HobbsDailyReport.com
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman leads the preseason All-South Atlantic Conference (SAC) football team with eight first-team picks and defending league champion Lenoir-Rhyne has six selections.
The teams, selected by SAC Football Media Relation Directors, were announced by conference officials on Thursday.
LRU had 13 overall selections – a program high — and its seven second-team picks include former Maiden High running back Xavier Huff, a 5-foot, 180-pound junior.
DUGGER
POE
Carson-Newman’s picks included quarterback Derrick Evans, who threw for 637 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 439 yards and six TDs.
The Eagles also have running back Antonio Wimbush recognized. He led the SAC in rushing last year (1,206 yards), averaging 109.6 yards per game.
LRU, 12-2 overall least season and 7-0 to win the SAC regular season crown, had these players selected first-team:
— Offensive lineman Jason Poe, a junior (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) from Fitzgerald, Ga.
— Tight end Drake Starks, who last season had 14 catches for 194 yards and five TDs. Starks (6-3, 240) is a sophomore from Ringgold, Ga.
WILLIAMS
STARKS
— Return specialist Kyle Dugger (6-2, 215, senior from Fayetteville, Ga.), who returned nine kickoffs for 180 yards and 31 punts for 534 yards with two TDs. He was also selected in the secondary.
— Defensive lineman Dan Louba, a 6-1, 270-pound junior from Harrisburg.
— Senior linebacker Sherrod Williams (6-1, 215) from Edison, Ga.
2019 PRESEASON ALL-SOUTH
ATLANTIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL
(Selected by SAC Media Directors)
OFFENSE
FIRST TEAM
QB – Derrick Evans, Carson-Newman
RB – Antonio Wimbush, Carson-Newman
RB – Jordon Shippy, Tusculum
RB – Nijere Peoples, Wingate
WR – BJ Muckelvene, Wingate
WR – Will Sweeper, Catawba
WR – Craig Rucker, Mars Hill
OL – Phil McDowell, Carson-Newman
OL – Jordan Seal, Carson-Newman
OL – Travis James, Mars Hill
OL – Keveon Broadwater, Tusculum
OL – Jason Poe, Lenoir-Rhyne
TE – Drake Starks, Lenoir-Rhyne
PK – McLean Robertson, Wingate
LS – Dawson Campbell, Carson-Newman
RS – Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
SECOND TEAM
QB – Shaw Crocker, Wingate
RB – Ameen Stevens, Lenoir-Rhyne
RB – Xzavion Huff, Lenoir-Rhyne
RB – Austin Barnes, Newberry
WR – Ajay Belanger, Tusculum
WR – Tyler Ferguson, Mars Hill
WR – Bobby Irby, Newberry
OL – Connor Baroniunas, Wingate
OL – Demetrius Blackwell, Catawba
OL – Ronnie Cliffton, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL – Reese Fain, Carson-Newman
OL – Tyler Anderson, Newberry
TE – Carter Mangel, Tusculum
PK – Chase Allbaugh, Lenoir-Rhyne
LS – AJ Covan, Limestone
RS – BJ Muckelvene, Wingate
DEFENSE
FIRST TEAM
DL – Montel Presley, Carson-Newman
DL – Brian Bemby, Carson-Newman
DL – Dan Louba, Lenoir-Rhyne
DL – Colton Strickland, Tusculum
LB – Jeremiah Ferguson, Catawba
LB – Ivan Hogans, Tusculum
LB – Sherrod Williams, Lenoir-Rhyne
LB – Robbie Wallace, Wingate
DB – Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB – Desmond Fairell, Carson-Newman
DB – Davion Washington, Wingate
DB – Malik Goodman, Tusculum
P – Shea Rodgers, Newberry
SECOND TEAM
DL – Jaquan Artis, Lenoir-Rhyne
DL – Cameron Davis, Catawba
DL – Cal Hanford, Wingate
DL – Keito Jordon, Newberry
LB – Elijah Gilmore, Wingate
LB – Antonio Henderson, Carson-Newman
LB – Clayton Horn, Lenoir-Rhyne
LB – LJ Melvin, Catawba
DB – David Vereen, Newberry
DB – Dee Alford, Tusculum
DB – Cris Page, Catawba
DB – Eric Jackson, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB – Marcus Tarrer, UVa-Wise
P – Thomas Cook, Limestone
— Reported by South Atlantic Conference