Jax Stateâs Jackson, Hardie named first-team All-CUSA
Jacksonville State running back Malik Jackson and defensive end Chris Hardie were chosen to the All-Conference USA first team in voting announced Tuesday.
Jackson, a senior from Lufkin, Texas, is third in conference in rushing (817 yards) and touchdowns (7) despite missing one game and parts of two others due to injury. The Louisiana-Monroe transfer leads CUSA in yards per carry (6.47).
Hardie, a junior from Vincent, leads the Gamecocks with 8.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. Jax State is 10th nationally in sacks as a team with 37, and 13th in tackles for loss with 87.
Second-team All-CUSA selections for Jax State were tight end Sean Brown, offensive linemen Treylen Brown and Clay Webb and defensive backs Jeremiah Harris and Derek Carter. Receiving honorable mention were wide receiver Perry Carter, offensive lineman Will O’Steen, defensive end J-Rock Swain, defensive tackle Jeff Marks, linebacker Quae Drake and punter Jack Dawson.
Jax State offensive lineman Xavier Bausley made the CUSA All-Freshman team.
The Gamecocks (8-4) meet Louisiana (6-6) in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 16. Kickoff is set for 1:15 p.m. on ESPN.
Below are the complete All-Conference USA football teams for 2023. The league’s individual awards will be announced later in the week.
First-team offense
QB: Kaidon Salter, Liberty
RB: Quinton Cooley, Liberty
RB: Malik Jackson, Jacksonville State
WR: Smoke Harris, Louisiana Tech
WR: Kelly Akharaiyi, UTEP
WR: Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
TE: Holden Willis, Middle Tennessee
OL: X’Zauvea Gadlin, Liberty
OL: Andrew Meyer, UTEP
OL: Keylan Rutledge, Middle Tennessee
OL: Shiyazh Pete, New Mexico State
OL: Elijah Klein, UTEP
First-team defense
DE: Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
DT: Jordan Guerad, Florida International
DT: Sterling Webb, New Mexico State
DE: Chris Hardie, Jacksonville State
LB: Tyrice Knight, UTEP
LB: Tyren Dupree, Liberty
LB: Trevor Williams, Sam Houston
DB: Willie Roberts, Lousiana Tech
DB: Kobe Singleton, Liberty
DB: Brylan Green, Liberty
DB: Da’Marcus Crosby, Sam Houston
First-team specialists
K: Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
P: Blake Ochsendorf, Louisiana Tech
KR: Aaron Bedgood, Liberty
PR: Smoke Harris, Louisiana Tech
LS: Brody Butler, Middle Tennessee
Second-team offense
QB: Diego Pavia, New Mexico State
RB: Deion Hankins, UTEP
RB: Star Thomas, New Mexico State
WR: Kris Mitchell, Florida International
WR: CJ Daniels, Liberty
WR: Elijah Metcalf, Middle Tennessee
TE: Sean Brown, Jacksonville State
OL: Jonathan Graham, Liberty
OL: Jordan White, Liberty
OL: Treylen Brown, Jacksonville State
OL: Clay Webb, Jacksonville State
OL: Canaan Yarro, New Mexico State
Defense
DE: Praise Amaewhule, UTEP
DT: Hosea Wheeler, Western Kentucky
DT: Jay Hardy, Liberty
DE: Quindarius Dunnigan, Middle Tennessee
LB: Donovan Manuel, Florida International
LB: Sam Brumfield, Middle Tennessee
LB: Keyshaun Elliott, New Mexico State
DB: Kendrick Simpkins, Western Kentucky
DB: Teldrick Ross, Middle Tennessee
DB: Jeremiah Harris, Jacksonville State
DB: Derek Carter, Jacksonville State
Second-team specialists
K: Jacob Barnes, Louisiana Tech
P: Joshua Sloan, UTEP
KR: Demarcus Griffin-Taylor, Louisiana Tech
PR: Dean Patterson, Florida International
LS: Charlie Eberle, New Mexico State
Honorable mention offense
QB: Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
RB: Torrance Burgess, Jr., UTEP
RB: Billy Lucas, Liberty
WR: Perry Carter, Jacksonville State
WR: Cyrus Allen, Louisiana Tech
WR: Noah Smith, Sam Houston
TE: Eli Stowers, New Mexico State
OL: Carson Bruno, Louisiana Tech
OL: Xavior Gray, Liberty
OL: Justin Mayers, UTEP
OL: Will O’Steen, Jacksonville State
OL: Vincent Murphy, Western Kentucky
Honorable mention defense
DE: J-Rock Swain, Jacksonville State
DT: Jeff Marks, Jacksonville State
DT: Izaiah Reed, New Mexico State
DE: CJ Bazile, Liberty
LB: Quae Drake, Jacksonville State
LB: Jeslord Boatang, Louisiana Tech
LB: James Neal, UTEP
DB: Anthony Johnson, Western Kentucky
DB: Tra Fluellen, Middle Tennessee
DB: Kobe Hylton, UTEP
DB: Jordan Vincent, New Mexico State
Honorable mention specialists
K: Lucas Carneiro, Western Kentucky
P: Jack Dawson, Jacksonville State
KR: Easton Messer, Western Kentucky
PR: Torrance Burgess, UTEP
LS: Trey Naughton, Western Kentucky