Dec. 7, 2005

Boca Raton, FL - Florida Atlantic University's Shomari Earls, Willie Hughley, Danny Embick and Jarrid Smith were named to the Sun Belt Conference team, as announced by the Sun Belt Conference office.

The Owls completed 2005, playing one of the nation's most difficult non-conference schedules, predominately with freshmen and sophomores. However, three senior leaders and one sophomore were honored by the Sun Belt Conference coaches and media members as all-conference members. Seniors Shomari Earls and Willie Hughley received first-team honors while Danny Embick, a senior who was sidelined the final two games of the 2005 season, earned honorable mention honors as did the Owls center/guard Jarrid Smith.

Linebacker Earls concluded his senior season as the team's total tackles leader much like he did in 2004. His most productive 2005 game came against Middle Tennessee when he recorded 13 tackles. He had three games with 10 tackles (ULM, Minnesota and FIU) and led the team in tackles in five games. He concluded the season with 87 tackles and his career with 348 tackles which places him atop the FAU all-time career list.

Defensive back Hughley, like Earls, joined the Owls in 2002 and was part of the team's impressive 2003 season when the team finished with an 11-3 record and hosted the NCAA National Semifinal game. He set the single-season interception mark in 2004 with nine and recorded 42 tackles and one interception in 2005. He concluded his four-year career with 15 interceptions.

Embick began the 2005 campaign as the Owls starting quarterback. That role was surrendered when he suffered a season-ending injury. Embick led the Owls in both passing and rushing until his injury. He was instrumental in guiding an offense that entered the season with one wide receiver which had a collegiate reception and a backfield that had a total of eight collegiate carries. Despite the team's youth, Embick earned Sun Belt Player of the Week for his play in the opening game versus Kansas.

Providing protection for Embick was sophomore Jarrid Smith who also received honorable mention honors. Smith stared at center nine games and moved to left guard after Embick's injury. He tallied 739 plays, 81 percent of the offensive snaps and started in every game.