Zach Line named C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

Post by **PonyPride** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:44 am

From SMUMustangs.com:

Line Named Preseason C-USA Offensive Player Of The Year By Blue Ribbon
Four Mustangs Tabbed First-Team All-C-USA

June 27, 2012

DALLAS (SMU) - SMU senior running back Zach Line has been named the preseason C-USA Offensive Player Of The Year and four Mustangs were named first-team All-Conference by Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, the news outlet announced this week. Joining Line on the All-C-USA squad are defensive lineman Margus Hunt, wide receiver Darius Johnson and linebacker Taylor Reed.

Line was named first-team All-C-USA in both 2010 and 2011 and led the league in rushing both years. Last season, Line suffered a foot injury and missed the last three games of the season but still ranked seventh in the nation in rushing at 122.4 yards a game. He posted eight 100-yard rushing games in 10 games played and was named one of 10 Doak Walker Award semifinalists.

Hunt enters 2012 after being named the No. 1 athletic "freak" in college football by CBSSports.com. He is a three-time All-C-USA honorable mention selection and notched 28 stops and four blocked kicks in 2011. He wrapped up the season with a dominant performance in the BBVA Compass Bowl win, notching three sacks and five total tackles.

Johnson has been named MVP in back-to-back bowl games for the Mustangs and was a first-team All-C-USA pick in 2011. He finished the year with 79 catches for 1,188 yards and eight TDs.

Reed, who was All-C-USA in 2011 and on the All-C-USA Freshman Team in 2009, led SMU with 101 tackles last season, including 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He was also selected to the Lombardi Award watch list.

On the heels of its third straight bowl appearance, SMU will host Texas A&M, TCU, Memphis, C-USA West rivals Houston and Tulsa and 2011 C-USA Champion Southern Miss at Ford Stadium in 2012. For Mustang ticket information, call the Athletics Department Ticket Office at (214) SMU-GAME (768-4263).

Hey June · Post by **Hey June** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:09 pm

Was there really a need to vote on this? Two-time defending C-USA rushing champion.
Seems like a no-brainer to me.

SMUguy · Post by **SMUguy** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:10 pm

I'm far more interested in seeing him win the post-season version of the award!

PonyPlayer4 · Post by **PonyPlayer4** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:15 pm

I'm not really sure who else would be in the running to win it this year. No one has a superstar returning really. Most teams are looking for big playmakers to step up.

CoxBizGrad · Post by **CoxBizGrad** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:37 pm

I am probably one of Zach's biggest fans, however, preseason all conf. and player of the year picks are ridiculous. Save the picks until after the season is over and the results are in.

PonyPlayer4 · Post by **PonyPlayer4** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:57 am

I hope you are referring to all preseason rankings and awards are ridiculous. However, the nomination of the 2 time leading rusher in conference for the POY are far from ridiculous.

CoxBizGrad · Post by **CoxBizGrad** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:20 am

Yep. That's exactly what I am saying. It's like starting a new job and having your employer give you an award before your first day of work. Prove yourself, perform, then reap the awards and rewards. Can't wait for Zach to pick up his award once the season's over.

NTXCoog · Post by **NTXCoog** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:09 pm

Line is the obvious choice, but I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of UH guys will challenge for it.

Piland will have some crazy numbers so he'll always be under consideration. He averaged 330 yards a game his freshman year. Over a 13 game schedule (assuming a bowl), that's around 4300 yards. Hopefully he'll improve over his role as a true freshman. Also he plays a much easier schedule (3 out of 8 were vs teams that finished in the top 25) which will probably provide for better numbers (unless he gets pulled in blowouts). 55 yard per game improvement is not out of the question (especially since he averaged 450 YPG his last 2) which would put him at the 5000 yard mark.

The surprise contender could be Charles Sims. While Line had 1224 yards rushing last year, he only had 139 receiving for a total of 1363 yards from scrimmage. Sims may have only had 821 yards rushing, but he also had 575 receiving for a total of 1396 yards. All of this while splitting time with 2 other RBs. Sims had much fewer touches than Line (161 touches vs Line's 223. 110 carries vs Line's 208) and he averaged 7.5 YPC vs Line's 5.9.

Line was injured so that obviously affected his numbers, and it will be interesting to see Sims as the primary feature back. Sims appears to have a better OLine with 4 of 5 starters returning. Should be an interesting race.

Pony Up · Post by **Pony Up** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 1:22 am

Sims is good, but Line is better. If he stays healthy, he'll get another award like this at the end of the season.

S....M....U · Post by **S....M....U** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:30 am

Attaboy Zach! Well deserved! Now show the nation what you can do