SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Four Southern Conference football teams appear in the 2021 Spring HERO Sports Preseason FCS Top 25, while two players earned preseason All-America honors on special teams from the organization, HERO Sports announced Monday.
In the preseason poll, Furman leads the way at No. 8, followed by The Citadel at No. 19, Wofford at No. 23 and Chattanooga at No. 24. In the SoCon preseason polls, Furman was the media's pick to win the league, while Wofford was the coaches' favorite.
VMI’s Robert Solderholm claimed HERO Sports Preseason All-America honors at long snapper, while Samford’s Montrell Washington was HERO’s pick at punt returner.
The SoCon spring season starts Feb. 20 with four league games.
Visit HERO Sports’ website for full releases on the
preseason poll and
preseason All-America team.
Preseason Top 25
1. North Dakota State
2. South Dakota State
3. Weber State
4. James Madison
5. Villanova
6. Northern Iowa
7. Kennesaw State
8. Furman
9. Illinois State
10. North Carolina A&T
11. Austin Peay
12. Albany
13. Delaware
14. Eastern Washington
15. Nicholls
16. Southern Illinois
17. New Hampshire
18. Jacksonville State
19. The Citadel
20. Sam Houston
21. Elon
22. Monmouth
23. Wofford
24. Chattanooga
25. Southeastern Louisiana
Received votes: Alcorn State, UT Martin, SEMO, William & Mary
Preseason All-America team
Offense
QB Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington
RB Jah-Maine Martin, North Carolina A&T
RB Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State
OL Drew Himmelman, Illinois State
OL Liam Fornadel, James Madison
OL PJ Burkhalter, Nicholls
OL Ty Whitworth, Weber State
OL Cordell Volson, North Dakota State
WR DeAngelo Wilson, Austin Peay
WR Isaiah Weston, Northern Iowa
WR Brandon Porter, Northern Arizona
TE Trae Barry, Jacksonville State
Defense
DL Kobie Turner, Richmond
DL Jermaine McDaniel, North Carolina A&T
DL Jared Brinkman, Northern Iowa
DL Trace Mascorro, Sam Houston
LB Bryson Armstrong, Kennesaw State
LB Levi Metheny, Albany
LB Forrest Rhyne, Villanova
LB Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham
DB Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay
DB Ferlando Jordan, Southeastern Louisiana
DB Michael Tutsie, North Dakota State
DB Kedrick Whitehead, Delaware
Special Teams
P DJ Arnson, Northern Arizona
K Luis Aguilar, Northern Arizona
LS Robert Soderholm, VMI
PR Montrell Washington, Samford
KR Lonnie Moore IV, Monmouth