Nicholls leads with 14 total selections on 2018 Southland Preseason All-Conference Football Teams

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Chase Fourcade

FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference announced the 2018 Football Preseason All-Conference Teams on Thursday, with Nicholls leading the league with 14 total selections.

Highlighted by junior quarterback Chase Fourcade, the Colonels earned four selections to the first team offense, six to the first team defense and four second team offense picks. Fourcade passed for 2,316 yards with 14 touchdowns in 2017, helping lead Nicholls to its first FCS playoffs appearance since 2005.

Central Arkansas and McNeese are the other two conference teams with double-digits selections, garnering 11 and 10 spots, respectively.

Though the Bears must replace 2017 Player of the Year Hayden Hildebrand at quarterback, the team returns a strong group on the other side of the ball with three first team and four second team defensive picks.

McNeese returns with standout senior quarterback James Tabary who was named to the second team. The Cowboys earned four total spots on the first team offense. Tabary racked up 2,511 passing yards with 21 touchdowns last season.

Sam Houston State tallied nine total preseason all-conference honorees, led by the returning core of a high-scoring Bearkat offense. Although two-time Walter Payton Award winner Jeremiah Briscoe has graduated, wide receivers Davion Davis and Nathan Stewart headline six first team offense picks. The pair combined for 2,854 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns last season.

Stephen F. Austin garnered six preseason all-conference selections while Southeastern Louisiana earned four. Abilene Christian, Houston Baptist, UIW and Lamar all collected one spot each.

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 2018 preseason poll will be revealed next Thursday, July 19, to kick off Southland Football Media Day at the Hilton Houston Post Oak in Houston.

First Team All-Conference Offense

Pos. Name School Class Hometown
QB Chase Fourcade Nicholls Jr. Metairie, La.
RB David Hamm* McNeese Sr. Klein, Texas
RB Carlos Blackman* UCA Jr. Gosnell, Ark.
TE/HB Lawayne Ross* McNeese Jr. Richwood, Texas
WR Davion Davis* SHSU Sr. Hutto, Texas
WR Nathan Stewart* SHSU Jr. Dallas, Texas
WR Damion Jeanpiere* Nicholls Sr. Kenner, La.
OL Mitchell Watanabe* SHSU Sr. San Antonio, Texas
OL Ryan Hanley* Nicholls Sr. Metaire, La.
OL Chandler Arceneaux* Nicholls Sr. Bourg, La.
OL Eric David* SHSU Jr. Richmond, Texas
OL Tristan Wendt SHSU Sr. Schulenberg, Texas
AP Davion Davis* SHSU Sr. Hutto, Texas
PK Gunnar Raborn* McNeese Sr. Lafayette, La.
P Alex Kjellsten McNeese Sr. Lake Charles, La.

 

First Team All-Conference Defense

Pos. Name School Class Hometown
DL Chris Terrell* UCA Jr. Pensacola, Fla.
DL Eric Jackson* UCA Sr. Apopka, Fla.
DL Sully Laiche* Nicholls Jr. Gramercy, La.
DL Kenny Dotson* Nicholls Sr. Plaquemine, La.
LB Allen Pittman* Nicholls Jr. St. Rose, La.
LB Hezekiah White Nicholls Sr. Boutte, La.
LB BJ Blunt McNeese Sr. New Orleans, La.
DB Raphael Lewis* HBU Sr. Elk Grove, Calif.
DB Alize Ward* SFA Jr. San Diego, Calif.
DB Corey Abraham* Nicholls Sr. Breaux Bridge, La.
DB Juan Jackson* UCA Jr. Gardendale, Ala.
DB Ahmani Martin* Nicholls Sr. Reserve, La.
KR Juwan Petit-Frere* SLU Jr. Orlando, Fla.
PR Davion Davis* SHSU Sr. Hutto, Texas

 

Second Team All-Conference Offense

Pos. Name School Class Hometown
QB James Tabary McNeese Sr. New Orleans, La.
RB Kyran Irvin* Nicholls Jr. Darrow, La.
RB Marcus Cooper SLU So. Altair, Texas
TE/HB Josh Nix UCA So. Tuscumbia, Ala.
WR Tamrick Pace* SFA Jr. Brownsboro, Texas
WR Kody Edwards UIW Sr. Mesquite, Texas
WR Dai’jean Dixon Nicholls So. New Orleans, La.
OL Adrian Harris UCA So. Tyler, Texas
OL Hunter Watts UCA Jr. San Antonio, Texas
OL Alfred Beverly SLU Jr. Beaumont, Texas
OL Grant Burguillos McNeese Jr. Mandeville, La.
OL Eddie Houston Nicholls Sr. Newton, Miss.
AP Alize Ward SFA Jr. San Diego, Calif.
PK Lorran Fonseca* Nicholls Sr. Hercules, Calif.
P Caleb Lewallen SFA Sr. Kingwood, Texas

 

Second Team All-Conference Defense

Pos. Name School Class Hometown
DL Chris Stewart* SHSU Sr. Petal, Miss.
DL Chris Livings McNeese Jr. Lake Charles, La.
DL Cardell Best UCA Sr. Little Elm, Texas
DL Nathan Grant UCA So. Carrollton, Texas
LB Raphael Garner UCA Sr. Thomasville, Ala.
LB Tamarcus Russell SLU Sr. Dadeville, Ala.
LB Ryan Woods SFA Sr. Pearland, Texas
DB Trenton Gordon SFA So. Rowlett, Texas
DB Bolu Onifade ACU So. Oklahoma City, Okla.
DB Darion Dunn McNeese So. Oakdale, La.
DB Zyon McCollum SHSU So. Galveston, Texas
DB Colby Burton McNeese Jr. League City, Texas
KR Cedric Battle UCA Sr. Wichita Falls, Texas
PR Zae Giles Lamar Jr. Austin, Texas

* Automatic selection; returning all-conference player

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