It’s finally time to release our SIS All-Conference teams. We used our all-encompassing player value stat, Total Points, along with other metrics and our scouting work as leading references in putting together our team of selections for 2023, plus some honorable mentions.

You can learn more about Total Points and the statistics referenced here.

These picks are meant to honor this season’s best-of-the-best in the C-USA.

Offense

Position Name School
QB Kaidon Salter Liberty
RB Quinton Cooley Liberty
WR CJ Daniels Liberty
WR Malachi Corley Western Kentucky
TE Bentley Hanshaw Liberty
FLEX Kris Mitchell FIU
OT Xavior Gray Liberty
OT Will O’Steen Jacksonville State
OG Jonathan Graham Liberty
OG Quantavious Leslie Western Kentucky
OC Canaan Yarro New Mexico State

Liberty’s offense is well represented after finishing 4th in the FBS in yards per game. Kaidon Salter led the conference in total yards, Quinton Cooley led the conference in rushing yards, and CJ Daniels was 2nd in receiving yards. All three, along with Bentley Hanshaw and Xavior Gray, led their respective positions in Total Points in the conference, with Jonathan Graham finishing 2nd.

Malachi Corley generated 17 broken/missed tackles after the catch and was a playmaker all season. Kris Mitchell led the conference in receiving yards and drew 4 pass interference calls as well. Will O’Steen and Canaan Yarro were both 2nd at their respective positions in Total Points with a Blown Block rate under 1.5%. Quantavious Leslie had a miniscule Blown Block rate of 0.5%.

Defense

Position Name School
DT Marley Cook Middle Tennessee
DT Jeff Marks Jacksonville State
EDGE Chris Hardie Jacksonville State
EDGE Praise Amaewhule UTEP
LB Trevor Williams Sam Houston State
LB Kavian Gaither Sam Houston State
CB Willie Roberts Louisiana Tech
CB Kobe Singleton Liberty
S Mehki Miller New Mexico State
S Brylan Green Liberty
FLEX Andre Seldon New Mexico State

Chris Hardie generated 42 Total Points which easily led EDGE players with 2nd place generating 24. Praise Amaewhule was 3rd in the conference in pressures (34) and also had 5 passes batted/deflected at the line. Marley Cook and Jeff Marks both made their presence felt as run stuffers with both finishing among the top 25 in FBS in Run Defense Total Points among DTs. Trevor Williams and Kavian Gaither were tough in coverage with a Passer Rating Against of 42.5 and 16.7 respectively.

Kobe Singleton may not have been perfect, but he did snag 4 interceptions with another 11 passes defensed. Brylan Green led the conference with 5 INTs and Andre Seldon generated at least 20 Total Points against both the run and the pass. Willie Roberts and Mekhi Miller led the conference in Total Points at their respective positions.

Specialists

Position Name School
K Ethan Albertson New Mexico State
P Jack Dawson Jacksonville State
Returner Smoke Harris Louisiana Tech

Ethan Albertson led the conference in most FGs made 1-29 yards (tied), 30-39 yards, and 40-49 yards, showing consistent reliability.

Jack Dawson had pinpoint accuracy with 23 punts inside the 20 with only a single touchback.

Smoke Harris was a dynamic playmaker whenever he had the ball, easily leading the conference in punt return yards (with a touchdown to boot).

Honorable Mentions

Name School
WR Trent Hudson New Mexico State
OL Xavier Bausley Jacksonville State
OL Clay Webb Jacksonville State
OL Elijah Klein UTEP
OL X’Zauvea Gadlin Liberty
OL AJ Vaipulu New Mexico State
OL Vincent Murphy Western Kentucky
OL Jordan White Liberty
LB Donovan Manuel FIU
CB Anthony Johnson Jr. Western Kentucky
S Fred Perry Jacksonville State
S Jeremiah Harris Jacksonville State

The selections for the offensive line and secondary were very difficult for C-USA. The combination of high-powered offenses and strong Blown Block numbers meant making some difficult decisions, such as leaving players like X’Zauvea Gadlin and Jordan White, who led their respective positions in Total Points, off the team. Jacksonville State’s safety tandem of Fred Perry and Jeremiah Harris made life difficult for opposing QBs with Perry having a Passer Rating Against of just 0.8.

Check out this year’s NFL Draft site to see how we feel some of these players project to the NFL.

Total Points, stats, and ranks as of 3/25/2023