North Texas and UNLV All Conference Honors

[Harry]

UNT

North Texas, which will be playing UNLV in the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl on New Year's Day in the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium, placed four players on the 2013 Conference USA all-league football teams as selected by the league's 14 head football coaches. Announced Tuesday, North Texas's first team all-league performers were junior offensive guard Cyril Lemon, senior linebacker Zach Orr (114 tackles, three forced fumbles, four fumbles recovered), senior free safety Marcus Trice (83 tackles, five interceptions, 13 passes defended) and senior Brelan Chancellor. As the league's top punt (16.8 yards per return, one TD) and kickoff (28.1, one) returner, Chancellor is just the second player in league history to be named first team at both return positions (UCF's Joe Burnett in 2008). Chancellor, who caught 47 passes for a team-high 718 and four touchdowns, also earned second-team all-league wide receiver honors. Senior defensive lineman Aaron Bellazin (31 total tackles, 7.5 sacks) was also a second-team. Earning honorable mention honors were senior running back Brandin Byrd (1,023 yards rushing, 11 touchdowns), senior wide receiver Darnell Smith (65 receptions, 716 yards, three scores) senior defensive linebacker Richard Abbe, junior linebacker Derek Akunne (19 tackles, three sacks), sophomore defensive back Kenny Buyers (71 tackles, two interceptions) and junior defensive back Lairamie Lee (70 tackles, .three interceptions). Offensive lineman Kaydon Kirby and punter Blake Macek (40.8 yard average and 24 kicks inside the 20-yard line) were named to C-USA's 2013 all-freshman as selected by the league's head coaches.

UNLV

Heart of Dallas Bowl participant UNLV had 10 players receiving all-league mention in the Mountain West Conference. Senior running back Tim Cornett (1,251 yards rushing, 15 touchdowns), junior wide receiver Devante Davis (77 receptions for 1,194 yards and 14 touchdowns) and junior offensive lineman Brett Boyko were named to the second team. Honorable mention Rebels were seniors Frank Crawford (defensive back, 53 total tackles, four interceptions), Mark Garrick (defensive line, 31 total tackles) and Tani Maka (linebacker, 87 total tackles), juniors Cameron Jefferson (offensive line), Marcus Sullivan Jr. (returner, 28.8 yards per kickoff return), and Robert Waterman (offensive line), and sophomore defensive back Peni Vea (97 total tackles).

[MeanGreenTexan]

I anticipate alot of attention on Devante Davis from our secondary.

Corbett looks like he can be stopped by a good rush defense. He had several games under 100yds rushing, then he had big games against some horrible defenses. He seems to be an every down back unlike our troika.

What I'm concerned with is their QB, Caleb Herring, looks to be a runner. In the last 5 games of the year, Herring has run 64 times for 222yds & 4TD's.

[GOMG2013]

Did you forget y'barbo?...uh oh....

[GrandGreen]

UNLV with no first team all conference players and three second team players should not strike fear in anyone.

This is a team that could very well embarrass NT by winning, but doesn't provide much acclaim to NT by losing.

[DirtySavage]

The way we played against UTSA makes me fear everyone. We are capable, at any time, of repeating that performance against a lesser opponent.