Southland Conference Announces Preseason All-Conference Football Teams
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Central Arkansas and Sam Houston State led the way in the 2017 Southland Football Preseason All-Conference selections, the league announced Thursday. The Bears earned a dozen selections while the Bearkats earned 11.
Central Arkansas can look forward to more strong defensive performances this season as they enter this season with seven picks on the preseason all-conference defense teams. Senior defensive backs Tremon Smith, George Odum and Jaylon Lofton were named to the first team along with defensive lineman Cardell Best and punter Patrick Ponder.
Defensive lineman Chris Terrell and punt returner Tremon Smith earned spots on the second team defense.
On the offensive end, the Bears return senior quarterback Hayden Hildebrand and running back Carlos Blackman. Leading their charge will be three offensive lineman selections – Stockton Mallett and John Cook to first team and Gilberto Garcia to second team.
Senior quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe headlines the return of the majority of Sam Houston State’s record-setting offense of 2016. Briscoe broke the all-time FCS record with 57 touchdown passes and moved into second all-time in passing yards (4,602) en route to winning the Walter Payton Award for the top offensive player in the FCS.
He is joined on the first team by his standout wide receiver duo of Yedidiah Louis and Nathan Stewart, as well as running backs Corey Avery on first team and Remus Bulmer on second team.
Also earning spots on the first team offense are junior wide receiver Davion Davis and senior offensive lineman Tyler Tezeno. Junior offensive lineman Mitchell Watanabe rounds out the offensive selections for the Bearkats.
On defense, All-American defensive end P.J. Hall also earned first team honors for the Bearkats as he returns for his senior season. Joining him on the defensive first team are linebacker Justin Johnson and kick returner Jaylen Harris.
McNeese and Stephen F. Austin follow, both earning eight selections to the preseason all-conference teams. Houston Baptist and Nicholls both earned five while Southeastern Louisiana named four players. Abilene Christian, UIW (two each) and Lamar (one) rounded out the total selections.
The 2017 preseason poll will be revealed next Thursday, July 20, to kick off Southland Football Media Day at the Hilton Americas in Houston.
2017 Southland Football Preseason All-Conference Teams
First Team Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| QB |
Jeremiah Briscoe |
Sam Houston State |
6-3 |
225 |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| RB |
Corey Avery |
Sam Houston State |
5-10 |
195 |
Sr. |
Dallas, Texas |
| RB |
Julius Maracalin |
Southeastern Louisiana |
6-0 |
215 |
Jr. |
Plaquemine, La. |
| TE/HB |
Lawayne Ross |
McNeese |
6-0 |
255 |
So. |
Richwood, Texas |
| WR |
Yedidiah Louis |
Sam Houston State |
5-8 |
180 |
Sr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| WR |
Nathan Stewart |
Sam Houston State |
5-11 |
175 |
So. |
Dallas, Texas |
| WR |
Davion Davis |
Sam Houston State |
5-11 |
180 |
Jr. |
Hutto, Texas |
| OL |
Stockton Mallett |
Central Arkansas |
6-3 |
307 |
Sr. |
Harrison, Ark. |
| OL |
Chandler Arceneaux |
Nicholls |
6-4 |
260 |
RS-Jr. |
Bourg, La. |
| OL |
Tyler Tezeno |
Sam Houston State |
6-4 |
340 |
Sr. |
Spring, Texas |
| OL |
John Cook |
Central Arkansas |
6-4 |
319 |
Jr. |
Grenada, Miss. |
| OL |
Josh Keith |
Stephen F. Austin |
6-7 |
318 |
Sr. |
Katy, Texas |
| AP |
Kody Edwards |
UIW |
6-0 |
165 |
Sr. |
Mesquite, Texas |
| PK |
Nik Grau |
Abilene Christian |
6-1 |
230 |
Sr. |
Grapevine, Texas |
First Team Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| DL |
P.J. Hall |
Sam Houston State |
6-1 |
310 |
Sr. |
Seguin, Texas |
| DL |
Sully Laiche |
Nicholls |
6-2 |
255 |
So. |
Gramercy, La. |
| DL |
John Franklin |
Stephen F. Austin |
6-4 |
284 |
Sr. |
Greenville, Texas |
| DL |
Cardell Best |
Central Arkansas |
6-3 |
248 |
Sr. |
Little Elm, Texas |
| LB |
Garrett Dolan |
Houston Baptist |
6-2 |
240 |
Jr. |
Mont Belvieu, Texas |
| LB |
Sam Denmark |
Abilene Christian |
6-1 |
230 |
Sr. |
Las Cruces, N.M. |
| LB |
Justin Johnson |
Sam Houston State |
6-0 |
220 |
Jr. |
Converse, Texas |
| DB |
Tremon Smith |
Central Arkansas |
6-0 |
186 |
Sr. |
Anniston, Ala. |
| DB |
George Odum |
Central Arkansas |
6-2 |
190 |
Sr. |
Millington, Tenn. |
| DB |
Andre Fuller |
McNeese |
6-0 |
196 |
Sr. |
Monroe, La. |
| DB |
Jaylon Lofton |
Central Arkansas |
6-1 |
175 |
Sr. |
Forest, Miss. |
| DB |
Christian Boutte |
Nicholls |
6-0 |
190 |
Sr. |
Opelousas, La. |
| P |
Patrick Ponder |
Central Arkansas |
6-1 |
200 |
Sr. |
Bay St. Louis, Miss. |
| KR |
Jaylen Harris |
Sam Houston State |
5-7 |
155 |
So. |
Cibolo, Texas |
| PR |
Trae Hart |
Stephen F. Austin |
5-11 |
175 |
Sr. |
Mesquite, Texas |
Second Team Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| QB |
Hayden Hildebrand |
Central Arkansas |
6-3 |
196 |
Sr. |
Bossier City, La. |
| RB |
Remus Bulmer |
Sam Houston State |
5-7 |
185 |
Jr. |
Missouri City, Texas |
| RB |
Carlos Blackman |
Central Arkansas |
6-1 |
228 |
So. |
Gosnell, Ark. |
| TE/HB |
Kiki Hill |
Stephen F. Austin |
6-2 |
235 |
So. |
Goliad, Texas |
| WR |
Darious Crawley |
McNeese |
5-11 |
190 |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| WR |
Tamrick Pace |
Stephen F. Austin |
6-3 |
200 |
So. |
Brownsboro, Texas |
| WR |
Kent Shelby |
McNeese |
6-3 |
194 |
Sr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| OL |
Andy Dodd |
McNeese |
6-4 |
300 |
Gr. |
Lindale, Ga. |
| OL |
Mitchell Watanabe |
Sam Houston State |
6-4 |
330 |
Jr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| OL |
Gilberto Garcia |
Central Arkansas |
6-2 |
305 |
Sr. |
Morrilton, Ark. |
| OL |
Ryan Hanley |
Nicholls |
6-2 |
290 |
Jr. |
Metairie, La. |
| OL |
Travis Romero |
Southeastern Louisiana |
6-3 |
320 |
Sr. |
Manvel, Texas |
| AP |
Trae Hart |
Stephen F. Austin |
5-11 |
175 |
Sr. |
Mesquite, Texas |
| PK |
Alec Chadwick |
Houston Baptist |
6-2 |
162 |
Jr. |
Valencia, Calif. |
Second Team Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| DL |
Jammerio Gross-Whitaker |
McNeese |
6-3 |
240 |
Sr. |
Shreveport, La. |
| DL |
Lamont Alexander |
Stephen F. Austin |
6-3 |
305 |
Jr. |
Nolanville, Texas |
| DL |
Chris Terrell |
Central Arkansas |
6-3 |
248 |
So. |
Pensacola, Fla. |
| DL |
Chris Livings |
McNeese |
6-2 |
210 |
Jr. |
Lake Charles, La. |
| LB |
Allen Pittman |
Nicholls |
5-11 |
205 |
RS-So. |
St. Rose, La. |
| LB |
Sione Teuhema |
Southeastern Louisiana |
6-4 |
260 |
Sr. |
Keller, Texas |
| LB |
Cody Moncure |
Houston Baptist |
6-2 |
225 |
Sr. |
Richmond, Texas |
| DB |
Dominique Hill |
McNeese |
5-10 |
177 |
Sr. |
Mansfield, La. |
| DB |
Rodney Randle, Jr. |
Lamar |
5-10 |
179 |
Jr. |
Beaumont, Texas |
| DB |
Robert Hayes, Jr. |
UIW |
6-2 |
185 |
So. |
Slidell, La. |
| DB |
Max Lyons |
Southeastern Louisiana |
5-10 |
175 |
Sr. |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
| DB |
Derek Broussard |
Houston Baptist |
5-9 |
180 |
Sr. |
Beaumont, Texas |
| P |
Christian Guzman |
Houston Baptist |
5-11 |
185 |
Sr. |
Brookshire, Texas |
| KR |
Alize Ward |
Stephen F. Austin |
5-10 |
195 |
So. |
San Diego, Calif. |
| PR |
Tremon Smith |
Central Arkansas |
6-0 |
186 |
Sr. |
Anniston, Ala. |