Lelie third-team AP All-American

Advertiser Staff

Ashley Lelie is first UH player since Jason Elam to get AP honors. Advertiser library photo

He is the first UH football player honored by AP since placekicker Jason Elam was named to the third team in 1991. In 1986, defensive lineman Al Noga became the first UH played selected to the AP first team.

"It's cool," said Lelie, who earlier was named to the Western Athletic Conference's all-star team, and the third teams of College Football News and The Sporting News. "It feels good. It's a reflection of the season we had. If you have a good season, you're going to get these honors."

Lelie was second nationally in receiving, averaging 142.75 yards per game. In 12 games, he caught 84 passes for a school-record 1,713 yards and 19 touchdowns.

The 6-foot-3, 197-pound Lelie, who completed his junior year, credited his offseason conditioning program, his teammates and UH coach June Jones' run-and-shoot offense.

"It shows our offense is explosive," Lelie said. "It gives us a chance to get a lot of passes."

Lelie, a 1998 Radford High graduate, said he will spend the Christmas break with his family in South Carolina. Soon after that, he said, he will announce whether he will return to the Warriors for his senior season or apply for the National Football League draft in April.

Either way, he said, he plans on improving his "overall strength. I need to get a little bit bigger."