Southeastern ranked 11th in Athlon Sports’ Preseason FCS Top 25

HAMMOND, La. – The defending Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana University football team was ranked 11th in the Athlon Sports’ 2023 Preseason FCS Top 25 released Tuesday.

SLU is one of three teams to be ranked in the FCS top 25 polls in each of the past four seasons, along with the two top teams in the Athlon Sports’ poll and the most recent national champions South Dakota State and North Dakota State. In three of those past four seasons, the Lions have advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs.

On the offensive side, Southland Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year and 2022 FCS All-American John Allen leads a stalwart offensive line that returns All-SLC performers Jhy Orgeron and Jalen Bell. All-SLC tight end Ivan Drobocky also returns for the Lions.

2022 All-Southland linebacker Donte’ Daniels returns to lead a veteran linebacking corps that also returns Herman Christophe and Anthony Britton Jr. All-SLC defensive end Arlen Williams will be a part of a Lion pass rush that should be bolstered by the return of Shemar Pearl and Charles Hill, both who missed all of 2022 with injury.

The Southeastern special teams should remain a strength, as all-conference punter Austin Dunlap and kicker Riley Callaghan both return for SLU.

Southeastern is one of two Southland teams listed in the Athlon Sports’ Preseason FCS Top 25, as UIW sits at No. 12. For the full list and capsule on each of the top 25 teams, visit https://athlonsports.com/college-football/athlon-sports-preseason-fcs-top-25-2023.

The Lions report to campus Aug. 1 with fall practice officially opening Aug. 2. Southeastern opens the 2023 season with three straight nonconference road contests, beginning with a Sept. 2 trip to Mississippi State.

Athlon Sports’ Preseason FCS Top 25
1. South Dakota State
2. North Dakota State
3. Montana State
4. William & Mary
5. Holy Cross
6. Furman
7. Idaho
8. New Hampshire
9. Southeast Missouri
10. Montana
11. Southeastern
12. UIW
13. Samford
14. UC Davis
15. Sacramento State
16. North Dakota
17. Mercer
18. Rhode Island
19. Weber State
20. Southern Illinois
21. Richmond
22. Central Arkansas
23. UT Martin
24. North Carolina Central
25. Delaware

TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets for the 2022-23 season. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.