IRVING, Texas (July 16, 2018) – FIU football's senior duo of Jordan Budwig and Fermin Silva were named to the Conference USA Coaches' Preseason Team for their respective positions, the league office announced on Monday.
 
Silva and Budwig each picked up All-CUSA Second Team honors to cap their stellar 2017 seasons. For Silva, the defensive end was the team leader in tackles-for-loss (14.0), sacks (7.0) and quarterback hurries (6) while also racking up 50 total tackles. Budwig led the offensive line last season to one of its best years on the ground in school history, as he helped the Panthers rush for 2,069 yards in 2017.  
 
Florida Atlantic junior RB Devin Singletary was selected as the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, Florida Atlantic senior LB Azeez Al-Shaair was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year, while Southern Miss senior K Parker Shaunfield earned Special Teams Player of the Year honors. Defending conference champion Florida Atlantic had the most overall preseason selections with six, while Marshall produced five and Louisiana Tech and Middle Tennessee each had players comprising four spots.  Eight schools had multiple players named to the squad.
 
The league's 23rd football season begins on Thursday, August 30.  The 14th annual Conference USA Football Championship Game, pitting the champions of the East and West Divisions, will be held Saturday, Dec. 1. 
 
The C-USA Media Poll (Predicted Order of Finish) will be released on Tuesday. The C-USA 2018 Football Media Kickoff is set for Wednesday-Thursday, July 18-19, in Frisco, Texas. Napoleon Maxwell and Anthony Johnson will be FIU's representatives, along with second-year head coach Butch Davis.
 
For the full C-USA release, visit here.
 
########## 
  
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU.Football on Instagram and @FIUFootball on Twitter and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
 
2018 C-USA FOOTBALL COACHES PRESEASON AWARDS
 
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 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Parker Shaunfield, Sr., K, Southern Miss
 
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 Gant, 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