SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Four Southern Conference football student-athletes were named to the Athlon Sports 2021 FCS Preseason All-America Team, as announced by the organization Tuesday.
VMI wide receiver Jakob Herres and Furman tight end Ryan Miller earned the honor on offense, while VMI linebacker Stone Snyder and Samford defensive back Chris Edmonds took the nod on defense.
All four of the SoCon’s selections earned first-team All-America recognition from at least one organization in 2020-21, with Herres earning consensus first-team honors.
Athlon Sports’s release
Furman’s release
Samford’s release
VMI’s release
ATHLON SPORTS 2021 FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Cole Kelley (6-7/260/Sr.) Southeastern Louisiana
RB – Julius Chestnut (6-1/215/Sr.) Sacred Heart
RB – Jah-Maine Martin (5-10/214/Sr.) North Carolina A&T
RB – Otis Weah (5-9/195/Jr.) North Dakota
WR – Avante Cox (5-10/170/Sr.) Southern Illinois
WR – Jakob Herres (6-4/211/Sr.) VMI
WR – Tyler Hudson (6-2/195/Jr.) Central Arkansas
TE – Ryan Miller (6-2/221/Sr.) Furman
OL – P.J. Burkhalter (6-3/330/Sr.) Nicholls
OL – Garret Greenfield (6-6/295/Jr.) South Dakota State
OL – David Kroll (6-7/315/Sr.) Delaware
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 – Jahari Kay (6-2/255/Sr.) Sam Houston
DL – Jordan Lewis (6-3/195/Sr.) Southern
LB – Logan Backhaus (6-4/205/Sr.) South Dakota State
LB – Conner Mortensen (6-0/215/Sr.) Weber State
LB – Stone Snyder (6-3/225/Jr.) VMI
LB – Tre Walker (6-1/235/Sr.) Idaho
DB – Markquese Bell (6-3/205/Jr.) Florida A&M
DB – Chris Edmonds (6-2/205/Jr.) Samford
DB – Nicario Harper (6-1/205/Jr.) Jacksonville State
DB – Kordell Jackson (5-9/188/Sr.) Austin Peay
DB – Kedrick Whitehead (5-11/195/Sr.) Delaware
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Ethan Ratke (5-10/185/Sr.) James Madison
P – Daniel Whelan (6-6/215/Sr.) UC Davis
LS – Kyle Davis (5-11/210/Sr.) James Madison
KR – Christian Watson (6-4/200/Sr.) North Dakota State
PR – Jequez Ezzard (5-9/190/Grad) Sam Houston
AP – Javon Williams Jr. (6-2/245/Jr.) Southern Illinois