HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Two Lenoir-Rhyne University football stars are on D2Football.com’s first-team preseason All-America team released on Monday.
Offensive lineman Jason Poe, a sophomore from Fitzgerald, Ga., and defensive back Kyle Dugger, a senior from Fayetteville, Ga., were selected.
The Bears open the season on Saturday at 6 p.m., playing St. Augustine’s in Moretz Stadium to begin Drew Cronic’s second year as LRU head coach.
Poe won last year’s Jacob Blocking Trophy in the SAC and was first-team All-SAC and All-Region, helping the Bears rank in the top 10 in NCAA Division II with 268.1 yards rushing per game.
Dugger had 76 tackles last season and added three interceptions, 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He also set LRU records for punt return yardage (534) and punt returns (31).
D2 FOOTBALL.COM PRESEASON
ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
First Team Offense
QB Rogan Wells 6-3, 220, Jr. Valdosta State
RB Gabriel Watson 6-1, 221, Sr. Sioux Falls
RB Jaleel McLaughlin 5-9, 173, So. Notre Dame
WR Craig Rucker 5-7, 165, Sr. Mars Hill
WR Shane Zylstra 6-5, 220, Sr. Minnesota State
TE Erik Henneman 6-3, 228, Sr. Lindenwood
OL Even Heim 6-4, 305, Sr. Minnesota State
OL Donald Boone 6-5, 310, Sr. Chowan
OL Jake Lacina 6-4, 300, Sr. Augustana
OL Jason Poe 6-2, 250, Jr. Lenoir-Rhyne
OL Brandon Kemp 6-6, 300, Sr. Valdosta State
First team Defense
DL Treshawn Wharton 6-4, 255, Sr. Missouri S&T
DL Austin Edwards 6-5, 275, Sr. Ferris State
DL Chris Garrett 6-4, 230, Jr. Concordia-St. Paul
DL Sam Roberts 6-5, 286, Sr. Northwest Missouri
LB Austin Stephens 5-11, 210, Sr. Miles
LB Dominic Cizauskas 6-2, 260, Sr. Glenville State
LB Chris Hoad 6-0, 228, Sr. UT-Permian Basin
DB Lamont McPhatter II 5-11, 190, Sr. Cal U
DB Prince Robinson 6-0, 190, Sr. Tarleton State
DB O’Shay Harris 6-1, 190, Sr. Central Oklahoma
DB Kyle Dugger 6-2, 215, Sr. Lenoir-Rhyne
K Dante Brown 5-10, 185, Sr. Fort Hays
P Isaac Parks 6-0, 210, So. UNC-Pembroke
AP Lawrence Woods 5-9, 171, Jr. Truman State
Second team Offense
QB Jayru Campbell 6-5, 215, Jr. Ferris State
RB Cameron Mayberry 5-11, 215, Sr. Colorado Mines
RB Nate Gunn 6-2, 220, Sr. Minnesota State
WR Peter Anderson 5-10, 155, Sr. Colorado Mesa
WR Zimari Manning 6-2, 200, Sr. Tarleton State
TE Jalen Jackson 6-0, 215, Jr. Lock Haven
OL Hayden Eatinger 6-3, 280, Sr. Missouri Western
OL Andrew Dickinson 6-3, 312, Sr. Findlay
OL Kyle Hinton 6-3, 310, Sr. Washburn
OL Jimmy Burchett 6-4, 305, Jr. Notre Dame
OL Hunter Toppel 6-4, 300, Jr. Minnesota State
Second team Defense
DL Sha’haun Williams 6-3, 260, Sr. Notre Dame
DL Simanu’a Thomas 6-0, 278, Sr. Pittsburg State
DL Heath Williams 6-2, 291, Sr. Saginaw Valley
DL Chad Price 6-3, 247, Sr. West Georgia
LB Sam Keybooer 6-5, 240, Jr. Ferris State
LB Korie Rogers 6-2, 231, Sr. West Georgia
LB Tyler Thomsen 6-1, 225, Sr. Wayne State (Neb)
DB Delon Stephenson 5-11, 205, Sr. Ferris State
DB Hakeem Johnson 6-3, 189, Jr. Sioux Falls
DB Jarey Elder 5-11, 170, Sr. West Chester
DB Sterling Hammond 6-1, 210, Sr. Virginia Union
K Jefferson Souza 6-1, 185, Jr. Virginia Union
P Max Peets 6-0, 200, Sr. Fort Lewis
AP LaPerion Perry 5-6, 155, So. West Georgia
— Reported by LRU Sports Information