Seven FIU football players receive Conference USA awards

Seven FIU players earned a combined nine awards as Conference USA announced its 2014 all-conference honors on Tuesday.

Sophomore tight end Jonnu Smith and redshirt junior cornerback Richard Leonard earned first-team, all-conference honors; junior defensive lineman Michael Wakefield earned second-team recognition; and senior offensive lineman Donald Senat, junior defensive lineman Denzell Perine, junior linebacker Davison Colimon and freshman linebacker Anthony Wint received C-USA honorable mention.

Leonard and Smith become FIU’s first-ever first-team honorees. Leonard picked up two first-team nods, also being named as a punt returner. The Miami native also received honorable mention as a kick returner.

Smith appeared and started in all 12 games for the Panthers. He led the Panthers with 61 catches for 710 yards and eight touchdowns and leads all tight ends nationally in touchdowns, receiving yards and receptions.

Smith’s eight receiving touchdowns broke the previous season best of seven set by T.Y. Hilton (2008, 2011) and Cory McKinney (2002).

This story was originally published December 9, 2014 at 7:54 PM with the headline "Seven FIU football players receive Conference USA awards."