Marshall Football: C-USA Announces Preseason Awards

Voted on by the leagues football coaches, Conference USA announced its preseason all conference teams, players of the year, and predicted order of finish in both divisions earlier today.

Marshall’s Rakeem Cato, C-USA’s reigning MVP, was named the league’s preseason offensive player of the year and first team quarterback. Last season Cato lead the nation in passing, throwing for 4,201 yards and 37 touchdowns. Tight end Gator Hoskins and wide receiver Tommy Shuler joined Cato as first team selections on offense.

Marshall did not garner any selections on defense but, Tyler Williams was selected as the first team punter.

The Thundering Herd was picked to finish second in the East division behind ECU. Last year’s Western division champion Tulsa was selected to finish first again in 2013.

2013 C-USA FOOTBALL COACHES PRESEASON AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Year
Rakeem Cato, Jr., QB, Marshall

Defensive Player of the Year
Phillip Gaines, Sr., DB, Rice

Special Teams Player of the Year
Cairo Santos, Sr., K, Tulane

First Team Offense

QB          Rakeem Cato, Jr., Marshall

RB           Vintavious Cooper, Sr., East Carolina

RB           Darrin Reaves, Jr., UAB

OL           Jake Alexander, Jr., Tulsa

OL           Stetson Burnett, Sr., Tulsa

OL           Scott Inskeep, Jr., UTSA

OL           Nate Richards, Sr., Rice

OL           Matt Shepperd, Jr., Louisiana Tech

OL           Will Simmons, Sr., East Carolina

WR          Justin Hardy, Jr., East Carolina

WR          Ryan Grant, Sr., Tulane

WR          Tommy Shuler, Jr., Marshall

TE           Gator Hoskins, Sr., Marshall

First Team Defense

DL           Christian Covington, So., Rice

DL           Justin Ellis, Sr., Louisiana Tech

DL           Greg Hickman, Sr., FIU

DL           Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DL, Southern Miss

LB           Shawn Jackson, Sr., Tulsa

LB           Derrell Johnson, Sr., East Carolina

LB           Andre Kirk, Jr., Florida Atlantic

DB           Kevin Byard, So., Middle Tennessee

DB           Lorenzo Doss, So., Tulane

DB           Phillip Gaines, Sr., Rice

DB           Marco Nelson, Sr., Tulsa

First Team Special Teams

K             Cairo Santos, Sr., Tulane

P             Tyler Williams, So., Marshall

KR           Reggie Whatley, Jr., Middle Tennessee

PR           Trey Watts, Sr., Tulsa

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

EAST DIVISION            

1. East Carolina

2. Marshall

3. Middle Tennessee

4. UAB                   

5. Southern Miss   

6. Florida Atlantic 

7. FIU                     

WEST DIVISION     

1. Tulsa

2. Rice                   

3. Louisiana Tech  

4. UTEP                  

5. North Texas              

6. Tulane                       

7. UTSA