University of Houston Athletics
Gilbert, Marshall Named To C-USA First Team
11/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 29, 2005
HOUSTON, Texas - Senior running back Ryan Gilbert and junior wide receiver Vincent Marshall today were named to the All-Conference USA First Team, as announced by the league office in Irving, Texas.
Joining Gilbert and Marshall on the all-league squads was senior defensive lineman Kade Lane, who picked up Second-Team accolades. Also, senior offensive guard David Douglas, junior outside linebacker Wade Koehl, junior quarterback Kevin Kolb and the sophomore tandem of offensive tackle SirVincent Rogers and strong safety Rocky Schwartz were named to the C-USA Third Team. Marshall also picked up Third-Team honors as a punt returner.
As for the Conference USA All-Freshman Team, the Cougars were well represented, as Houston had the second most members with five, including four members of the defense. Free safety Kenneth Fontenette, who led the Cougars in interceptions with four, headlined the group and was joined by a pair of defensive linemen, Phillip Hunt and Cody Pree, inside linebacker Cody Lubojasky and kicker Ben Bell.
Beginning the year as a backup in a deep and talented backfield, Gilbert stepped in for an injured Anthony Evans and rushed for a team-high 1,030 yards and nine touchdowns, numbers that trailed only Memphis' DeAngelo Williams in league rushing. Gilbert became the fourth UH running back to grab first-team honors in Conference USA, joining Antowain Smith (1996), Ketric Sanford (1999) and Joffrey Reynolds (2002).
As for Marshall, the exciting receiver and return man recorded 69 receptions for 927 yards and six touchdowns, including an 83-yarder and 80-yarder within a span of two weeks. Marshall also returned 10 punts for 170 yards, including a 56-yarder for a score against Mississippi State on the road. He was named the C-USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Week for his effort against the Bulldogs.
A starter in a school-record 47 straight games, Lane finished the season with 28 total tackles and five pass breakups, and it was his fumble recovery in the waning moments that sealed the Cougars' 27-24 win over Southern Miss. Lane picked up the league's Defensive Player-of-the-Week hardware for that game-saving play.
After a one-year hiatus from the league's postseason awards, Kolb returned to the award list by throwing for 3,044 yards and 19 touchdowns while completing 62.2 percent (234 of 376) of his passes. Kolb also rushed for 192 yards with four touchdowns on the ground. He concluded the 2005 regular season having started 35 straight games.
Douglas and Rogers were both vital cogs for Conference USA's number-one offense, as the UH offensive line opened holes for the Cougar backs and protected Kolb to the tune of 456.5 total yards per game. The Cougars generated over 400 yards of total offense in every contest but two, including 500-yard outputs against UTEP (514) and Memphis (502).
Koehl and Schwartz were significant in a much-improved Houston defense in 2005. The Cougars finished sixth in total defense this season, allowing 384.6 yards per game-an improvement of almost 20 yards from a year ago. Despite missing one-and-a-half games with a knee injury, Koehl finished third on the team in tackles with 85, including a team-best 14 tackles for losses. As one of the top defensive backs in the conference, the hard-hitting Schwartz topped the Cougar defense with 106 total tackles, including 68 solo and six pass breakups.
Beginning the season as a backup, Fontenette was thrust into the starting lineup just a month into the season and responded with 68 total tackles, which was good for fifth on the team. It was his strip of All-America tight end Garrett Mills and subsequent fumble recovery on the road at Tulsa that sealed the Cougars' 30-23 win over the eventual West Division champions.
Lubojasky stepped in for an injured Lance Everson and played all 11 games in the starting role, concluding his initial season with 71 total tackles, including six for losses and one sack. Pree and Hunt provided a glimpse into a promising defensive future for Houston, as the two combined for 58 total tackles and nine TFLs. Pree tied Koehl for the team lead in sacks with four.
Bell walked on to the UH squad during fall practice and took control of the Cougar kicking game. Bell converted 36-of-38 PATs and seven-of-11 field-goal attempts, finishing the season with 57 total points, good for second place on the UH squad.
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