ECU Lands Five On C-USA Media All-Freshman Team
November 28, 2006 | Football
Nov. 28, 2006
IRVING, Texas - Conference USA announced its 2006 Media All-Freshman football team today, as selected by a panel of media members in each conference city. Ten of the league's 12 schools were represented with at least one selection, while East Carolina and SMU placed a league-high five players on the squad. SMU's Emmanuel Sanders was named to the team as both a wide receiver and kick returner.
Sanders is third in the league with 12 returns for 288 yards, an average of 24.0 yards per return. In conference games he had seven receiving touchdowns and averaged 14.7 yards per catch. Sanders is joined on the team by teammate and quarterback Justin Willis, running back James Mapps and defensive back Bryan McCann. Willis put up impressive numbers at the helm of the Mustang offense in 2006, ranking 10th in the nation in passing efficiency and setting a new school record with 26 touchdown passes.
Leading the way for the Pirates on the All-Freshman team are offensive linemen Terence Campbell and Cory Dowless. ECU also placed two defensive linemen on the list, C.J. Wilson and Scotty Robinson. Linebacker Van Eskridge rounds out the East Carolina honorees.
East Division Champion Southern Miss had three selections to the team, led by standout running back Damion Fletcher. Fletcher is second in the league, averaging 112 yards per game and has racked up a freshman school record 1,240 yards and nine touchdowns. He is also an All-Conference USA first-team selection at running back. Linebacker Gerald McRath and defensive back Eddie Hicks were named to the team on defense, with McRath earning third team all-league honors.
The Memphis Tigers also placed three members on the squad. Wide receiver Duke Calhoun joins Sanders at wideout and is ninth in the league, averaging 56.8 receiving yards per game. He has caught six touchdowns and amassed 681 receiving yards. Defensive lineman Greg Terrell and placekicker Matt Reagan are the other Tiger All-Freshman members.
West Division Champion Houston placed two freshmen on the team, one on offense and one on defense. Offensive lineman Carl Bennett represents the Cougars, along with defensive back Brandon Brinkley.
Rice placed both linebacker Andrew Sandejo and kicker Clark Fangmeyer on the All-Freshman unit. Fangmeyer nailed all 33 of his PAT tries on the year for the Owls and was 7-10 on field goal attempts for 54 points.
Tulane's Jermemy Williams rounds out the wide receiver selections and teammate Troy Wilson was picked as a defensive lineman.
Cody Slate of Marshall, also the All-Conference USA first-team tight end, takes the same honor on the freshman squad. Slate had 43 catches for 684 yards in 2006 and scored six touchdowns. UAB's Jake Seitz is listed among the offensive lineman, while UTEP's Braxton Amy joins the defensive backs on the list.
Conference USA will announce its Media Freshman of the Year on Wednesday.
