech
DT Garrett McIntyre - Sr. - Fresno State
DT Claude Wroten - Sr. - Louisiana State
DE Mario Williams - Jr. - North Carolina State
LB H.B. Blades - Jr. - Pittsburgh
LB D'Qwell Jackson - Sr. - Maryland
LB Nick Reid - Sr. - Kansas
LB Travis Williams - Sr. - Auburn
CB Antonio Cromartie - Jr. - Florida State
CB John Eubanks - Sr. - Southern Miss
S   Darnell Bing - Jr. - Southern California
S   LaRon Landry - Jr. - Louisiana State
P   Brandon Fields - Jr. - Michigan State
PR Devin Hester - Jr. - Miami FL


 Third-Team
QB Reggie McNeal - Sr. - Texas A&M **
QB Vince Young - Jr. - Texas **
RB Michael Hart - So. - Michigan
RB Laurence Maroney - Jr. - Minnesota
WR Santonio Holmes - Jr. - Ohio State
WR Todd Watkins - Sr. - Brigham Young
TE Marcedes Lewis - Sr. - UCLA **
TE Clark Harris - Sr. - Rutgers **
OT Adam Stenavich - Sr. - Michigan **
OT Ryan O'Callaghan - Sr. - California **
OG Matt Lentz - Sr. - Michigan
C   Mike Degory - Sr. - Florida
OG Dan Mozes - Jr. - West Virginia
OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson - Sr. - Virginia **
OT Daryn Colledge - Sr. - Boise State **
K   Stephen Gostkowski - Sr. - Memphis
KR John Eubanks - Sr. - Southern Miss
DE Stanley McClover - So. - Auburn
DT Larry Dibbles - Sr. - Texas
DT Steve Fifita - Sr. - Utah
DE Larry McSwain - Jr. - UAB
LB Korey Hall - Jr. - Boise State
LB Abdul Hodge - Sr. - Iowa
LB Tim McGarigle - Sr. - Northwestern
LB Ernie Sims - Jr. - Florida State
CB Will Blackmon - Sr. - Boston College
CB Gabriel Fulbright - Sr. - New Mexico
S   Greg Threat - Sr. - Miami FL
S   Pat Watkins - Sr. - Florida State
P   Tom Malone - Sr. - Southern California
PR Reggie Bush - Jr. - Southern California
** voting tie

HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE QB Josh Betts, Sr. - Miami OH; Bruce Gradkowski, Sr. - Toledo; Chris Leak, Jr. - Florida; Tyler Palko, Jr. - Pittsburgh; Brad Smith, Sr. - Missouri; Drew Tate, Jr. - Iowa; Jared Zabransky, Jr. - Boise State
RB Chris Barclay, Sr. - Wake Forest; Cornell Brockington, Jr. - Connecticut; Patrick Cobbs, Sr. - North Texas (injured); P.J. Daniels, Sr. - Georgia Tech; Kenneth Darby, Jr. - Alabama; Maurice Drew, Jr. - UCLA; Andre Hall, Sr. - South Florida; Taurean Henderson, Sr. - Texas Tech; Carlton Jones, Sr. - Army; Brian Leonard, Sr. - Rutgers; Wali Lundy, Sr. - Virginia; Marshawn Lynch, Jr. - California; DonTrell Moore, Sr. - New Mexico; Jerious Norwood, Sr. - Mississippi State; P.J. Pope, Sr. - Bowling Green; Damien Rhodes, Sr. - Syracuse; Gerald Riggs, Sr. - Tennessee; Jerry Seymour, Jr. - Central Michigan; Bryson Sumlin, Sr. - Fresno State; Leon Washington, Sr. - Florida State; LenDale White, Jr. - Southern California; Garrett Wolfe, Jr. - Northern Illinois
WR David Anderson, Sr. - Colorado State; Jason Avant, Sr. - Michigan; Todd Blythe, So. - Iowa State; Eric Deslauriers, Jr. - Eastern Michigan; Nichiren Flowers, Sr. - Nevada; Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. - UTEP; Jason Hill, Jr. - Washington State; Ed Hinkel, Sr. - Iowa; Dwayne Jarrett, So. - Southern California; Greg Jennings, Sr. - Western Michigan; Calvin Johnson, So. - Georgia Tech; Johnny Quinn, Jr. - North Texas; Vincent Marshall, Sr. - Houston; Martin Nance, Sr. - Miami OH (injured); Cory Rodgers, Jr. - TCU; Charles Sharon, Sr. - Bowling Green; Clinton Solomon, Sr. - Iowa; Travis Wilson, Sr. - Oklahoma
TE Troy Bienemann, Sr. - Washington State; Brent Celek, Jr. - Cincinnati; Charles Davis, Sr. - Purdue; Matt Herian, Sr. - Nebraska; David Jones, Sr. - Louisiana State; Jeff King, Sr. - Virginia Tech; Joe Klopfenstein, Sr. - Colorado; Tim Massaquoi, Sr. - Michigan; Garrett Mills, Sr. - Tulsa; Andrew Mooney, So. - New Mexico State; Tony Scheffler, Sr. - Western Michigan; David Thomas, Sr. - Texas; John Wadkowski, Sr. - Wyoming
OT Sam Baker, So. - Southern California; Justin Blalock, Jr. - Texas; Nick Cole, Sr. - New Mexico State; Doug Free, Jr. - Northern Illinois; Todd Londot, Sr. - Miami OH; Jake Long, Jr. - Michigan; Jimmy Martin, Sr. - Virginia Tech; Zach Strief, Sr. - Northwestern; Jeremy Trueblood, Sr. - Boston College; Steve Vallos, Jr. - Wake Forest; Rob Warren, Sr. - Bowling Green; Eric Winston, Sr. - Miami FL (injured)
OG Leroy Harris, Jr. - North Carolina State; Kory Lichtensteiger, So. - Bowling Green; Dylan Lineberry, Jr. - North Texas; Aaron Lips, Sr. - Louisiana Tech; Kyle Ralph, Sr. - North Carolina; Samson Satele, Jr. - Hawai'i; Jason Spitz, Sr. - Louisville; Quinton Staton, Sr. - Middle Tennessee; Jon Wilson, Sr. - Air Force
C Jesse Boone, Sr. - Utah; Ryan Cook, Sr. - New Mexico; Will Montgomery, Sr. - Virginia Tech; Pat Ross, Sr. - Boston College; Brian Van Acker, Sr. - Northern Illinois; Kyle Young, Jr. - Fresno State
K Connor Barth, So, - North Carolina; Nick Bazaldua, Sr. - North Texas; Travis Bell, So. - Georgia Tech; Josh Cummings, Sr. - Pittsburgh; Connor Hughes, Sr. - Virginia; Darren McCaleb, Jr. - Southern Miss; Justin Medlock, Jr. - UCLA; Chris Nendick, So., Northern Illinois; Brandon Pace, Jr. - Virginia Tech; Todd Pegram, Sr. - Texas A&M; Reagan Schneider, Jr. - UTEP; Alexis Serna, So. - Oregon State; Colby Smith, Jr. - Middle Tennessee; Deric Yaussi, Sr. - Wyoming
KR Will Blackmon, Sr. - Boston College; Reggie Bush, Jr. - Southern California; Chris Davis, So. - Duke; Devin Hester, Jr. - Miami FL; Reggie Lindsey, Sr. - UAB; Tyrone Prothro, Jr. - Alabama; T.J. Rushing, Sr. - Stanford; Pierre Thomas, Jr. - Illinois
DEFENSE DE Baraka Atkins, Jr. - Miami FL; Dan Bazuin, Jr. - Central Michigan; Tamba Hali, Sr. - Penn State; Parys Haralson, Sr. - Tennessee; Marcus Johnson, Sr. - Miami OH; Manny Lawson, Sr. - North Carolina State; Mike Mendenhall, Sr. - Temple; Justin Parrish, Sr. - Kent State; John Syptak, Sr. - Rice; Marcus West, Sr. - Memphis; James Wyche, Sr. - Syracuse
DT McKinley Boykin, Sr. - Mississippi; Orien Harris, Sr. - Miami FL; Dusty Hoffschneider, Sr. - Wyoming; Kade Lane, Sr. - Houston; Jonathan Lewis, Sr. - Virginia Tech; Chris Mineo, Sr. - UTEP; Marcus Parker, Sr. - New Mexico; Gabe Watson, Sr. - Michigan; Rodrique Wright, Sr. - Texas
LB Jonathan Abbate, So. - Wake Forest; Rufus Alexander, Jr. - Oklahoma; Jon Alston, Sr. - Stanford; Trent Bray, Sr. - Oregon State; Anthony Cannon, Sr. - Tulane; Jimmy Cottrell, Sr. - New Mexico State; Bernard Davis, Sr. - Troy; Earl Everett, Sr. - Florida; Omar Gaither, Sr. - Tennessee; Ray Henderson, Sr. - Boston College; Thomas Howard, Sr. - UTEP; Brian Iwuh, Sr. - Colorado; Keon Jackson, Sr. - Toledo; Kyle Killion, Sr. - Indiana; Javon Lee, Sr. - Northern Illinois; Roger McIntosh, Sr. - Miami FL; Chris Moore, Sr. - East Carolina; Terna Nande, Sr. - Miami OH; A.J. Nicholson, Sr. - Florida State; Moses Osemwegie, Sr. - Vanderbilt; Paul Posluszny, Jr. - Penn State; Chris Reis, Sr. - Georgia Tech; Freddie Roach, Sr. - Alabama; DeMeco Ryans, Sr. - Alabama; Cole Snyder, Sr. - Idaho; Gerris Wilkinson, Sr. - Georgia Tech; Josh Williams, So. - Arkansas State; LaMarr Woodley, Jr. - Michigan
CB Trevis Coley, Sr. - Southern Miss; Johnny Faulk, Sr. - Troy; Tye Hill, Sr. - Clemson; Bernard Lay, Sr. - Pittsburgh; Richard Marshall, Jr. - Fresno State; Derrick Martin, Jr. - Wyoming; John Talley, Jr. - Duke; Alan Zemaitis, Sr. - Penn State
S Muhammad Abdullah, Sr. - Kentucky; Zach Baker, Sr. - East Carolina; Darrell Brooks, Sr. - Arizona; Matt Griebel, Sr. - New Mexico State; Roman Harper, Sr. - Alabama; Michael Huff, Sr. - Texas; Tyrell Johnson, So. - Arkansas State; Curtis Keyes, Jr. - Marshall; Maurice Lane, Sr. - Baylor; Bernard Pollard, Jr. - Purdue; Nate Salley, Sr. - Ohio State; Jason Simpson, Sr. - Missouri; Ko Simpson, So. - South Carolina; Anthony Smith, Sr. - Syracuse; Wesley Smith, Sr. - Memphis; Eric Weddle, Jr. - Utah
P Chris Beckman, Jr. - Tulane; Adam Graessle, Jr. - Pittsburgh; Thomas Olmsted, Sr. - Troy; Ryan Plackemeier, Sr. - Wake Forest; Adam Podlesh, Jr. - Maryland; Joel Stelly, Sr. - Louisiana-Monroe; Kyle Stringer, Jr. - Boise State; John Torp, Sr. - Colorado; Steve Weatherford, Sr. - Illinois
PR Will Blackmon, Sr. - Boston College; Steve Breaston, Sr. - Michigan; Michael Bumpus, So. - Washington State; Domenik Hixon, Sr. - Akron; Hoost Marsh, So. - Wyoming; Leodis McKelvin, So. - Troy; Justin Phinisee, Sr. - Oregon; Willie Reid, Sr. - Florida State; Kevin Robinson, So. - Utah State; Ryne Robinson, Jr. - Miami OH; Fred Smith, Jr. - Tulane; Travis Williams, So. - East Carolina