Garcia Leads Six Owls On Phil Steele All-C-USA Team
12/17/2021 11:20:00 AM | Football
Consensus first team all-conference selection
Elijah Garcia has been named All-Conference USA first team by Phil Steele while teammates Jake Bailey, Shea Baker, Ikenna Enechukwu, Jordan Myers, and Naeem Smith were named to the fourth team.
Garcia led the team with career-highs of five sacks and 67 tackles, the most for any interior defender in the conference. He totaled 190 career tackles in 51 games, the most of any active interior defender in C-USA. His 67 stops were the most by an Owls defensive lineman since Dwain Turner had 90 in 1986. Garcia led the team with 33 total quarterback pressures (sacks, hits & hurries) according to Pro Football Focus, as well as the Owls defense with 791 snaps and the team with 51 games (46 consecutive) and 27 consecutive starts.
Bailey led the team with 56 receptions and 714 yards and caught at least one pass in 15 consecutive games. In conference games, he had 40 receptions for 565 yards, which tied for ninth in C-USA. Against North Texas, Bailey set career highs with 10 catches and 143 yards and matched his yardage total at Charlotte the following week. The following week he fell 20 yards shy of joining Jarett Dillard as the only Owls to post three consecutive 100-yard receiving days in C-USA action.
Enechukwu led the team with 20 quarterback hurries according to PFF and was second with 32 total pressures, eight tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks, all career bests. He recorded a TFL in seven of his last eight games while establishing a new career-best with 2.5 against Southern Miss.
Although listed at tight end, Myers made his biggest impact at running back. He led the Owls in rushing touchdowns (8) and scoring (54 points), was second in all-purpose yards (646), and third in rushing yards (338), and fourth with 25 receptions.
Smith started at strong and free safety this year due to injuries and was the only Owl defensive back to have started all 12 games. He was second in Conference USA with four interceptions, the most by an Owls since Prudy Calderon had four in 2018. All four picks came in C-USA action. The four interceptions were a career-high and raised his career total to seven. Smith was second on the team with a career-high 65 tackles and 32 solo tackles while recording five pass breakups.
Baker opened the season at guard but moved back to his original position at center after an injury to Isaac Klarkowski. He led the team with 849 snaps this season and 42 career starts.
Garcia led the team with career-highs of five sacks and 67 tackles, the most for any interior defender in the conference. He totaled 190 career tackles in 51 games, the most of any active interior defender in C-USA. His 67 stops were the most by an Owls defensive lineman since Dwain Turner had 90 in 1986. Garcia led the team with 33 total quarterback pressures (sacks, hits & hurries) according to Pro Football Focus, as well as the Owls defense with 791 snaps and the team with 51 games (46 consecutive) and 27 consecutive starts.
Bailey led the team with 56 receptions and 714 yards and caught at least one pass in 15 consecutive games. In conference games, he had 40 receptions for 565 yards, which tied for ninth in C-USA. Against North Texas, Bailey set career highs with 10 catches and 143 yards and matched his yardage total at Charlotte the following week. The following week he fell 20 yards shy of joining Jarett Dillard as the only Owls to post three consecutive 100-yard receiving days in C-USA action.
Enechukwu led the team with 20 quarterback hurries according to PFF and was second with 32 total pressures, eight tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks, all career bests. He recorded a TFL in seven of his last eight games while establishing a new career-best with 2.5 against Southern Miss.
Although listed at tight end, Myers made his biggest impact at running back. He led the Owls in rushing touchdowns (8) and scoring (54 points), was second in all-purpose yards (646), and third in rushing yards (338), and fourth with 25 receptions.
Smith started at strong and free safety this year due to injuries and was the only Owl defensive back to have started all 12 games. He was second in Conference USA with four interceptions, the most by an Owls since Prudy Calderon had four in 2018. All four picks came in C-USA action. The four interceptions were a career-high and raised his career total to seven. Smith was second on the team with a career-high 65 tackles and 32 solo tackles while recording five pass breakups.
Baker opened the season at guard but moved back to his original position at center after an injury to Isaac Klarkowski. He led the team with 849 snaps this season and 42 career starts.
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