WKU has claimed back-to-back Conference USA titles, so it should be no surprise the Hilltoppers lead the way in selections for the 2017 All-Conference USA team. New coach Mike Sanford inherits a strong foundation, as WKU places 15 players – the most of any team in the league – on Athlon’s 2017 All-Conference USA team. Louisiana Tech (12) checks in No. 1 among programs in the West Division, while UTSA and MTSU also have strong showings with nine overall selections apiece.

Athlon Sports has released its top 25 for 2017. Now, it’s time to take a look at the best of the best and honor the top players in the league with a release of first, second, third and fourth all-conference teams for 2017.

An important note on the all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2017. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2017 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year.

Conference USA Football 2017 All-Conference Team

First-Team Offense Second-Team Offense Third-Team Offense Fourth-Team Offense QB Brent Stockstill MTSU Mike White WKU J'Mar Smith La. Tech Chase Litton Marshall RB Ito Smith Southern Miss Ray Lawry ODU Jalen Rhodes UTSA Alex Gardner FIU RB Devin Singletary FAU Jeffery Wilson North Texas D'Andre Ferby WKU Samuel Stewart Rice AP Richie James MTSU Jarred Craft (RB) La. Tech Ty Lee (WR) MTSU Nacarius Fant (WR) WKU WR Kalib Woods FAU Lucky Jackson WKU Josh Stewart UTSA T.L. Ford Charlotte WR Allenzae Staggers Southern Miss Thomas Owens FIU Kam McKnight La. Tech Kylen Granson Rice TE Ryan Yurachek Marshall Jonathan Duhart (WR) ODU Teddy Veal (WR) La. Tech Tyre Brady (WR) Marshall C Nick Clarke ODU Trey Martin Rice Levi Brown Marshall Derron Gatewood UTEP OL Will Hernandez UTEP Reggie Bain FAU Ty Pollard Southern Miss Peter Godber Rice OL Brandon Ray WKU Nate Davis Charlotte Ethan Reed La. Tech Carlos Johnson MTSU OL O'Shea Dugas La. Tech Calvin Anderson Rice Jordan Murray North Texas Kai Absheer FIU OL Chandler Brewer MTSU Dennis Edwards WKU Austin Pratt UTSA Antonyo Woods FAU

First-Team Defense Second-Team Defense Third-Team Defense Fourth-Team Defense DL Jaylon Ferguson La. Tech Chris Johnson WKU Derik Overstreet WKU Teko Powell UAB DL Marcus Davenport UTSA Xavier Thigpen Southern Miss Jordan Bradford La. Tech Bryce English North Texas DL Oshane Ximines ODU Ryan Bee Marshall Fermin Silva FIU Deldrick Canty La. Tech DL Walter Brady MTSU Bunmi Rotimi ODU Blain Padgett Rice Kevin Strong UTSA LB Alvin Jones UTEP Chris Melton MTSU Shaq Jones UAB La'Kel Bass UTSA LB Josiah Tauaefa UTSA Azeez Al-Shaair FAU Treyvon Williams FIU DJ Sanders MTSU LB Emmanuel Ellerbee Rice Anthony Wint FIU Joel Iyiegbuniwe WKU Joshua Wheeler North Texas CB Joe Brown WKU Nate Brooks North Texas Eric Jenkins North Texas Isaiah Brown FIU CB Brandon Addison ODU Rodney Allen Marshall Raekwon Williams FAU Cornell Armstrong Southern Miss S Jalen Young FAU Nate Gaines UTSA Ben DeLuca Charlotte Secdrick Cooper La. Tech S Kishawn McClain North Texas Devin Cockrell UTEP Picasso Nelson Southern Miss Marcus Ward WKU

First-Team Specialists Second-Team Specialists Third-Team Specialists Fourth-Team Specialists K Jonathan Barnes La. Tech Canon Rooker MTSU Parker Shaunfield Southern Miss Skyler Simcox WKU P Jack Fox Rice Jake Collins WKU Yannis Routsas UTSA Alan Luna UTEP KR Kylen Towner WKU Kerrith Whyte FAU Tyler Wilson North Texas Boston Scott La. Tech PR Nacarius Fant WKU Terry Juniel UTEP Thomas Owens FIU Allenzae Staggers Southern Miss

Breakdown of Athlon's 2017 All-Conference USA Team