From staff reports

HATTIESBURG – Conference USA coaches think quite highly of Southern Miss running back Damion Fletcher and linebacker Gerald McRath.

Fletcher, the 2007 Conerly Trophy winner and one of the most prolific running backs in Southern Miss history, has been tapped as the C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. McRath will be searching for his third-straight 100-tackle seasons and was honored as the top C-USA defensive player. McRath, a junior, earned the league’s top defensive honor at the end of last season.

Fletcher, a junior from Biloxi, will be starting his third season when the Golden Eagles host Louisiana-Lafayette on Aug. 30. He needs 26 yards to become only the fourth Southern Miss player to reach 3,000 rushing yards for his career. He trails the late Ben Garry by 621 yards as the top career rusher in Southern Miss history.

McRath, who is the eighth Southern Miss defensive player to notch the league’s defensive player of the year award in 2007 over the league’s 12-year history, is looking for his third straight 100-plus tackle season this year.

Ryan McKee was named first-team preseason all-conference.

The Golden Eagles, who will be playing for the first time under coach Larry Fedora, were picked to finish third in C-USA’s East Division, trailing Central Florida and East Carolina. UCF won the league championship last season before losing in the Liberty Bowl to Mississippi State. After Southern Miss, Memphis, Marshall and UAB were picked to round out the East. Tulsa has been picked to win the West, followed by Houston, UTEP, Rice, SMU and Tulane.