IRVING — UTSA's Kevin Strong Jr. and Josiah Tauaefa were named preseason All-Conference USA in a vote by the league's 14 head coaches, the conference office announced Monday.
Strong Jr., a senior defensive lineman, was a second-team all-conference selection in 2017 after posting 27 tackles (12 solos), seven tackles for loss, three sacks and four quarterback hurries for the Roadrunners. The Cleveland, Texas, native started all 11 games for a defense that led C-USA in seven different statistical categories and ranked in the top 10 nationally in five. He has tallied 82 tackles (36 solos), 20 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, two pass breakups, a pair of forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and a fumble recovery during his UTSA career.
Tauaefa, a junior linebacker, collected preseason all-conference accolades for the second straight season. The Corinth, Texas, native registered 29 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, two PBUs and a fumble return for a touchdown despite missing most of four contests during his sophomore campaign. Tauaefa, who hails from Lake Dallas High School, was a Freshman All-American, C-USA Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference performer in 2016 after posting a school-record 115 tackles, nine TFLs, six sacks, seven QB hurries and an interception.
The Roadrunners will kick off the 2018 season on Sept. 1 when they travel to Tempe, Ariz., to face Arizona State. Kickoff is slated for 9:30 p.m. CT at Sun Devil Stadium.
2018 Preseason All-Conference USA Teams
Offense
QB - Mason Fine, Jr., North Texas
QB - Brent Stockstill, Sr., Middle Tennessee
RB - Spencer Brown, So., UAB
RB - Devin Singletary, Jr., Florida Atlantic
OL - Reggie Bain, Sr., Florida Atlantic
OL - Chandler Brewer, Sr., Middle Tennessee
OL - Jordan Budwig, Sr., FIU
OL - Levi Brown, Jr., Marshall
OL - O'Shea Dugas, Sr., Louisiana Tech
TE - Harrison Bryant, Jr., Florida Atlantic
WR - Tyre Brady, Sr., Marshall
WR - Jalen Guyton, Sr., North Texas
WR - Ty Lee, Jr., Middle Tennessee
WR - Teddy Veal, Sr., Louisiana Tech
Defense
DL - Jaylon Ferguson, So., Louisiana Tech
DL - Fermin Silva, Sr., FIU
DL - Kevin Strong Jr., Sr., UTSA
DL - Oshane Ximines, Jr., Old Dominion
LB - Azeez Al-Shaair, Sr., Florida Atlantic
LB - Khalil Brooks, Jr., Middle Tennessee
LB - Chase Hancock, Sr., Marshall
LB - Josiah Tauaefa, Jr., UTSA
DB - Ben DeLuca, Jr., Charlotte
DB - Malik Grant, Jr., Marshall
DB - Shelton Lewis, Sr., Florida Atlantic
DB - Amik Robertson, So., Louisiana Tech
DB - Jalen Young, Sr., Florida Atlantic
Special Teams
K - Parker Shaunfield, Sr., Southern Miss
P - Jack Fox, Sr., Rice
KR - Isaiah Harper, Sr., Old Dominion
PR - Darrell Brown, Jr., Old Dominion
LS - Matt Beardall, Jr., Marshall
Offensive Player of the Year
Devin Singletary, Jr., RB, Florida Atlantic
Defensive Player of the Year
Azeez Al-Shaair, Sr., LB, Florida Atlantic
Special Teams Players of the Year
Parker Shaunfield, Sr., K, Southern Miss
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