Dec. 8, 2009

MEMPHIS, TENN. -

Three Tigers were named to the All-Conference USA Football Team and two were placed on the All-Freshman Team as announced by the league office Tuesday.  The honorees are selected by the 12 conference head coaches.

Senior running back Curtis Steele was Memphis’ only first-team pick, while senior receiver Duke Calhoun and senior punter Matt Reagan were on the second team.  Offensive lineman Jamie McCoy and defensive lineman Dontari Poe represented the Tigers on the All-Freshman Team.

 

Steele was awarded the team’s Offensive Player of the Year Award this season after totaling 1,239 yards and 15 touchdowns on 198 carries.  He scored multiple touchdowns in the final four games of the season, including four in the overtime loss to Tulsa in the season finale.  He registered six 100-yard rushing games again this season to bring his career total to 12, which ranks second in school history behind DeAngelo Williams.  Included in the six 100-yard games this season were a 240-yard effort versus UTEP and a 232-yard performance against Tulsa.  Steele finished his two-year career at Memphis ranked third all-time in rushing yards with 2,462 and fourth in rushing touchdowns with 22.

 

Calhoun was selected by the Tiger coaching staff as the 2009 Most Valuable Player after logging 923 yards and five touchdowns on 68 receptions.  The 923 yards was a season-high mark for the four-year letterwinner, who ranks third nationally having caught at least one pass in 49 consecutive games.  He registered five or more catches in seven games this season, including an 11-reception effort versus Southern Miss.  He tallied three straight 100-yard games versus UT Martin, Marshall and UCF, and holds the school record with 10 games over the century mark.  Calhoun also holds school records with 2,981 yards and 212 receptions. 

 

In his first season as the Tigers' punter, Reagan was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is presented to the nation’s top punter.  He is second in C-USA and ranks third nationally in punting average (45.5).  Reagan handled all but one punt this season and totaled 19 kicks over 50 yards and dropped 26 inside the opponent's 20-yard line.  He was also 31-of-33 on PATs and was second on the team with 64 points.  Reagan was named the squad's Special Teams Player of the Year, along with long snapper Keenan Bratcher, and also earned C-USA Football All-Academic honors. 

 

McCoy played in six of the 12 games as a true freshman at both right and left tackle positions.  He made his collegiate debut against UTEP and saw increased action the following week versus Southern Miss.  He worked at least 30 offensive plays  in four of the final six games of the season, including a season-high 40 plays in the Houston and USM games.

 

Poe played in 11 of the 12 games, and logged six starts on the defensive line.  He was the only true freshman this season to start on either side of the ball.  He led the team in TFLs with seven and tied for the team lead in forced fumbles with three.  He finished the season with 27 tackles, including 18 solo stops and two sacks.  Poe logged eight games of multiple tackles, and registered a season-best eight stops versus UT Martin, which was also his first collegiate start.

 

Players who are nominated for all-conference honors and receive at least one vote are placed on the honorable mention team.  Senior receiver Carlos Singleton, junior offensive lineman Dominik Riley and junior long snapper Keenan Bratcher were honorable mention picks.  Reagan was also an honorable mention selection as a kicker.

 

Season tickets are on sale now for the 2010 Tiger football season that will include home games versus Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, UCF, Southern Miss, Houston and Tulsa.  Prime seats are $200, and seats in the Funzone are $100.

 

To purchase tickets, go to:

 

http://ev12.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=FBS&linkID=memphis&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=

 

2009 C-USA FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

 

FIRST TEAM

 

OFFENSE

QB- Case Keenum, Jr., Houston

RB- Curtis Steele, Sr., Memphis

RB- Donald Buckram, Jr., UTEP

OL- Sean Allen, Sr., East Carolina

OL- Ryan Hebert, Sr., Southern Miss

OL- Jake Seitz, Sr., UAB

OL- Jah Reid, Jr., UCF

OL- Mike Aguayo, Jr., UTEP

TE- Cody Slate, Sr., Marshall

WR- Dwayne Harris, Jr., East Carolina

WR- James Cleveland, Jr., Houston

WR- Emmanuel Sanders, Sr., SMU

 

DEFENSE

DL- Linval Joseph, Jr., East Carolina

DL- C.J. Wilson, Sr., East Carolina

DL- Jarvis Geathers, Sr., UCF

DL- Bruce Miller, Jr., UCF

LB- Mario Harvey, Sr., Marshall

LB- Chase Kennemer, Sr., SMU

LB- Cory Hogue, Sr., UCF

DB- Emmanuel Davis, So., East Carolina

DB- Van Eskridge, Sr., East Carolina

DB- Eddie Hicks, Sr., Southern Miss

DB- Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith, Sr., UTEP

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K- Craig Ratanamorn, Sr., Marshall

P- Matt Dodge, Sr., East Carolina

KR- Tyron Carrier, So., Houston

PR- Emmanuel Sanders, Sr., SMU

LS- Sean McClellan, Sr., Marshall

 

SECOND TEAM

 

OFFENSE

QB- Joe Webb, Sr., UAB

RB- Darius Marshall, Jr., Marshall

RB- Damion Fletcher, Sr., Southern Miss

OL- Terence Campbell, Sr., East Carolina

OL- Jarve Dean, Jr., Houston

OL- Daniel Baldridge, Sr., Marshall

OL- Scott Mitchell, Jr., Rice

OL- Kelvin Beachum, So., SMU

TE- Leroy Banks, Sr., Southern Miss

WR-Patrick Edwards, So., Houston

WR- Duke Calhoun, Sr., Memphis

WR- DeAndre Brown, So., Southern Miss

WR- Damaris Johnson, So., Tulsa

 

DEFENSE

DL- Tyrell Graham, Sr., Houston

DL- Albert McClellan, Sr., Marshall

DL- Scott Solomon, Jr., Rice

DL- Torrell Troup, Sr., UCF

LB- Nick Johnson, Sr., East Carolina

LB- Marcus McGraw, So., Houston

LB- Korey Williams, So., Southern Miss

DB- Brandon Brinkley, Sr., Houston

DB- James Lockett, Sr., Tulsa

DB- Hiram Atwater, Jr., UAB

DB- Josh Robinson, Fr., UCF

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K- Ben Hartman, Sr., East Carolina

P- Matt Reagan, Sr., Memphis

KR- Dwayne Harris, Jr., East Carolina

PR- Damaris Johnson, So., Tulsa

LS- Cody Tawater, Sr., Southern Miss

 

 

2009 C-USA FOOTBALL ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

 

OFFENSE

QB- Kyle Padron, SMU

RB- Charles Sims, Houston

RB- Charles Ross, Rice

OL- Jamie McCoy, Memphis

OL- Zack Morgan, Tulane

OL- Trent Dupy, Tulsa

OL- Chris Hubbard, UAB

OL- Theo Goins, UCF

TE- Vance McDonald, Rice

WR- Antavious Wilson, Marshall

WR- Darius Johnson, SMU

WR-  Ricky Johnson, Tulsa

 

DEFENSE

DL- Michael Brooks, East Carolina

DL- Zeke Riser, Houston

DL- Dontari Poe, Memphis

DL- Cory Dorris, Tulsa

LB- Phillip Steward, Houston

LB- Taylor Reed, SMU

LB- Shakiel Smith, Tulane

LB- Daniel White, UAB

DB- Kevin Gaddis, Rice

DB- Dexter McCoil, Tulsa

DB- Josh Robinson, UCF

DB- Deshawn Grayson, UTEP

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K- Matt Hogan, Houston

P- Peter Boehme, Southern Miss

KR- Marlon McClure, UTEP

PR- Tracy Lampley, Southern Miss

LS- Taylor Klein, UAB