Conference USA returns the top-ranked Group of Five team from the 2023 college football season while welcoming a 10th program to the fold in the form of the Kennesaw State Owls for the upcoming campaign. More teams means more talent to cram into the CFN All-CUSA honors, but unsurprisingly, some familiar faces form the very cream of the crop for this fall.
Follow along with each of our All-Conference honors as well as our National Honors this offseason: All-Americans | AAC | ACC | B1G | Big 12 | MAC |Mountain West | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt | FBS Independent
Preseason CUSA Football Team Honors for 2023
- Player of the Year
Clay Webb, OG, Jacksonville State - Offensive Player of the Year
Clay Webb, OG, Jacksonville State - Defensive Player of the Year
Kavian Gaither, LB, Sam Houston - Specialist of the Year
Kam Thomas, UTEP - Newcomer of the Year
Michael Benefield, RB, Kennesaw State - Coach of the Year
Jamey Chadwell, Liberty - Offensive Transfer of the Year
TJ Finley, QB, Western Kentucky - Defensive Transfer of the Year
CJ Harris, LB, Louisiana Tech - Impact Freshman of the Year
Trace Meadows, LB, UTEP
Preseason CUSA Offense
- Quarterback of the Year
Kaidon Salter, Liberty - Running Back of the Year
Quinton Cooley, Liberty - Wide Receiver of the Year
Noah Smith, Sam Houston - Tight End of the Year
Sean Brown, Jacksonville State - Offensive Tackle of the Year
Isaiah Wright, UTEP - Offensive Guard of the Year
Clay Webb, Jacksonville State - Center of the Year
Canaan Yarro, New Mexico State - Offensive Lineman of the Year
Clay Webb, OG, Jacksonville State - Offensive Line of the Year
Jacksonville State - Offensive Newcomer of the Year
Michael Benefield, RB, Kennesaw State
Preseason First-Team All-CUSA Offense
QB: Kaidon Salter, Liberty
RB: Quinton Cooley, Liberty
RB: Monte Watkins, New Mexico State
WR: Noah Smith, Sam Houston
WR: Dalvin Smith, Western Kentucky
WR: Treon Sibley, Liberty
TE: Sean Brown, Jacksonville State
FLEX: Michael Benefleld, Kennesaw State
OT: Isaiah Wright, UTEP
OG: Clay Webb, Jacksonville State
OC: Canaan Yarro, New Mexico State
OG: Bert Hale, Louisiana Tech
OT: Will O’Steen, Jacksonville State
Preseason Second-Team All-CUSA Offense
QB: TJ Finley, Western Kentucky
RB: Shomari Lawrence, FIU
RB: Jevon Jackson, UTEP
WR: Jaden Smith, UTEP
WR: Gabriel Benyard, Kennesaw State
WR: Kisean Johnson, Western Kentucky
TE: River Helms, Western Kentucky
FLEX: Elijah Young, Western Kentucky
OT: Shiyazh Pete, New Mexico State
OG: Quantavious Leslie, Western Kentucky
OC: Ethan Hagler, Sam Houston
OG: Jordan White, Liberty
OT: Ashanti Cole, Louisiana Tech
Preseason Third-Team All-CUSA Offense
QB: Keyone Jenkins, FIU
RB: Kejon Owens, FIU
RB: Billy Lucas, Liberty
WR: Gabriel Benyard, Kennesaw State
WR: Easton Messer, Western Kentucky
WR: Dean Patterson, FIU
TE: Bentley Hanshaw, Liberty
FLEX: Jaiden Credle, MTSU
OT: JaDarious Lee, FIU
OG: Jerren Gilbert, Louisiana Tech
OC: Brock Robey, Jacksonville State
OG: Wyatt Lawson, FIU
OT: Orion Irving, Sam Houston
Preseason Honorable Mention All-CUSA Offense
QB: Nicholas Vattiato, MTSU
RB: Anwar Lewis, Jacksonville State
RB: Frank Peasant, MTSU
WR: Nazeviah Burris, FIU
WR: Donte Lee Jr., Liberty
FLEX: John Gentry, Sam Houston
FLEX: Brian Brewton, MTSU
OT: Xavior Gray, Liberty
OG: James Dawn II, Sam Houston
OC: Zarian McGill, Louisiana Tech
OG: Ethan Newman, Kennesaw State
OT: Seaburn Hines, Kennesaw State
Preseason CUSA Defense
- Defensive Lineman of the Year
J-Rock Swain, EDGE, Jacksonville State - EDGE Defender of the Year
J-Rock Swain, Jacksonville State - Interior Defender of the Year
Bryce Dixon, Liberty - Linebacker of the Year
Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston - Cornerback of the Year
Upton Stout, Western Kentucky - Safety of the Year
Caleb Weaver, Sam Houston - Defensive Line of the Year
Liberty - Secondary of the Year
Liberty - Defensive Newcomer of the Year
Donelius Johnson, LB, Kennesaw State
Preseason First-Team All-CUSA Defense
EDGE: J-Rock Swain, Jacksonville State
DT: Bryce Dixon, Liberty
DT: Adam Watkins, Kennesaw State
EDGE: CJ Bazile Jr., Liberty
LB: Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston
LB: Donelius Johnson, Kennesaw State
LB: Reggie Peterson, FIU
CB: Hezekiah Masses, FIU
CB: Upton Stout, Western Kentucky
CB: Tyrell Raby, MTSU
S: Caleb Weaver, Sam Houston
S: Brylan Green, Liberty
FLEX: Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
Preseason Second-Team All-CUSA Defense
EDGE: Issiah Nixon, Sam Houston
DT: Jeramy Passmore, FIU
DT: Chris Boti, Liberty
EDGE: Buddha Peleti, New Mexico State
LB: Parker Hughes, MTSU
LB: Laletia Hale, Jacksonville State
LB: Joseph Carter, Liberty
CB: AJ Odums, UTEP
CB: JeRico Washington Jr., Kennesaw State
CB: Brian Blades II, FIU
S: Quinton Reese, Liberty
S: Sidney Porter, Kennesaw State
FLEX: Michael Richard, Louisiana Tech
Preseason Third-Team All-CUSA Defense
EDGE: Mykol Clark, Louisiana Tech
DT: Thomarius Walker, Kennesaw State
DT: Cole Gustafson, FIU
EDGE: Sebastian Benjamin, Western Kentucky
LB: Zach Zimos, Louisiana Tech
LB: Devyn Curtis, MTSU
LB: Devon Lynch, Western Kentucky
CB: Derek Carter, Jacksonville State
CB: Keonte Glinton, New Mexico State
CB: Jhamal Shelby Jr., Louisiana Tech
S: Fred Perry, Jacksonville State
S: Kory Chapman, UTEP
FLEX: TJ Bush, Liberty
Preseason Honorable Mention All-CUSA Defense
EDGE: Jordan Miles, Kennesaw State
DT: Jalil Rivera-Harvey, Western Kentucky
EDGE: Curley Young Jr., Jacksonville State
LB: Baron Hopson, Kennesaw State
LB: Teylor Jackson, Liberty
CB: Jabari Mack, Jacksonville State
CB: Geimere Latimer, Jacksonville State
CB: David Fisher, Sam Houston
S: Elias Escobar, Sam Houston
S: Marvae Myers, MTSU
FLEX: Devin Goree, UTEP
Preseason CUSA Special Teams
- Kicker of the Year
Chase Gabriel, FIU - Punter of the Year
Jack Dawson, Jacksonville State - Kick Returner of the Year
Easton Messer, Western Kentucky - Punt Returner of the Year
Dean Patterson, FIU - Special Teamer of the Year
Jayce Hunter, UTEP - Kickoff Specialist of the Year
Buck Buchanan, Louisiana Tech
Preseason First-Team All-CUSA Specialists
PK: Chase Gabriel, FIU
KOS: Buck Buchanan, Louisiana Tech
P: Jack Dawson, Jacksonville State
KR: Easton Messer, Western Kentucky
PR: Dean Patterson, FIU
ST: Jayce Hunter, UTEP
Preseason Second-Team All-CUSA Specialists
PK: Colby Sessums, Sam Houston
KOS: Riley Stephens, Western Kentucky
P: Joshua Huiet, Kennesaw State
KR: Kam Thomas, UTEP
PR: Kam Thomas, UTEP
ST: Jalen Davis, MTSU
Preseason Third-Team All-CUSA Specialists
PK: Lucas Carneiro, Western Kentucky
KOS: Christian Pavon, Sam Houston
P: Max Morgan, Liberty
KR: Donte Lee Jr., Liberty
PR: Gabriel Benyard, Kennesaw State
ST: Eli Leiataua, Kennesaw State
Preseason Honorable Mention All-CUSA Specialists
PK: Buzz Flabiano, UTEP
KOS: Buzz Flabiano, UTEP
P: Trey Turk, MTSU
KR: Malik Phillips, Sam Houston
PR: Emon Allen, Sam Houston
ST: Marshall Jackson, Western Kentucky
Congratulations to all those players selected. For any questions regarding these selections or the process behind them, feel free to email them to me or ask on Twitter (@CamMellor).