Fanatics Promotion

    2024 All-CUSA College Football Preseason Team and Individual Honors

    The Preseason 2024 All-CUSA Team celebrates the best players and units that we should see on the field from the new 10-team conference in 2024.,

    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-AmericansAAC | ACC | B1G | Big 12MAC |Mountain West | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun BeltFBS 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).

    EA Sports College Football: Everything You Need For the Game’s Historic Return

    After a decade-long hiatus, EA Sports College Football has made its return to glory. The popular college football video game is here to stay, radically changing the video game landscape forever.

    Related Articles