MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Phil Steele's Preseason Conference USA All Conference team was announced Monday, and Middle Tennessee was well-represented.
The Blue Raiders had six players selected, led by senior safety Reed Blankenship's inclusion on the first team. Offensive linemen Robert Jones and Will Gilchrist followed on the second and third teams, respectively, and quarterback Asher O'Hara, wide receiver Jimmy Marshall and linebacker DQ Thomas rounded out the selections on the fourth team.
Blankenship's selection comes on the heels of his second placement on the watch list for the 26th annual Chuck Bednarik Award, awarded to the nation's defensive player of the year.