Nine Named To Athlon Preseason All-C-USA List

[Harry]

NASHVILLE - Nine Mean Green student-athletes were named to Athlon Sports' preseason All-Conference USA teams, the publication announced, six of which were first team selections.

Senior quarterback Mason Fine, senior receiver Rico Bussey, Jr., redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Manase Mose, senior defensive end LaDarius Hamilton, senior punter Alvin Kenworthy and junior kick returner DeAndre Torrey were all named first team selections by Athlon.

Torrey was also a second team choice at running back, while senior center Sosaia Mose and junior Jaelon Darden, who was selected as a punt returner, were on the second team. Senior safety Khairi Muhammad was a fourth team selection by the publication.

Fine was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season in 2018, completing 303 of 469 passes (64.6%) for 3,793 yards with 27 passing touchdowns to just five interceptions, while also adding a pair of scores on the ground in 13 appearances for the Mean Green. Fine enters 2019 as the nation's leader in career active passing yards (9,417) and is expected to find his name on just about every watch list that includes quarterbacks later this summer.

Bussey, Jr., a first team All-Conference USA selection in 2018, ranked eighth nationally with 12 receiving touchdowns. He caught 68 passes for 1,017 yards, becoming just the sixth player in North Texas program history to post at least 1,000 yards receiving and has surged into fifth in program history in career receiving touchdowns (20) and 100-yard games (8).

Manase Mose was an All-Freshman team selection and All-Conference USA honorable mention selection by the conference in 2018, starting all 13 games at right guard. Hamilton was a first team All-Conference USA selection in 2018, posting 33 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss with 7.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries in 13 appearances. Kenworthy averaged 42.2 yards per punt on 56 attempts, putting 26 inside the 20, with a season-long of 68 yards.

Torrey was explosive in the kick return game, averaging 27.5 yards per return with one touchdown (96 yards in the win over SMU) on his way to all-conference honorable mention status at that position. He also ranked seventh in FBS with 18 total touchdowns, carrying 175 times for 977 yards (5.6 yards per carry) with 15 scores on the ground to go along with 25 receptions for 205 yards and two more scores receiving in 13 appearances. Sosaia Mose made 12 appearances at center, all starts, in 2018, and was an honorable mention all-conference selection. The explosive and shifty Darden averaged 12.4 yards per punt return in 2018 for the Mean Green.

Muhammad finished 2018 with 67 tackles (43 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, five pass break-ups and a fumble recovery in 13 appearances, all of which were starts.

Athlon also projected the Mean Green to win the C-USA Western division in 2019.

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North Texas kicks off the 2019 season against Abilene Christian on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Apogee Stadium.

To purchase 2019 season tickets click here, or call the North Texas Athletic Ticket Office at 940-565-2527.

Link:  https://meangreensports.com/news/2019/5/29/football-ten-named-to-athlon-preseason-all-c-usa-list.aspx