Nov. 27, 2007

MEMPHIS, TENN. - The University of Memphis placed five players on the All-Conference USA Media team that is voted on by media representatives in each team's market as announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon.

Earning recognition for the Tigers was offensive lineman Andy Smith, wide receiver Duke Calhoun and linebacker Jake Kasser who were all named to the C-USA Second Team. Offensive lineman Dominik Riley and deep snapper Keenan Bratcher were both named to the All-Freshman Team.

A senior from Fayetteville, Ga., Smith has started all 12 games this season at right guard. He has been commended several times for his leadership, and was one of five Tigers selected as a permanent captain for the 2007 squad by his fellow teammates. Smith played all 108 snaps in the season finale which was a career high. He has helped pave the way for a Tiger offense that ranks 13th nationally in passing offense and 23rd in total offense. The Tigers also rank 10th nationally and lead Conference USA for the fourth straight year in sacks allowed with just 13 in 12 total games. For the season, Smith has participated in 849 of Memphis' 939 total offensive plays.

Kasser, a senior from Germantown, Tenn., has started all 12 games at linebacker - a position that has been hit substantially by injuries this season. Kasser, who was also named a 2007 Tiger captain, leads the Tigers with 95 tackles, 53 of which were solo stops. He was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week following the UAB victory in which he had a career-high 13 tackles, including nine solo stops. In that game, he was also responsible for a quarterback hurry that led to the interception by Corey Mills in the third quarter. Kasser has been a key defensive force and in his last 14 career games totals 114 tackles, three sacks and four fumble recoveries.

A sophomore from Memphis, Tenn., Calhoun has had a stellar second season for the Tigers and leads the way with 850 yards and five touchdowns on 58 receptions. He will enter the 2007 New Orleans Bowl with a 23-game receiving streak and holds the school record with seven career 100-yard games. He logged four 100-yard games this season, including three straight versus East Carolina, Southern Miss and UAB. His 159 yards on four receptions against UAB was a career high as he hauled in a pair of 70-yard receptions in that contest. Just two years into his career at Memphis, Calhoun ranks seventh all-time in career receiving yards with 1,531 and in receptions with 100.

Riley, who is a native of Montgomery, Ala., has played in all 12 games this season and made seven starts on the offensive line. He started five straight games at left guard to open the season before suffering a rib injury in the Marshall game. Though he did not start the following contest against Middle Tennessee, he did see action and played despite the injury. Riley has participated in 61 percent of the Tigers' offensive plays this season and helps anchor an offensive line that is leading the league with just 13 sacks allowed.

Bratcher is one of just four true freshmen to see action for the Tigers this season. He had his work cut out for him as he was replacing the most consistent deep snapper in school history, Rusty Clayton. Clayton was a first-team All-C-USA pick by the media last season. A native of Milan, Tenn., Bratcher played in eight games this year, including the last five straight contests. He handled snapping duties for PATs and field goals in his first season with the Tigers.

The individual awards such as Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year will all be released on Wednesday afternoon.

This is the second year that the league has had two different All-C-USA teams and the Coaches All-C-USA squad will be announced next Tuesday and Wednesday. For the full Media All-C-USA team, please visit www.ConferenceUSA.com.