The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Henigan, McCants Named To Preseason All-Conference USA Team
7/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 27, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB seniors Elliott Henigan and Matt McCants have been named to the 2011 Preseason Conference USA football team, according to an announcement Wednesday by the league office.
The 12 C-USA head coaches selected the first-team offense, defense and specialists, as well as the individual preseason award winners.
McCants, a 6-7, 295-pound offensive tackle from Mobile, Ala., was also a first-team choice on the coaches' all-conference team following the 2010 campaign. He will enter his senior season with 31 career starts on the offensive line. Behind his blocking, the Blazers' offense has put up its two highest yardage totals in school history the past two seasons, posting 5,111 in 2009 and 5,074 last fall.
Earlier this month, McCants was named to the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, presented annually to the top lineman in college football.
Henigan has developed into one of the top defensive linemen around and will start at defensive tackle for the third consecutive season when he takes the field in 2011.
The 6-4, 280-pound product of Atlanta tied for third on the team in total tackles last season with 55 stops. He also posted a team-best 15.5 tackles for loss and registered 2.5 sacks.
Henigan has started 21 of the past 24 games over the last two seasons.
Houston quarterback Case Keenum, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, was chosen the preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry was tabbed the preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Tulsa return specialist Damaris Johnson earned preseason Special Teams Player of the Year honors.
UAB players will report for preseason practice on Sunday, Aug. 7 with the first workout on the field scheduled for Monday, Aug. 8. The Blazers will open the 2011 season on Saturday, Sept. 10 when they travel to Gainesville, Fla. to take on the Florida Gators. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT with the game slated to be televised by Fox Sports Net.
2011 C-USA FOOTBALL COACHES PRESEASON AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year
Case Keenum, Sr., QB, Houston
Defensive Player of the Year
Vinny Curry, Sr., DE, Marshall
Special Teams Player of the Year
Damaris Johnson, Sr., KR/PR, Tulsa
First Team Offense
QB - Case Keenum, Sr., Houston
RB - Bryce Beall, Sr., Houston
RB - Zach Line, Jr., SMU
OL - Clint Anderson, Sr., Tulsa
OL - Kelvin Beachum, Sr., SMU
OL - Matt McCants, Sr., UAB
OL - Nick Pieschel, Sr., UCF
OL - Chris Thompson, Sr., Houston
WR - Patrick Edwards, Sr., Houston
WR - Damaris Johnson, Sr., Tulsa
WR - Lance Lewis, Sr., East Carolina
TE - Adam Nissley, Sr., UCF
First Team Defense
DL - Vinny Curry, Sr., Marshall
DL - Elliott Henigan, Sr., UAB
DL - Cordarro Law, Sr., Southern Miss
DL - Taylor Thompson, Sr., SMU
LB - Ja'Gared Davis, Jr., SMU
LB - Trent Mackey, Jr., Tulane
LB - Marcus McGraw, Sr., Houston
LB - Korey Williams, Sr., Southern Miss
DB - Emanuel Davis, Sr., East Carolina
DB - Kemal Ishmael, Jr., UCF
DB - Marco Nelson, So., Tulsa
DB - Josh Robinson, Jr., UCF
First Team Special Teams
K - Danny Hrapmann, Sr., Southern Miss
P - Kyle Martens, Sr., Rice
KR - Quincy McDuffie, Jr., UCF
PR - Patrick Edwards, Sr., Houston
PR - Damaris Johnson, Sr., Tulsa
