Rice Named First-Team All-AAC; Mustangs With Four Total Selections
Nov 30
Story LinksIRVING, Texas (The American/SMU) – Rashee Rice was selected to the American Athletic Conference First Team, while four total Mustangs were honored as all-league teams were announced today.
Elijah Chatman and Justin Osborne were named to the conference's second team, while Jaylon Thomas was an honorable mention selection. Both Chatman (2021) and Thomas (2020, 2019) are repeat second-team selections, while Rice was an honorable mention selection last season.
Biletnikoff Award and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist Rice finished the regular season as the FBS leader in receiving yards (1,355) and receiving yards per game (112.9), while ranking fifth in receptions per game (8.0) and 11th in receiving TDs (10). He currently has a streak of 40 straight games with a reception (4th FBS). Rice posted career highs in receptions (13 vs. Memphis) and yards (193 at Maryland) in 2022. He has three 150+ yard games.
In SMU's win over Memphis, Rice set the SMU program record for season receiving yards at 1,355, after posting 147 yards Saturday. The senior has 10 career 100-yard games, including six in 2022, and has five multi-TD games, three coming this season.
A member of the Bronko Nagurski, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award Watch Lists, Chatman finished the regular season with 37 tackles, including four for loss and three sacks. He added one fumble recovery for a touchdown and a blocked PAT.
Both Osborne and Thomas helped lead the offensive line, guiding the Mustangs to national rankings of fifth in passing offense (324.9), 11th in scoring offense (38.4), 12th in total offense (479.
and first down offense (302), 13th in red zone offense (.914) and 16th in third down conversion percentage (.470). SMU's passing, scoring, first down and red zone offense all led The American.SMU finished the regular season 7-5 overall and 5-3 in AAC play. It is the fourth consecutive season the Mustangs have won at least seven games, and the five conference victories were the most since going 6-2 in 2019.
