SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga quarterback Jacob Huesman has been named the Southern Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Samford defensive lineman Michael Pierce was chosen as the preseason pick on defense.
The league’s head coaches also selected preseason all-conference first and second teams in conjunction with the league’s media day on Wednesday (July 22). Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes as part of the balloting.
Named to the 2015 STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List earlier this month, Huesman was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014. As a junior, Huesman guided the Mocs to their first outright Southern Conference title since 1984 and helped UTC win its first FCS Playoff game in school history. Last season he passed for 2,731 yards, rushed for 1,009 and accounted for 37 touchdowns.
Pierce anchored a stout Samford defense in 2014 as the Bulldogs gave up just 19.7 points per game and ranked second in the SoCon in total defense (312.7 ypg). Pierce finished his junior season with 35 tackles, including 26 solo stops. He tallied five tackles for loss for minus-19 yards and recorded a sack and a forced fumble and was credited with four quarterback hurries last year.
Chattanooga led all schools with 12 preseason all-conference honorees. The Mocs placed eight student-athletes on the first team, while four players were named to the second team. Samford had nine players earn preseason all-conference honors, including six on the first team. Wofford and Western Carolina earned eight preseason honorees each.
The 2015 Southern Conference football season begins Thursday, Sept. 3, when VMI visits Ball State and Samford hosts Central Arkansas. The other six league teams hit the field for their season openers Sept. 5.
2015 Southern Conference Football Preseason All-Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Jacob Huesman, Sr., QB, Chattanooga
Defensive Players of the Year: Michael Pierce, Sr., DL, Samford
First Team Offense
QB Jacob Huesman, Sr., QB, Chattanooga
RB Alex Lakes, So., Mercer
RB Denzel Williams, Jr., Samford
OL Sam Frye, Sr., The Citadel
OL Joe Turner, Sr., Furman
OL Gunnar Bromelow, Sr., Samford
OL Corey Levin, Jr., Chattanooga
OL Anton Wahrby, Jr., Wofford
TE Duncan Fletcher, Jr., Furman
WR Karel Hamilton, Jr., Samford
WR Spearman Robinson, Jr., Western Carolina
First Team Defense
DL Mitchell Jeter, Sr., The Citadel
DL Michael Pierce, Sr., Samford
DL Josh Freeman, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Keionta Davis, Jr., Chattanooga
LB Cory Magwood, Sr., Furman
LB Justin Cooper, Sr., Samford
LB Nakevion Leslie, Jr., Chattanooga
DB James Bradberry, Sr., Samford
DB Dee Virgin, Jr., Chattanooga
DB Lucas Webb, So., Chattanooga
DB Trey Morgan, Jr., Western Carolina
First Team Specialists
PK Henrique Ribeiro, Jr., Chattanooga
P Brian Sanders, Sr., Wofford
RS Chandler Curtis, So., Mercer
Second Team Offense
QB Troy Mitchell, Sr., Western Carolina
RB Darius Ramsey, Sr., Western Carolina
RB Lorenzo Long, Jr., Wofford
OL Alec Hulmes, Sr., Samford
OL Jacob Revis, So., Chattanooga
OL Synjen Herren, Sr., Chattanooga
OL Josh Wineberg, Sr., Western Carolina
OL T.J. Chamberlain, Sr., Wofford
TE Tony Philpot, Sr., Samford
WR Jordan Snellings, Sr., Furman
WR C.J. Board, Jr., Chattanooga
Second Team Defense
DL John Mackey, Sr., Furman
DL Austin Barrett, So., Mercer
DL Helva Matungulu, Sr., Western Carolina
DL Caleb Hawkins, Sr., Western Carolina
(tie) DL E.J. Speller, Sr., Wofford
LB Tyler Ward, Jr., Mercer
LB Terrance Morris, So., Wofford
LB Drake Michaelson, Sr., Wofford
DB Alex Avant, Sr., Mercer
DB Jamerson Blount, Jr., Samford
DB Cedric Nettles, Jr., Chattanooga
DB Sertonuse Harris, Sr., Western Carolina
Second Team Specialists
PK Dillon Christopher, Jr., VMI
P Matt Shiel, So., Mercer
RS Will Gay, Sr., Wofford
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.