2016 Preseason All-SAC Teams Announced

ROCK Hill, S.C. – Five Lion football players have been named to the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Preseason All-Conference teams. Wide receivers Keshaun Taylor and Gilbert Johnson made the first team along with offensive linemen Joe Hillin and Bryce King. Carl Mattox was a second team selection.

The 2016 South Atlantic Conference Preseason All-Conference Football Teams were led by Carson-Newman who placed seven players on the first team, the League announced today.  The teams are chosen by the League's Football Media Relations Directors.

Tusculum placed five players on the first-team, while Mars Hill, Wingate and Catawba finished with four each.  Lenoir-Rhyne put three players on the first team and Newberry rounded out the list with a pair of first-team honorees.

At the first-team quarterback position was Raleigh Yeldell of Newberry.  Yeldell led the South Atlantic Conference with a completion percentage of 62 percent.  He threw for 13 scores and 1,504 yards, while gaining 399 yards on the ground and punching in six rushing touchdowns in 2015.

The running back corps consisted of Tusculum's Isaac Robinson, Romelo Doctor of Newberry and Lawrence Pittman from Wingate.  Robinson scored eight touchdowns on 855 yards, while Doctor ran for 1,235 yards and six touchdowns.  Pittman closed out his 2015 season with 1,227 yards on the ground and 11 scores.

Mars Hill's Keshaun Taylor and Gilbert Johnson highlighted the trio of wide outs on the first team.  Taylor topped the League a season-ago with 1,183 receiving yards, 107.5 receiving yards per game and 10 touchdowns.  Johnson, the 2015 SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year, was right behind Taylor as he hauled in nine touchdowns and led the League with 19.7 yards per catch.

Jordan Berry from Wingate rounded out the list of first team wide receivers.  Berry hauled in five touchdowns and amassed 540 yards of receiving a season ago.

The first team offensive line consisted of a pair of Carson-Newman Eagles in Austin Lewis and Dan Gallman.  Mars Hill also put two players on the first team offensive line as Joe Hillin and Bryce King earned the honor.  Jaleel Roberts of Lenoir-Rhyne wrapped up the list of first team offensive lineman.

At the tight end position, Jake Jensen from Wingate earned first team honors.  Jensen caught 12 balls for three touchdowns and 121 yards a season ago for the Bulldogs.

Carson-Newman's Lonnie Williams was picked as the first-team return specialist as he posted 561 yards of return for the Eagles during the 2015 season.  He returned 24 kicks to average 23.4 yards per return.

Will Tommie from Tusuclum was tabbed the first-team placekicker, while teammate Ian O'Grady earned first-team long snapper honors. 

Carson-Newman posted a pair of players on the first team defensive line in Phalen Booker and Brian Bembry.  Catawba's C.J. Barksdale and Andre Foulks from Wingate rounded out the list of first-team honorees.

Booker turned in 40 tackles for the Eagles to go along with 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks during the 2015 campaign.  Bembry added 33 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and three sacks for the Eagles' defense.  Barksdale led the first team defensive linemen as he recorded 70 tackles.  He also chipped in six tackles for loss and a pair of sacks for the Catawba Indians.  Foulks notched 58 tackles for the Bulldog defense as well as eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Kyle Kitchens of Catawba, the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, headlines the first team linebackers.  Teammate Jamal Lacky, Brandyn Bartlett from Tusculum and Carson-Newman's Sha'heem Stupart also received first team linebacker honors. Mars Hill's Carl Mattox finished the 2015 campaign fifth on the team with 60 tackles (41 solo) averaging 5.5 tackles per game. He recorded 2.5 tackles-for-loss, eight pass break-ups and one interception for a 69-yard return. His eight pass break-ups led the Lions' defense in that category.

Kitchens, a 2016 Preseason All-American, lead the League with 12 sacks a season ago.  He also posted 23 tackles for loss and 65 total tackles.  His one interception was a big one as he returned it 90 yards for a touchdown.  Lackey led the Catawba Indians with 81 total stops and chipped in 4.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, while Bartlett topped the trio of first team linebackers and ranked No. 2 in the South Atlantic Conference with 94 tackles during the 2015 campaign.  Stupart led the Eagles with 91 total tackles and came away with 5.5 tackles for loss from his linebacker position.

Kyle Dugger of Lenoir-Rhyne, the 2016 SAC Defensive Freshman of the Year, was joined on the first team defensive back list by Case Woodard of Catawba, Cameron Thomas from Tusculum and Carson-Newman's Jerry Miclisse.

Dugger finished the 2015 season with six interceptions, six break ups and 43 tackles, while Woodard came away with five picks, 12 break ups and 52 total stops.  Thomas posted five interceptions for the Pioneers to go along with 10 pass break ups and 52 tackles.  Miclisse led the first team honorees with 67 tackles.  He also chipped in a pair of interceptions and three pass break ups.

Michael DeStephens from Lenoir-Rhyne rounds out the list of first-team picks at the punter slot.  

2016 South Atlantic Conference First and Second Team Preseason All-Conference

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry
Running Back – Isaac Robinson, Tusculum
Running Back – Romelo Doctor, Newberry
Running Back – Lawrence Pittman, Wingate
Wide Receiver – Keshaun Taylor, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – Gilbert Johnson, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – Jordan Berry, Wingate
Tight End – Jake Jensen, Wingate
Offensive Line – Austin Lewis, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Dan Gallman, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Joe Hillin, Mars Hill
Offensive Line – Jaleel Roberts, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Bryce King, Mars Hill
Return Specialist – Lonnie Williams, Carson-Newman
Long Snapper – Ian O'Grady, Tusculum
Placekicker – Will Tommie, Tusculum

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – Mike Sheehan, Catawba
Running Back – Antonio Wimbush, Carson-Newman
Running Back – Montavious Taylor, Carson-Newman
Running Back – David Burgees, Catawba
Wide Receiver – Cole Watson, Newberry
Wide Receiver – Keyon West, Catawba
Wide Receiver - Evan Altizer, Tusculum
Tight End – Grant Janeway, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Daniel Owens, Wingate
Offensive Line – Bobby McNeil, Newberry
Offensive Line – Tyler Stasky, Newberry
Offensive Line – Branden Dagley, Brevard
Offensive Line – Patrick Benson, Tusculum
Return Specialist – Cole Watson, Newberry
Long Snapper – Steven Bartlett, Catawba
Placekicker – Carson Wise, Carson-Newman

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Defensive Line – C.J. Barksdale, Catawba
Defensive Line – Phalen Booker, Carson-Newman
Defensive Line – Andre Foulks, Wingate
Defensive Line – Brian Bembry, Carson-Newman
Linebacker – Kyle Kitchens, Catawba
Linebacker – Brandyn Bartlett, Tusculum
Linebacker – Jamal Lackey, Catawba
Linebacker – Sha'heem Stupart, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back – Case Woodard, Catawba
Defensive Back – Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back – Cameron Thomas, Tusculum
Defensive Back – Jerry Miclisse, Carson-Newman
Punter – Michael DeStephens, Lenoir-Rhyne

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Defensive Line – Jamarcus Henderson, Newberry
Defensive Line – Ray Edwards, Wingate
Defensive Line – Josh Parker, Newberry
Defensive Line – Chris Green, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – L'Keith Brown, Tusculum
Linebacker – Will Elm, Newberry
Linebacker – Jordan Forney, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – Carl Mattox, Mars Hill
Defensive Back – Chris Carpenter, Catawba
Defensive Back – Marcus Kincaid, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back – Jason Williams, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back – Kameron Johnson, Wingate
Punter – Kevin Weber, Brevard