Redshirt junior running back Charles Sims was named second-team All Conference. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar
Conference USA named four UH football players to the first-team All-Conference USA and 13 total between the first-, second-, all-freshman and honorable mentions teams.
Senior linebacker Phillip Steward, senior cornerback D.J. Hayden, redshirt senior right guard Jacolby Ashworth and junior punter Richie Leone were selected first-team. UH was third in C-USA behind only UCF (six) and Tulsa (five).
Steward’s 11 sacks ranked 14th nationally and first in conference, while his five forced fumbles placed him fourth nationally and the leader in the conference. Hayden finished second in the league after suffering a life-threatening injury at practice with four interceptions in nine games. Leone’s average 45.6 yards per punt led C-USA and set a UH single-season record. Ashworth helped steer a veteran offensive line that allowed just 18 sacks (1.6 per game) all season.
Redshirt junior running back Charles Sims, who finished third in C-USA with 94.6 yards rushing per game, and redshirt senior long snapper Brandon Hartson, who was perfect on 131 snaps (61 punts, 45 PATs and 25 field goals), earned second-team honors.
On the all-freshman team, the Cougars claimed two of three receiver positions for freshmen wide receivers Deontay Greenberry (47 receptions for 569 yards) and Larry McDuffey (28 receptions for 382 yards). Freshman safety Trevon Stewart, who was the nation’s top freshman tackler (126), rounded out the all-freshman list for UH.
Sophomore linebacker Derrick Mathews, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Bryce Redman, junior defensive back Zachary McMillian and redshirt senior kicker Matt Hogan received honorable mention selections.
Hogan closed out his career with 105 points, including 20-for-25 on field goals and a perfect three-for-three from over 50 yards. Hogan holds C-USA records for kick scoring (405) and career extra points (228).
