2023 preseason All-Southland Conference football team announced

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John Allen #55
John Allen (55) headlines the preseason All-Southland football team ahead of the 2023 campaign.

FRISCO, Texas – Led by Preseason All-Americans John Allen of Southeastern Louisiana and Rodney Dansby of Houston Christian, the Southland Conference Announced the 2023 Preseason All-Conference Football Team on Friday morning.

The SLU Lions lead the way with 17 total selections, followed by Nicholls with 11. UIW added eight selections followed by McNeese with six, HCU all with five and Lamar and Texas A&M-Commerce with four.

Allen, who was named an Athlon Sports Preseason All-American, returns for his final season after being named the Southland Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year last season for the SLC champions. A Stats Perform and AFCA FCS Coaches All-America selection as a junior, Allen started 12 games at left guard for a Lion offense that averaged 35.3 points and 439.8 yards per contest. His consistent excellence helped SLU weather the loss of three opening day starters on the offensive line by week four.

Dansby earned HERO Sports Sophomore All-America and Stats Perform FCS All-America Third Team honors last season and HERO Sports Preseason All-American honors to open this season. The junior finished last season with 126 tackles after totaling 130 during his freshman campaign. His 256 total tackles during the previous two seasons rank second among all FCS players with only Fordham’s James Conway who had 258. He was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented by Stats Perform to the FCS Defensive Player of the Year, last season.

The group of returning talents also includes Eli Ennis of Nicholls, a first-team Freshman All-American and Southland Freshman of the Year last season and Zach Patterson of Northwestern State, the 2022 Southland Newcomer of the Year. All-American offensive lineman Evan Roussel also finds a spot on the first team.

Southeastern nabbed the top two all-conference spots at quarterback as incoming Northwestern St. transfer Zachary Clement earned the first team nod with returner Eli Sawyer grabbing a second team nod.

Returning all-conference selections from the previous season are automatically named to the preseason all-conference teams and may advance to higher team slots if they are vacated by non-returning players. Open positions are nominated and voted upon by the league’s head coaches.

The preseason poll will be revealed on Monday, July 24, to kick off the 2023 Southland Conference Football Media Day on ESPN+.

First Team All-Conference Offense
Pos. Name School Class Hometown
QB Zachary Clement* Southeastern Jr. Broussard, La.
RB Collin Guggenheim Nicholls Jr. Kenner, La.
RB Khalan Griffin Lamar Jr. Tyler, Texas
TE/HB Travon Jones* Northwestern St. So. Miami, Fla.
WR Zach Patterson* Northwestern St. Sr. Corinth, Miss.
WR Karl Reynolds HCU Sr. Humble, Texas
WR Brandon Porter UIW Gr. Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
OL John Allen* Southeastern Sr. Jackson, Miss.
OL Evan Roussel* Nicholls Jr. Lutcher, La.
OL Jhy Orgeron* Southeastern Jr. Galliano, La.
OL Jalen Bell Southeastern Sr. Amory, Miss.
OL Stanley Mark^ UIW Gr. Seguin, Texas
OL Mark Barthelemy^ Nicholls Sr. Opelousas, La.
PK Garrison Smith* McNeese So. Norwalk, Ohio
P Austin Dunlap* Southeastern Sr. Slidell, La.
First Team All-Conference Defense
Pos. Name School Class Hometown
DL Steven Parker* UIW Jr. Dallas, Texas
DL Perry Ganci* Nicholls Sr. New Orleans, La.
DL Jalyx Hunt* HCU Jr. DeBary, Fla.
DL Arlen Willaims* Southeastern R-Sr. Boothville, La.
LB Rodney Dansby* HCU Jr. Houston, Texas
LB Donte’ Daniels* Southeastern Jr. Slidell, La.
LB Eli Ennis* Nicholls So. Ohatchee, Ala.
DB Jordan Jackson* Nicholls Sr. Prairieville, La.
DB Devion Hargrove HCU Jr. Houston, Texas
DB Kevin Davis Northwestern St. Jr. Freeport, Texas
DB Brandon Richard UIW Gr. San Antonio, Texas
DB Tyler Morton Nicholls Jr. St. Rose, La.
KR Jaylon Spears Nicholls R-So. New Orleans, La.
PR Darius Lewis Southeastern R-Jr. New Orleans, La.
Second Team All-Conference Offense
Pos. Name School Class Hometown
QB Eli Sawyer Southeastern R-So. Vestavia Hills, Ala.
RB Rodeo Graham, Jr. Southeastern So. Baton Rouge, La.
RB Scooter Adams Northwestern St. R-Sr. Hallettsville, Texas
TE/HB Ivan Drobocky* Southeastern Jr. Bowling Green, Ky.
WR Ke’Nard King Northwestern St. Jr. Houston, Texas
WR Sevonne Rhea Lamar So. Houston, Texas
WR CJ Hardy UIW Gr. Cypress, Texas
OL Brockhim Wicks Southeastern R-Jr. Plaquemine, La.
OL Cole Leclair McNeese So. Middleburg, Fla.
OL Christian Hood HCU Sr. Marshall, Texas
OL D’Andre Richard Northwestern St. Jr. Baton Rouge, La.
OL Dylan Dauzart McNeese Jr. Alexandria, La.
PK Riley Callaghan* Southeastern So. Ashburn, Va.
P Kylan Dupre Nicholls So. Geismar, La.
Second Team All-Conference Defense
Pos. Name School Class Hometown
DL Marcus Brown UIW Jr. Houston, Texas
DL Garrett Crawford Southeastern Sr. Slidell, La.
DL Welland Williams McNeese R-So. Reserve, La.
DL Leon Young A&M-Commerce Jr. Dallas, Texas
LB Kylin White Nicholls R-So. Boutte, La.
LB Herman Christophe IV Southeastern Sr. Plaquemine, La.
LB Anthony Britton, Jr. Southeastern Sr. Stockbridge, Ga.
DB Max Epps A&M-Commerce Jr. Spring, Texas
DB Javon Davis McNeese So. River Ridge, La.
DB Kristian Pugh Lamar So. Beaumont, Texas
DB Ramond Stevens Lamar^ Jr. New Orleans, La.
DB Tyrone Leggette Southeastern^ Sr. New Orleans, La.
DB Daryion Taylor A&M-Commerce^ Sr. Humble, Texas
KR Sean Krystoff-King A&M-Commerce So. Humble, Texas
PR Dekaylon Taylor UIW So. Longview, Texas

 

* Automatic selection; returning all-conference and superlative player
^ Denotes tie in voting
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