Conference USA Football: Power rankings, top players and key games for 2022

Dec 3, 2021; San Antonio, TX, USA; UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor carries UTSA Roadrunners running back Sincere McCormick (3) after defeating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 49-41 in the Conference USA championship game the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2021; San Antonio, TX, USA; UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor carries UTSA Roadrunners running back Sincere McCormick (3) after defeating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 49-41 in the Conference USA championship game the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports /
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UAB RB DeWayne McBride running against BYU
Dec 18, 2021; Shreveport, LA, USA; UAB Blazers running back DeWayne McBride (22) runs the ball against the BYU Cougars during the fourth quarter during the 2021 Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports /

Top five C-USA players heading into 2022

Manase Mose – center, North Texas

Mose has been a mainstay on the North Texas offensive line for years, as he’s started 48 games over the past four seasons. Last year, the 6-foot-1, 292-pound Mose was named second-team All-C-USA

Jordan Ferguson – edge rusher, MTSU

The 6-foot-2 rusher is a real smacker of a defensive lineman. He carries a heavy load on each hit but also has enough agility to play in space. A second team All-C-USA selection last season, Ferguson had eight sacks to go along with 16.5 tackles for loss.

Tyrese Chambers – wide receiver, FIU

Although FIU doesn’t have much talent, they do have a big-play machine in Chambers, who is also more physical than his stats make him appear. With just 45 catches last year, he caught for over 1,000 yards and 9 touchdowns and earned second-team All-C-USA honors.

DeWayne McBride – running back, UAB

“Debo” McBride is a massive, chunky running back who runs through arm tackles with ease. His vision, too, is excellent, and he knows when and where to cut the football back. That helped him rush for 1,371 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2021, and may help him get to the NFL.

Frank Harris – quarterback, UTSA

While Sincere McCormick got all the headlines on UTSA’s offense, many forgot about Frank Harris. The stubby quarterback was there to bail out the Roadrunners at all times. Whether it was running for a first down, or putting a ball ever so perfectly over a defender’s head, he was one of the key reasons for their conference title in 2021. This year, he’s got a claim as Conference USA’s best player.