(Stats Perform) – Behind quarterback Breylin Smith, Central Arkansas led the way with 14 selections on the Southland Conference preseason team Wednesday.
Smith, a redshirt junior, set the school’s single-season record for passing yards (3,704) and tied the mark for touchdown passes (32) as Central Arkansas captured a share of the Southland title with Nicholls last season. He was one of eight UCA players on the preseason first team, including wide receiver Lujuan Winningham and cornerback Robert Rochell, a pair of returning first-team postseason selections.
Sam Houston State claimed the second-most preseason selections with nine, followed by Nicholls with eight, and Houston Baptist and Southeastern Louisiana six each. Nearly 73 percent of the players – 43 of 59 – earned an all-conference postseason selection last season.
The Southland preseason poll is scheduled to be announced next Wednesday during the conference’s virtual media day.
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SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PRESEASON TEAM
First Team
Offense
QB – Breylin Smith, Central Arkansas, Jr.
RB – Julien Gums, Nicholls, Jr.
RB – Donovan Williams, Sam Houston State, Jr.
TE/HB – Brandon Hohenstein, Abilene Christian, Sr.
WR – Lujuan Winningham, Central Arkansas, Jr.
WR – Da’Jean Dixon, Nicholls, Sr.
WR – Cyron Sutton, McNeese, Sr.
OL – P.J. Burkhalter, Nicholls, R-Sr.
OL – Colby Thomas, Sam Houston State, Sr.
OL – Jair Joseph, Nicholls, Sr.
OL – Jaylen Hendrix, Central Arkansas, Jr.
OL – Toby Sanderson, Central Arkansas, Sr.
PK – Bailey Giffen, Lamar, Sr.
P – Matt McRobert, Sam Houston State, R-Sr.
Defense
DL – Trace Mascorro, Sam Houston State, Sr.
DL – Joseph Wallace, Sam Houston State, Sr.
DL – Nathan Grant, Central Arkansas, Sr.
DL – Kameron Hill, Abilene Christian, Sr.
LB – Alexis Ramos, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr.
LB – T.J. Campbell, Central Arkansas, Jr.
LB – Ja’Quay Pough, Northwestern State, Sr.
DB – Ferlando Jordan, Southeastern Louisiana, R-Jr.
DB – Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas, Sr.
DB – Michael Lawson, Lamar, Sr.
DB – Darion Dunn, McNeese, Sr.
DB – Kevin Moore III, Nicholls, Sr.
KR – Cameron Myers, Central Arkansas, R-So.
PR – Michael Lawson, Lamar, Sr.
Second Team
Offense
QB – Bailey Zappe, Houston Baptist, Sr.
RB – Billy McCrary, Abilene Christian, Sr.
RB – Dreshawn Minnieweather, Houston Baptist, Sr.
TE/HB – Matt DeBlaiso, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr.
TE/HB – Jack Short, Central Arkansas, Sr.
WR – Tyler Hudson, Central Arkansas, So.
WR – Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin, So.
WR – Ben Ratzlaff, Houston Baptist, Sr.
WR – Jerreth Sterns, Houston Baptist, Jr.
WR – Austin Mitchell, Southeastern Louisiana, R-Sr.
OL – Eleasah Anderson, Sam Houston State, R-Jr.
OL – Mikhail Hill, Nicholls, R-Jr.
OL – Jeremiah James, Nicholls, R-So.
OL – Drew Jones, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr.
OL – Kade Parmelly, Abilene Christian, Sr.
PK – Hayden Ray, Central Arkansas, Jr.
P – Blake Patterson, Houston Baptist, Sr.
Defense
DL – Jevon Leon, Sam Houston State, So.
DL – A’Javius Brown, Central Arkansas, Sr.
DL – Josh Carr Jr., Southeastern Louisiana, Jr.
DL – J.W. Jones, Central Arkansas, Sr.
LB – Kelechi Anyalabechi, UIW, Jr.
LB – Caleb Johnson, Houston Baptist, Sr.
LB – Evan Veron, Nicholls, Sr.
DB – Zyon McCollum, Sam Houston State, Sr.
DB – Cory McCoy, McNeese, Sr.
DB – Shemar Bartholomew, Northwestern State, Jr.
DB – Jaylon Jimmerson, UIW, So.
DB – Jaylen Thomas, Sam Houston State, Sr.
KR – Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin, So.
PR – Cyron Sutton, McNeese, Sr.
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