University of Houston Athletics
Ten Gridders Earn Mid-Season Honors from Phil Steele
10/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 20, 2010
Ten University of Houston football players were named to Phil Steele's Mid-Season All-Conference USA Team, including first-team members Bryce Beall at running back and Isaiah Thompson at offensive guard and Patrick Edwards as a punt returner.
Beall is the league's leading rusher with 90.7 yards per game and 10 touchdowns scored. He also ranks highly in scoring tied for 14th nationally with 10.0 points per game. Beall has rushed for 100-yards on three occasions, including a 195-yard performance vs. UTEP. Thompson has been a consistent member of an offensive line that has Houston ranked No. 1 in scoring offense and No. 2 in passing and total offense in the conference. The Cougars are averaging 450.2 yards per contest overall and 38.7 points per game. Edwards has returned 12 punts for 13.2 yards per return, including a long of 40.
Five members of the squad were named to the second-team -- receiver James Cleveland and guard Chris Thompson from the offense and linebackers Marcus McGraw and Phillip Steward and cornerback Jamal Robinson, defensively. Cleveland is averaging 5.6 receptions and 80.8 yards per game which both rank in the C-USA top-10, while Thompson anchors the right side of the line which has assisted in the top-25 national rankings in passing, total and scoring offense. McGraw and Steward both standout in the league defensively with 9.7 tackles per game from McGraw and 1.0 tackles for loss per contest from Steward. Robinson has recorded 31 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss of 10 yards.
Earning third-team honors were receiver Patrick Edwards, defensive lineman David Hunter and cornerback Loyce Means. Edwards, probably the most consistent receiver this season for the Cougars is coming off a 169-yard, three touchdown performance vs. Rice and is averaging 78.8 yards a game receiving. Hunter's play up front has the defense averaging 1.7 sacks per game and seven tackles for loss. Means has recorded three interceptions this season, which leads Conference USA and his 1.33 passed defended per game is second.
First Team
RB - Bryce Beall
OG - Isaiah Thompson
Second Team
WR - James Cleveland
OG - Chris Thompson
LB - Marcus McGraw
LB - Phillip Steward
Third Team
WR - Patrick Edwards
DL - David Hunter
DB - Loyce Means
