IRVING, Texas—Preseason honors continue to pile up for the Thundering Herd as quarterback Rakeem Cato and defensive lineman James Rouse have earned Conference USA’s top preseason honors. Cato has been named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Rouse has been named the Defensive Player of the Year.
Cato was named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2013 following his MVP season in 2012. The Miami native has also been named to the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Award watch lists and is and early candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Cato threw for 3,916 yards and 39 touchdowns last season. He also holds the longest active streak with 32 consecutive games with a touchdown pass, just six shy of tying the all-time record.
Rouse, also a candidate for the Bednarik Award, will begin his sixth year as a member of the program in August. The tackle from Harrisonburg, Va., was voted Marshall’s 2013 season Team MVP by teammates after helping the Herd to a 10-4 finish and Military Bowl victory over Maryland. Rouse, who has also been named to numerous preseason all-league lists, was a key player on a defense that made the biggest one-season improvement in FBS scoring defense (20.2-point improvement) since 1998.
The Herd led C-USA with seven preseason all-conference selections. Rakeem Cato (quarterback) Chris Jasperse (center) and Clint Van Horn (tackle), Tommy Shuler (wide receiver), defensive lineman James Rouse (tackle), defensive lineman Ra’Shawde Myers (end) and linebacker Evan McKelvey were all-conference picks.
Marshall was the unanimously selection of the leagues 13 coaches to win the East Division.
2014 C-USA FOOTBALL COACHES PRESEASON AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year
Rakeem Cato, Sr., QB, Marshall
Defensive Player of the Year
James Rouse, Sr., DL, Marshall
Special Teams Player of the Year
Hunter Mullins, Sr., P, UAB
First Team Offense
QB Rakeem Cato, Sr., Marshall
RB Kenneth Dixon, Jr., Louisiana Tech
RB Aaron Jones, So., UTEP
OL Scott Inskeep, Sr., UTSA
OL Chris Jasperse, Sr., Marshall
OL Cyril Lemon, Sr., North Texas
OL Clint Van Horn, Jr., Marshall
OL Mason Y’Barbo, Sr., North Texas
WR Jamarcus Nelson, Sr., UAB
WR Tommy Shuler, Sr., Marshall
WR Jordan Taylor., Sr., Rice
TE Eric Tomlinson, Sr., UTEP
First Team Defense
DL Vernon Butler, Jr., Louisiana Tech
DL Christian Covington, Jr., Rice
DL Ra’Shawde Myers, Sr., Marshall
DL James Rouse, Sr., Marshall
LB T.T. Barber, Sr., Middle Tennessee
LB Evan McKelvey, Sr., Marshall
LB Andrae Kirk, Jr., Florida Atlantic
DB Kevin Byard, Jr., Middle Tennessee
DB Bryce Callahan, Sr., Rice
DB D’Joun Smith, Sr., Florida Atlantic
DB Triston Wade, Sr., UTSA
First Team Special Teams
K Sean Ianno, Sr., UTSA
P Hunter Mullins, Sr., UAB
KR Autrey Golden, Jr., UTEP
PR Kenny Harrison, Sr., UTSA
LS Jesse Medrano, Sr., UTSA
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
EAST DIVISION
1. Marshall
2. Middle Tennessee
3. Florida Atlantic
4. WKU
5. Old Dominion
6. UAB
7. FIU
WEST DIVISION
1. North Texas
2. Rice
3. UTSA
4. Louisiana Tech
5. Southern Miss
6. UTEP