University of Houston Athletics
Three Football Players Named to Preseason All-America Teams
5/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
May 20, 2010
Phil Steele Publications Preseason All-America and All-Conference USA Teams 
HOUSTON - Three University of Houston football players were named to the Phil Steele Publications Preseason All-America lists with 14 selections on the magazine's Preseason All-Conference USA squads.
Senior quarterback Case Keenum and junior wide receiver Tyron Carrier were named to the Preseason All-America Second Team, while senior wide receiver James Cleveland was named to the Third Team.
Keenum, Cleveland, Carrier, sophomore running back Charles Sims, junior linebacker Marcus McGraw and sophomore kicker Matt Hogan were named to the Preseason All-Conference USA First Team. Junior wide receiver Patrick Edwards, Carrier (as a wide receiver), junior offensive lineman Chris Thompson, junior defensive lineman David Hunter and senior cornerback Jamal Robinson earned places on the Second Team. Junior running back Bryce Beall, sophomore linebacker Phillip Steward and junior safety Nick Saenz each were named to the All-Conference USA Third Team.
Keenum was named to the Preseason All-America Second Team after becoming only the second player in NCAA history to throw for at least 5,000 yards twice in a career. He also won his second-consecutive FBS statistical championship as the national leader in total offense.
The Abilene, Texas, native was named the C-USA Most Valuable Player after tossing a career-best 5,671 yards and 44 touchdown passes in 2009. He won the College Football Performance Awards National Quarterback Trophy and Sammy Baugh Award.
Carrier was named to the Preseason Second Team All-America list. He enters the 2010 season as the FBS active leader in kickoff returns for touchdowns with five during his career, two shy of the NCAA's all-time mark of seven (C.J. Spiller, Clemson).
The Houston native was also named to the All-Conference USA Preseason First Team and Second Team as a kick returner and wide receiver, respectively. Carrier has posted two 1,000-yard receiving seasons and currently ranks eighth all-time in Cougar history in career receiving yards.
Cleveland, the 2009 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year, earned a spot on the Preseason All-America Third Team after leading UH with 104 receptions and 1,214 receiving yards a year ago. The Baytown, Texas, native caught 14 touchdown passes and posted five 100-yard receiving games.
Cleveland was named Third Team All-American after last season by the same publication.
The Cougars had 13 players listed at 14 positions by Steele Publications as Preseason All-Conference USA Team members.
Sims earned First Team honors after rushing for 698 yards with nine touchdowns and an average of 5.3 yards a carry. The Houston native was named the 2009 C-USA Freshmen of the Year and added 70 receptions for 759 yards.
McGraw led the team with 156 tackles, including 75 solo stops, and added four sacks. He also forced three fumbles with one recovery in 2009. The defensive captain was fifth last year in the NCAA with 11.1 tackles a game and fourth in single game tackles with 19 against Texas Tech.
Hogan was named to the First Team All-C-USA squad after going a perfect 12-for-12 in field goals with his longest being the game-winner. The sophomore also was 38-for-43 in extra point tries and etched his name into Cougar lore with a game-winning 51-yard field goal at C-USA rival Tulsa.
Wide receiver Patrick Edwards joined Cleveland and Carrier on the Preseason All-Conference USA Second Team. The Hearne, Texas, native caught 85 passes for 1,021 yards and six touchdowns last year.
Guard Chris Thompson, defensive end David Hunter and cornerback Jamal Robinson also were named to the All-C-USA Second Team.
Running back Bryce Beall, linebacker Phillip Steward and safety Nick Saenz were named to the Preseason All-C-USA Third Team.
All of the teams will be in Phil Steele's annual college football preview magazine.
Preseason Second Team All-America
Case Keenum - Quarterback
Tyron Carrier - Kick Returner
Preseason Third Team All-America
James Cleveland - Wide Receiver
Preseason All-Conference USA First Team
Case Keenum - Quarterback
Charles Sims - Running Back
James Cleveland - Wide Receiver
Tyron Carrier - Kick Returner
Marcus McGraw - Linebacker
Matt Hogan - Kicker
Preseason All-Conference USA Second Team
Patrick Edwards - Wide Receiver
Tyron Carrier - Wide Receiver
Chris Thompson - Offensive Guard
David Hunter - Defensive End
Jamal Robinson - Cornerback
Preseason All-Conference USA Third Team
Bryce Beall - Running Back
Phillip Steward - Linebacker
Nick Saenz - Safety
