Coley, Johnson, McCaleb Named All-American By SI.com
12/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 7, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss senior linebacker Kevis Coley, senior punter Luke Johnson and junior kicker Darren McCaleb were named honorable-mention All-Americans by SI.com today.
This is the first All-American selection this season for the trio, and is also the first career selection by Coley and Johnson. McCaleb was an honorable-mention All-American by SI.com last season, and a Freshman All-American by The Sporting News in 2003.
Coley, the 2005 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, earned first team All-Conference USA honors this season. He finished the regular season with a team-high 144 total tackles (13.1 tackles per game), leading Conference USA and ranking No. 4 nationally. It was also the ninth best single-season performance in school history. He also had 78 solo tackles on the season, leading the team and Conference USA, while tying for No. 6 nationally. He also had 66 assisted tackles, which led the team and tied for first in Conference USA.
Johnson earned first-team All-Conference USA honors for the first time in his career this season. He led Conference USA with a 45.3 punting yard average (50 punts, 2,263 yards), tying for the second best performance in school history, matching Ray Guy's 45.3-yard average in 1970. The punting unit finished No. 2 in Conference USA and No. 10 nationally (37.78).
McCaleb earned second team All-Conference USA honors for the second-straight season in 2005. He finished the season connecting on 22-of-27 field goals and 34-of-35 extra points, finishing as the top field goal kicker in Conference USA and No. 2 nationally (2.0). He also finished No. 2 in Conference USA and No. 14 nationally in scoring (9.09).
Southern Miss finished 6-5 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA and recently accepted an invitation to play in the New Orleans Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m., CT, its eighth bowl game in the past nine years, including four straight. The 6-5 record also is the 12th straight winning season for the Golden Eagles, who is one of only seven schools that have achieved the mark.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets from the Southern Miss Ticket Office. Premium sideline tickets are $40 each, Goal line tickets are $20 each and Southern Miss student tickets are $20 each. Priority ticket deadline is Fri., Dec. 9 at 1 p.m., and for ticket information call 1-800-844-TICK, 601-266-5418 or visit www.southernmiss.com.