Ragland and Turner Headline UAB’s All-Conference USA Selections

Ragland and Turner Headline UAB’s All-Conference USA Selections

12/7/2021 1:00:00 PM | Football

BIRMINGHAM – Redshirt seniors Colby Ragland and Tyree Turner were honored as First Team All-Conference USA selections to headline 23 Blazers who earned postseason recognition, as voted on by the league's 14 head coaches.

Ragland has now garnered First Team All-Conference USA accolades in back-to-back seasons and has anchored UAB's offensive line throughout the last three years. Ragland started all 12 games this year – four at left guard, eight at right tackle – and paved the way for an offense that averaged 176.6 rushing yards per game and 384.3 yards of total offense.

Turner was a force at nose tackle and led a dominant rush defense that ranks 12th nationally by allowing just 104.2 rushing yards per game. Turner finished the year with 20 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, and his impact went well beyond his stat line in leading the nation's 15th ranked defense.

Earning Second Team All-Conference USA honors were running back DeWayne McBride, tight end Gerrit Prince, defensive end Alex Wright and safety Grayson Cash.

McBride and Prince were UAB's 1-2 punch on offense all season. McBride ran for 1,188 yards and 12 touchdowns while ranking fourth nationally in yards per carry (6.75). Prince led all tight ends nationally in yards per reception (20.50) and paced the team in receptions (32) and touchdowns (8), while ranking second in receiving yards (656).

Wright and Cash were UAB's two biggest play makers on the defensive side of the ball. Wright finished the year with 42 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 7.0 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

Cash effected the game in all aspects by leading the team with three interceptions (one of which he returned a school record 100 yards for a touchdown), blocking two punts (one of which he recovered for a touchdown) and adding 22 total tackles and four pass breakups.

Honorable Mention All-Conference USA on offense was awarded to quarterback Dylan Hopkins, running back Jermaine Brown Jr., wide receiver Trea Shropshire and offensive linemen Andrew Smith Jr., Kadeem Telfort and Matthew Trehern.

Honorable Mention All-Conference USA on defense was awarded to defensive tackle Mi'Cario Stanley, defensive end Antonio Moultrie, linebacker Noah Wilder, outside linebacker Kyle Harrell, safety Will Boler, safety Keondre Swoopes and cornerback/punt returner Starling Thomas V.

Additionally, punter Kyle Greenwell and long snapper Cole Kizziah were Honorable Mention All-Conference USA specialists.

Rounding out UAB's award winners were cornerback Mac McWilliams and offensive lineman Trey Bedosky who earned spots on the Conference USA All-Freshman Team.

UAB is set to square off with No. 13 BYU at the 2021 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 18, in Shreveport, La. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on ABC.

Tickets for the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl are on sale and can be purchased by clicking here. Seat locations will be allocated based on the Blazer Boosters Priority Point System with the priority deadline being Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 5 p.m.

Season tickets for the 2022 UAB Football season are also now available starting as low as $90. Season ticket packages will feature all six home games and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games during the second season at Protective Stadium. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-UAB1. Fans can also request more information by clicking here.

First Team All-Conference USA:
RT – Colby Ragland
NT – Tyree Turner

Second Team All-Conference USA:
RB – DeWayne McBride
TE – Gerrit Prince
DE – Alex Wright
S – Grayson Cash

Honorable Mention All-Conference USA:
QB – Dylan Hopkins
RB – Jermaine Brown Jr.
WR – Trea Shropshire
C – Andrew Smith Jr.
LT – Kadeem Telfort
RG – Matthew Trehern
DE – Antonio Moultrie
DT – Mi'Cario Stanley
OLB – Kyle Harrell
LB – Noah Wilder
S – Will Boler
S – Keondre Swoopes
CB/PR – Starling Thomas V
P – Kyle Greenwell
LS – Cole Kizziah

Conference USA All-Freshman Team:
OL – Trey Bedosky
CB – Mac McWilliams