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Nine Mustangs Named All-C-USA
SMU Places Six On First Team, Three On Second

Dec. 6, 2011

IRVING, Texas (C-USA/SMU) - Nine Mustangs have been named All-Conference USA, as selected by the league's 12 head football coaches, the conference office announced today. Six Mustangs were tabbed first-team picks, tying Houston for the league lead.

SMU has four first-teamers from its offense and two from its defense. Junior running back Zach Line earned a place after leading the league in rushing for the second straight season (1,224 yards) and scoring a league-best 17 touchdowns in just 10 games before suffering a season-ending injury. Senior lineman Kelvin Beachum, who helped pave the way for Line to gain those yards, was listed along with a pair of wide receivers in senior Cole Beasley (79 catches for 954 yards, a league-high 7.2 receptions per game) and junior Darius Johnson (72 receptions for 998 yards and seven TDs). Defensive end Taylor Thompson (41 stops, 7.5 for loss, six forced fumbles and a team-high seven sacks) and defensive back Richard Crawford (42 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups and a forced fumble) were also first-team picks.

Three Mustang defenders, linebackers Ja'Gared Davis and Taylor Reed and lineman Torlan Pittman, were named second-teamers, while offensive linemen Bryce Tennison and Kelly Turner, defensive linemen Margus Hunt and Torlan Pittman and defensive back Chris Banjo were named honorable mention.

All 12 schools were represented with at least two overall selections and 10 placed at least one player on first team. To see a full list, click here.

SMU is headed for the BBVA Compass Bowl to face Pitt on Jan. 7. For more info and tickets, visit Bowl Central here.

Congrats to all of these Mustangs, way to go boys.

Congrats, Mustangs!

Just imagine how many yards/TDs Zach would have had against Rice.

Kind of surprised JG didn't make first team and that Crawford made it at all.

And I'm assuming that's a typo on Torlan Pittman being a second teamer AND an honorable mention?

Go Mustangs!

ojaipony wrote:And I'm assuming that's a typo on Torlan Pittman being a second teamer AND an honorable mention?

On the website they corrected the second-teamer to Marquis Frazier.

Awesome - can't believe JG wasn't on the first team!

Good job boys! No LeRibeus?

MiracleOnMockingbird wrote:

ojaipony wrote:And I'm assuming that's a typo on Torlan Pittman being a second teamer AND an honorable mention?

On the website they corrected the second-teamer to Marquis Frazier.

Ah, that makes sense now. Was wondering if Frazier got any love.

Crawford pretty much shut down his side of the field in C USA play. Not surprised he was a 1st team selection at all. He played outstanding and will be missed big time next year. Hoping Middleton can step in and start in Crawford's spot without a huge drop off.


JG and T Reed not being 1st team was a bit surprising, I did not think both of them would be 1st team, but certinaly thought one of them would be..but there are some pretty good lb's that made it.

Thompson, Curry and Law were no brainers for 1st team.

Nice job guys, wonder how many if any will go to the League? See you at the Compass Bowl.

Taylor Thompson, Cole Beasley, Kelvin Beachum will all be taken in the draft

Good to know. We need a larger presence in the NFL. I enjoyed watching McCann returning kicks last year for the Cowboys; don't see him much anymore since he was traded. Thompson is a monster, I look forward to seeing what he will do. Beasley hopefully find an offense where he can fill a Welker-esque roll.

Nice job by Johnson and Beasley making the first team at wideout. Their numbers could have been ridiculous if they had a legit QB throwing to them.

great job, guys!

i was wondering if pittman would get recognition. i thought he did a great job plugging up the middle for us this year.