SMU punter/kicker Thomas Morstead punts the ball in his last game for the Mustangs last Saturday against Southern Mississippi. (Lindsey Perkins)

SMU punter-kicker Thomas Morstead, a two-time All-Conference USA selection, was selected Wednesday to play in the East-West Shrine Game, taking place Jan. 17 in Houston.

The Shrine Game began in 1925 and is a showcase for college seniors who hope to continue their playing careers in the NFL. Morstead is the first SMU player selected to the squad since Rodnick Phillips suited up in 1999.

Morstead from Pearland, was a punter-kicker combo for the Mustangs and started three seasons. He averaged 43.4 yards per punt in his career, which is third best on the school’s all-time list. In 2008, he downed 20-of-58 punts inside the 20 yard line.

The Web site NFLDraftScout.com ranked Morstead as the second best punter in this year’s NFL draft class. A separate NFL Draft Web site, DraftCountdown.com, listed Morstead as the third best punter.

He is predicted to be a late-round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft and could perhaps be a free-agent pickup.