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Morstead named to Conference USA Football All-Academic Team
Sophomore one of 11 honored

Nov. 27, 2006

IRVING (SMU/C-USA) - SMU sophomore punter Thomas Morstead has been named to the Conference USA Football All-Academic Team, as voted upon by the school's sports information directors and released by the league office Monday. The all-academic team consists of 11 student-athletes who have earned a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or better and are starters or key reserves on the football team.

Morstead, who ranks 15th in the nation in punting average, holds a 3.55 GPA in mechanical engineering. Morstead is also a C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member and is on the 2006 Ray Guy Award "Watch List." His 43.8-yard average ranks as the best at SMU since 1982, when Craig James ranked seventh in the nation with a 44.9-yard average.

2006 Conference USA Football All-Academic Team
Student - Athlete - Cl. - School - GPA - Major - Hometown
Thomas Morstead - Soph. - SMU - 3.55 - Mechanical Engineering -
Pearland, Texas
Kevin Roach - Sr. - East Carolina - 3.44 - Accounting (Grad) -
Williamston, N.C.
Wade Koehl - Sr. - Houston - 3.52 - Accounting - Midland, Texas
Rusty Clayton - Sr. - Memphis - 3.61 - Criminal Justice - Sumrall, Miss.
Brandon Patterson - Soph. - Memphis - 3.73 - Finance - Germantown, Tenn.
Travis Cooley - Sr. - USM - 3.00 - Sports Admin. & 3.65, H.R. Mgt. -
Waynesboro, Miss.
Michael Purcell - Sr. - Tulane - 3.64 - Finance - Dripping Springs,
Texas
Mike Mengers - Sr. - Tulsa - 3.74 - Mechanical Engineering - Mustang,
Okla.
Paul Smith - Jr. - Tulsa - 3.80 - Communication - Owasso, Okla.
Sha'reff Rashad - Soph. - UCF - 3.61 - Criminal Justice - Jacksonville,
Fla.
Reagan Schneider - Sr. - UTEP - 3.34 - Kinesiology - Canyon Lake, Texas

what a pleasant surprise he was this year especially at Punter but also he was consistently good at place kicker. Don't know if some of you caught what a great job on his last punt when a Rice defender had a clear shot -simply turned he body to the opposite direction avoiding near certain disaster. I'll say it again he is our best pro prospect in years.

Congrats to Thomas "Automatic" Morstead.

Great job both on and off the field! He was a definite bright spot in the season.

And I want to repeat what I said last week. I have been the biggest proponent of a special teams coach, and still personally think we should have one, but overall I was pleased with our total special teams play this year. From what I have heard (with no confirmation) we led the conference in Kickoff Returns, Kickoff Return coverage, and punting distance. Missed one extra point (first one of the year). Warren was steady on punt returns, and from what I recollect other than UTEP, our punt coverage held up very well. Not bad for a team without a designated coach.

Congratulations indeed. Dude's got a bionic leg, he's a workout freak and he's a stellar student.

Sounds a lot like me when I was at SMU, except for the bionic leg, the working out thing, and the academic prowess. Other than that, his college career seems to be following mine exactly.

Thomas is really smart. I had class with him last semester. ME kicks everyone's tail, but to devote time to football too is spectacular. Congrats Thomas.

I also deem it necessary to add that Thomas is not just an ME major

He has a 3.55 and he is a Mechanical Engineering with Pre-Med Specialization major.

mustangfan01 wrote:.... He has a 3.55 and he is a Mechanical Engineering with Pre-Med Specialization major.

Surviving ONE of those majors is an accomplishment. Posting honors-levels grades in both, while juggling football obligations, is extraordinary.

Congratulations, TM!

mustangfan01 wrote:I also deem it necessary to add that Thomas is not just an ME major

He has a 3.55 and he is a Mechanical Engineering with Pre-Med Specialization major.

Too true.