Southern Miss places league-best 10 on All-Conference USA teams

Southern Miss leads the league with 10 players placed on this year's All-Conference USA first and second teams.

C-USA announced its postseason honors Tuesday and four Golden Eagles made All-C-USA First Team: senior running back Jalen Richard, junior center Cameron Tom, senior cornerback Kalan Reed and senior long-snapper Lance Schuffert.

USM led the second team with six selections: junior quarterback Nick Mullens, sophomore running back Ito Smith, senior offensive tackle Rashod Hill, senior receiver Mike Thomas, senior defensive tackle Michael Smith and senior linebacker Brian Anderson.

USM had four earn honorable mention: senior receiver Casey Martin, junior defensive end Dylan Bradley, senior defensive tackle Andrew Bolton and junior safety D'Nerius Antoine.

Defensive end Darian Yancey is the lone Southern Miss representative on this year's Conference USA All-Freshman Team.

USM is 9-4 and set to play Washington in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Dec. 26.

Richard, a native of Alexandria, La., is the first USM running back to earn first-team honors since Damion Fletcher was selected as a junior in 2008. Richard rushed for 1,098 yards and 14 touchdowns to lead the Golden Eagles.

Reed, a Birmingham native, registered four interceptions and 47 tackles this season in an outstanding senior campaign. He also set a school record for pass breakups with 19.

Tom, a Baton Rouge native, helped lead the way for an offense that produced a school-record 6,758 yards this season.

Mullens edged out Louisiana Tech senior Jeff Driskel for second-team quarterback honors. Western Kentucky redshirt senior Brandon Doughty was the first-team selection.

Mullens established single-season school records for completions (306), passing yards (4,146) and touchdown passes (36).

Smith gave USM a second 1,000-yard rusher with 155 carries for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes for 493 yards and three scores.

Hill, a product of Jacksonville, Fla., was stellar at left tackle this season, starting all 13 games.

Thomas and Hill both had a strong case to make to be considered for the first team.

Thomas appeared to help his stock as a potential NFL draft pick with a strong performance to close out the 2015 campaign. He has caught a touchdown pass in nine consecutive games.

Despite missing the majority of the first two games of the season, Thomas finished with 62 catches for 1,201 yards and 12 touchdowns. His receiving yardage set a new single-season record for USM.

The 6-foot-4, 285-pound Smith moved from defensive end to tackle this season and finished with 22 tackles, including three sacks.

Anderson did a good job patrolling the field at middle linebacker, ranking second on the team with 83 tackles.

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

QB - Brandon Doughty, WKU, Sr.

RB - Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech, Sr.

RB - Jalen Richard, Southern Miss, Sr.

OL - Sebastian Johansson, Marshall, Sr.

OL - Jaylen Hunter, Middle Tennessee, Sr.

OL - Andrew Reue, Rice, Sr.

OL - Cameron Tom, Southern Miss, Jr.

OL - Forrest Lamp, WKU, Jr.

TE - Tyler Higbee, WKU, Sr.

WR - Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech, Jr.

WR - Richie James, Middle Tennessee, Fr.

WR - Taywan Taylor, WKU, Jr.

DEFENSE

DL - Michael Wakefield, FIU, Sr.

DL - Trevon Coley, Florida Atlantic, Sr.

DL - Trey Hendrickson, Florida Atlantic, Jr.

DL - Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech, Sr.

LB - Evan McKelvey, Marshall, Sr.

LB - T.T. Barber, Middle Tennessee, Sr.

LB - Nick Holt, WKU, Sr.

DB - Richard Leonard, FIU, Sr.

DB - Xavier Woods, Louisiana Tech, Jr.

DB - Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee, Sr.

DB - Kalan Reed, Southern Miss, Sr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K - Garrett Schwettman, WKU, Sr.

P - Dalton Schomp, Florida Atlantic, Jr.

KR - Deandre Reaves, Marshall, Sr.

PR - Richard Leonard, FIU, Sr.

LS - Lance Schuffert, Southern Miss, Sr.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

QB - Nick Mullens, Southern Miss, Jr.

RB - Kalif Phillips, Charlotte, Jr.

RB - Ray Lawry, Old Dominion, So.

RB - Ito Smith, Southern Miss, So.

RB - Anthony Wales, WKU, Jr.

OL - Michael Montero, FIU, Jr.

OL - Reggie Bain, Florida Atlantic, Sr.

OL - Darrell Brown, Louisiana Tech, Jr.

OL - Jens Danielsen, Louisiana Tech, Sr.

OL - Michael Selby, Marshall, Jr.

OL - Rashod Hill, Southern Miss, Sr.

TE - David Morgan II, UTSA, Sr.

WR - Ed Batties, Middle Tennessee, Sr.

WR - Zach Pascal, Old Dominion, Jr.

WR - Mike Thomas, Southern Miss, Sr.

DEFENSE

DL - Larry Ogunjobi, Charlotte, Jr.

DL - Jarquez Samuel, Marshall, Sr.

DL - Michael Smith, Southern Miss, Sr.

DL - Jason Neill, UTSA, Sr.

LB - Anthony Wint, FIU, So.

LB - Nick Thomason, Louisiana Tech, Sr.

LB - T.J. Ricks, Old Dominion, Jr.

LB - Brian Anderson, Southern Miss, Sr.

DB - Cre'von LeBlanc, Florida Atlantic, Sr.

DB - Bryson Abraham, Louisiana Tech, Sr.

DB - Jeremy Cutrer, Middle Tennessee, Jr.

DB - Bennett Okotcha, UTSA, Sr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K - Jonathan Barnes, Louisiana Tech, So.

P - Tyler Williams, Marshall, Sr.

KR - Kylen Towner, WKU, So.

PR - Deandre Reaves, Marshall, Sr.

LS - Matt Cincotta, Marshall, Sr.

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Southern Miss places league-best 10 on All-Conference USA teams ."