July 24, 2007

IRVING, Texas - University of Memphis junior offensive lineman Brandon Pearce has been named to the 2007 preseason All-Conference USA first team, the league office announced Tuesday. The 12 C-USA coaches voted on the preseason all-conference squads.

Earlier this summer, the 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive lineman was selected to the preseason All-Conference USA Team as noted in Street & Smith's College Football 2007 Yearbook.

Pearce has started 20-consecutive career games at right tackle. In 2006, he played every offensive snap in the 12 contests with the exception of two plays late in the Chattanooga victory.

He played a key role in Memphis leading C-USA for the third-straight season in sack denial, as the Tigers only gave up 14 in 2006. In addition, Pearce recovered a Tiger fumble against Marshall, and ultimately was named to the All-C-USA third team by league coaches. It was his second career league honor as he earned Conference USA All-Freshman Team recognition in 2005.

A Memphis, Tenn., native, Pearce will help anchor a Tiger offensive line that returns three starters and may be the deepest and most talented group that head coach Tommy West has had in his tenure at Memphis.

The Tigers report to preseason camp Aug. 6, with the season and home opener to follow less than a month later on Sept. 1 when Memphis hosts Mid-South rival Mississippi at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The game, to be televised by Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS), is slated for a 2:30 p.m. (CT) kick-off.

The following are the 2007 preseason All-Conference USA squad and awards:

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

Offensive Player of the Year
Jarret 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 TFL, 11.5 sacks)

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