DALLAS – Conference USA announced its 2023 All-Conference football teams Tuesday, as selected by the league’s nine head football coaches. All nine schools placed at least one player on the first team, with Conference USA champion and VRBO Fiesta Bowl-bound No. 23 Liberty producing a league-high seven selections, followed by UTEP with five. Liberty had the most combined first and second-team members with 11, followed by CUSA runners-up New Mexico State and UTEP with eight apiece.
Three of Liberty’s first-team selections came on the offensive side of the ball, in 2023 CUSA Championship Game MVP Kaidon Salter (43 touchdowns responsible for, 162-266 for 2,750 yards, 31 passing touchdowns to just five interceptions and 1,064 yards rushing on 153 carries with 12 scores on the ground), RB Quinton Cooley (213 carries for 1,322 yards and 16 touchdowns) and OL X’Zauvea Gadlin (13 starts and paved the way for the nation’s leading rushing team). Defensively, the Flames boast a trio of first-team selections as well, in LB Tyren Dupree (115 total tackles, 8.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, two interceptions, three pass breakups and six quarterback hurries), DB Kobe Singleton (35 total tackles, one fumble recovery, four interceptions and 12 pass breakups) and DB Brylan Green (38 total tackles, 3.0 TFL, one sack, one forced fumble, five interceptions and eight pass breakups).
UTEP finished with five first team selections, led offensively by standout WR Kelly Akharaiyi (48 catches for 1,033 yards with seven touchdowns), OL Andrew Meyer (started all 12 games for the Miners) and OL Elijah Klein (started all 12 games). A pair of Miners on the defensive side of the ball were also recognized in DE Maurice Westmoreland (37 total tackles, 10.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble, four quarterback hurries and three pass breakups) and LB Tyrice Knight (140 total tackles, 15.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, four quarterback hurries and seven pass breakups).
LA Tech was represented by three players on the first team, highlighted by WR/PR Smoke Harris (83 catches for 796 yards and four touchdowns, while averaging 8.4 yards per punt return on 28 attempts, with one touchdown), who was recognized at two positions. Defensively, DB Willie Roberts (38 total tackles, 0.5 TFL, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and 12 pass breakups) was selected as well. On special teams, in addition to Harris, P Blake Ochsendorf (Averaged 45.7 yards per attempt on 70 punts, with a long of 70 yards, placed 18 inside the 20, 17 of 50-plus yards and garnered 25 fair catches) was named to the first team for the Bulldogs.
Ten-win New Mexico State, who finished 7-1 in league play and fell in the title game at Liberty, produced three first team selections in OL Shiyazh Pete (14 starts and helped pace the nation’s 12th-best rushing attack), DT Sterling Webb (28 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry) and K Ethan Albertson (18-23 on field goals with a long of 52 and an average of 62.0 yards per kickoff with 49 touchbacks).
Middle Tennessee also had three first-teamers, led by TE Holden Willis (46 catches for 697 yards and five touchdowns), OL Keylan Rutledge (made 11 starts for the Blue Raiders) and LS Brody Butler (started all 12 games for MTSU, and was perfect on all of his snaps in 2023).
Jax State won eight games, posted a 6-2 league record in its first FBS season and had a pair of Gamecocks recognized on CUSA’s first team. RB Malik Jackson (133 carries for 859 yards, seven touchdowns and another 82 yards receiving on 15 catches) was the lone offensive selection, while DL Chris Hardie (57 total tackles, 16.0 TFL, 8.5 sacks, an interception, four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup) represented the Jax State defense.
Sam Houston had a pair of first team representatives as well in the Bearkats’ first FBS season, both on the defensive side of the ball. LB Trevor Williams (135 total tackles, 8.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two interceptions and five quarterback hurries) joined DB Da’Marcus Crosby (55 total tackles, 1.0 TFL, four interceptions, one quarterback hurry and three pass breakups) on the first team for Sam Houston.
WKU finished 7-5 and is headed to its 10th bowl game in the past 12 seasons. WR Malachi Corley (75 catches for 958 yards and a league-best 11 touchdowns) is the Hilltoppers sole representative on the first team.
FIU also had one first team selection, in DT Jordan Guerad (38 total tackles, 7.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and a pair of quarterback hurries).
First Team
Offense
QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
RB Malik Jackson, Jax State
WR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
WR Kelly Akharaiyi, UTEP
WR Malachi Corley, WKU
TE Holden Willis, MTSU
OL X’Zauvea Gadlin, Liberty
OL Andrew Meyer, UTEP
OL Keylan Rutledge, MTSU
OL Shiyazh Pete, NM State
OL Elijah Klein, UTEP
Defense
DE Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
DT Jordan Guerad, FIU
DT Sterling Webb, NM State
DE Chris Hardie, Jax State
LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
LB Tyren Dupree, Liberty
LB Trevor Williams, Sam Houston
DB Willie Roberts, LA Tech
DB Kobe Singleton, Liberty
DB Brylan Green, Liberty
DB Da’Marcus Crosby, Sam Houston
Special Teams
K Ethan Albertson, NM State
P Blake Ochsendorf, LA Tech
KR Aaron Bedgood, Liberty
PR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
LS Brody Butler, MTSU
Second Team
Offense
QB Diego Pavia, NM State
RB Deion Hankins, UTEP
RB Star Thomas, NM State
WR Kris Mitchell, FIU
WR CJ Daniels, Liberty
WR Elijah Metcalf, MTSU
TE Sean Brown, Jax State
OL Jonathan Graham, Liberty
OL Jordan White, Liberty
OL Treylen Brown, Jax State
OL Clay Webb, Jax State
OL Canaan Yarro, NM State
Defense
DE Praise Amaewhule, UTEP
DT Hosea Wheeler, WKU
DT Jay Hardy, Liberty
DE Quindarius Dunnigan, MTSU
LB Donovan Manuel, FIU
LB Sam Brumfield, MTSU
LB Keyshaun Elliott, NM State
DB Kendrick Simpkins, WKU
DB Teldrick Ross, MTSU
DB Jeremiah Harris, Jax State
DB Derek Carter, Jax State
Special Teams
K Jacob Barnes, LA Tech
P Joshua Sloan, UTEP
KR Demarcus Griffin-Taylor, LA Tech
PR Dean Patterson, FIU
LS Charlie Eberle, NM State
Honorable Mention
Offense
QB Austin Reed, WKU
RB Torrance Burgess, Jr., UTEP
RB Billy Lucas, Liberty
WR Perry Carter, Jax State
WR Cyrus Allen, LA Tech
WR Noah Smith, Sam Houston
TE Eli Stowers, NM State
OL Carson Bruno, LA Tech
OL Xavior Gray, Liberty
OL Justin Mayers, UTEP
OL Will O’Steen, Jax State
OL Vincent Murphy, WKU
Defense
DE J-Rock Swain, Jax State
DT Jeff Marks, Jax State
DT Izaiah Reed, NM State
DE CJ Bazile, Jr., Liberty
LB Quae Drake, Jax State
LB Jeslord Boatang, LA Tech
LB James Neal, UTEP
DB Anthony Johnson, Jr., WKU
DB Tra Fluellen, MTSU
DB Kobe Hylton, UTEP
DB Jordan Vincent, NM State
Special Teams
K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
P Jack Dawson, Jax State
KR Easton Messer, WKU
PR Torrance Burgess, Jr., UTEP
LS Trey Naughton, WKU
-ConferenceUSA.com-
