Ferlando Jordan named to Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team

HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana junior defensive back Ferlando Jordan added to his preseason accolades on Thursday, when he was named to the spring 2021 Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team.

Jordan, a native of Atlanta, Georgia and one of the leaders of the Lion defense, has previously earned preseason All-America honors from Stats Perform and HERO Sports and was also a first team preseason All-Southland Conference selection.

Jordan is coming off a 2019 campaign that saw him earn third team All-America honors from HERO Sports, Stats Perform and the Associated Press. A first team All-Southland Conference and second team All-Louisiana selection as a sophomore, Jordan tied a conference and program single-season school record with three interceptions returned for touchdowns.

His 97-yard return for a score at Houston Baptist was one of the longest in school history, while he had 65-yard pick sixes in wins over Stephen F. Austin and No. 6 Jacksonville State. Jordan was also named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week after recording two interceptions in a 34-0 win at then-No. 6 Central Arkansas.

The Southland Conference was represented with five selections. Jordan was joined on the team by Nicholls senior offensive lineman P.J. Burkhalter and senior wide receiver Dai’Jean Dixon, as well as Sam Houston senior defensive lineman Trace Mascorro and senior punter Matt McRobert.

The three Southland schools represented on the preseason All-America squad also were ranked in Tuesday’s Athlon Sports Top 25. No. 11 SLU was joined in the poll by Nicholls (No. 8) and Sam Houston State (No. 10).

The Lions return to the practice field on Friday for a 9:20 a.m. practice. SLU is scheduled to open its six-game, conference-only spring schedule on Feb. 27 with a 6 p.m. contest at Sam Houston State. The Lions host McNeese at 6 p.m. on March 6 at Strawberry Stadium to open their home slate.

Spring 2021 Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team

Offense
QB – Daniel Smith (6-0, 205, Sr.) Villanova
RB – Josh Davis (5-9, 195, Jr.) Weber State
RB – Jah-Maine Martin (5-10, 215, Sr.) North Carolina A&T
WR – Dai’Jean Dixon (6-4, 200, Sr.) – Nicholls
WR – Christian Watson (6-4, 200, Jr.) – North Dakota State
WR – Isaiah Weston (6-4, 210, Jr.) – Northern Iowa
TE – Trae Barry (6-7, 245, Sr.) – Jacksonville State
OL – P.J. Burkhalter (6-3, 330, Sr.) – Nicholls
OL – Liam Fornadel (6-4, 308, Sr.) – James Madison
OL – Drew Himmelman (6-10, 315, Sr.) – Illinois State
OL – Cordell Volson (6-7, 310, Sr.) – North Dakota State
OL – Ty Whitworth (6-4, 300, Sr.) – Weber State

Defense
DL – Jared Brinkman (6-2, 290, Sr.) – Northern Iowa
DL – Mike Greene (6-3, 285, Sr.) – James Madison
DL – Malik Hamm (6-3, 260, Jr.) – Lafayette
DL – Trace Mascorro (6-1, 270, Sr.) – Sam Houston
LB – Bryson Armstrong (5-11, 212, Sr.) – Kennesaw State
LB – Willie Eubanks III (6-2, 215, Sr.) – The Citadel
LB – Forrest Rhyne (6-1, 225, Sr.) – Villanova
DB – Ferlando Jordan (6-0, 180, Jr.) – Southeastern Louisiana
DB – Omar Brown (6-1, 200, So.) – Northern Iowa
DB – Evan Horn (6-0, 206, Sr.) – New Hampshire
DB – Kordell Jackson (5-9, 185, Sr.) – Austin Peay

Special Teams
PK – Luis Aguilar (6-3, 200, Sr.) – Northern Arizona
P – Matt McRobert (6-2, 195, Sr.) – Sam Houston
KR – Aaron Dykes (5-11, 195, So.) – Richmond
PR – Montrell Washington (5-10, 170, Sr.) – Samford
AP – Javon Williams Jr. (6-2, 245, So.) – Southern Illinois