Four Mustangs Named Preseason All-Conference

IRVING, Texas (SMU/C-USA) – SMU Mustangs Kelvin Beachum, Ja’Gared Davis, Zach Line and Taylor Thompson have been named preseason All-Conference USA, as chosen by the league’s 12 head coaches, the conference office announced today.

Beachum, a Mexia native, has started every game since for SMU over the past three seasons, twice earning All-C-USA honors. In 2011, Beachum blocked for an offense that totaled a school-record 3,861 passing yards and added 1,943 yards on the ground. The senior is on the Watch Lists for the Outland and Lombardi Awards.

Davis started 13 games in 2010 and saw action in all 14. The Crockett, Texas, native was named first-team Conference USA and was tabbed a CollegeFootballNews.com honorable mention All-American. The Lombardi Award Watch List member totaled 90 tackles, including 62 solos, and amassed nine sacks and 16 TFLs on the season.

Line, an Oxford, Mich., native was named first-team All-Conference USA in 2010 after rushing for 1,494 yards, the second-largest single-season total in school history, trailing only Eric Dickerson’s 1,617 yards in 1982. The tally was 11th in the country, and Line averaged 6.1 yards per carry and scored 10 touchdowns on the year. Line has been tabbed to the Maxwell and Doak Walker Award Watch lists. 

Thompson, a native of Prosper, Texas, started in all 14 games last season and was named All-Conference USA First Team. An anchor in SMU’s 3-4 defense, the Nagurski and Lombardi Award Watch List member posted 32 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks and three QB hurries on the season.

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