Seven Lions Earn Preseason All-SAC Honors

ROCK HILL, S.C. - A total of seven Mars Hill student-athletes have been named to the 2015 South Atlantic Conference preseason All-Conference teams, the league announced on Tuesday. 

Running backs Shaikel Davis and Jamel Harbison, tight end Marquez Williams and defensive lineman Christiaan Davis earned first team honors. Shaikel Davis led the league in 2013 with 1,254 rushing yards while missing the 2014 campaign due to injury. In his first season with the Lions, Harbison finished with 1,250 rushing yards and nine touchdowns with a season-high 290 yards against Brevard on October 13. Williams, a second team All-SAC selection in 2014, caught seven passes for 100 yards and had a rushing touchdown. Christiaan Davis made 52 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and recorded two sacks while earning All-SAC and Don Hansen All-Super Region honors.

Reigning SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year Keyshaun Taylor earned a spot as a wide receiver on the second team. Taylor caught 32 passes for 626 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned 12 kickoffs for 268 yards. Offensive lineman Joe Hillin joins Taylor on the second team. Hillin was part of an offensive line that allowed the Lions to have the second best passing attack in the SAC with an average of 215 yards per game. Defensive lineman Johnny Maxey earned second team accolades. Maxey made 16 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss last season.

The complete preseason All-Conference teams are listed below.

2015 South Atlantic Conference First and Second Team Preseason All-Conference 

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – De'Andre Thomas, Carson-Newman
Running Back – Jamel Harbison, Mars Hill
Running Back – Shaikel Davis, Mars Hill
Running Back – Michael Patrick, Lenoir-Rhyne
Wide Receiver – Justin Houston, Tusculum
Wide Receiver – Jordan Berry, Wingate
Wide Receiver – Carlos Tarrats, Catawba
Offensive Line – Josh Turner, Brevard
Offensive Line – Joe Ray, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Stephen Nance, Newberry
Offensive Line – Tyler Scott, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Dale Howard, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tight End – Marquez Williams, Mars Hill 
Placekicker – Alex Noboa, Brevard
Return Specialist – Lonnie Williams, Carson-Newman
Long Snapper – Dusty Nance, Carson-Newman 

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Alstevis Squirewell, Newberry
Defensive Line – Chris Green, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Line – Christiaan Davis, Mars Hill
Defensive Line – Lendre Sparrow, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – Rodney Singleton, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – Eric Mapoles, Wingate
Linebacker – Taylor McDonnell, Newberry
Linebacker – Kyle Kitchens, Catawba
Defensive Back – Jerry Miclisse, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back – Brandon Hathaway, Wingate
Defensive Back – Mark McDaniel, Catawba
Defensive Back – Marcus Kincaid, Lenoir-Rhyne
Punter – Kyle Clark, Newberry

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – Mike Sheehan, Catawba
Running Back – Romelo Doctor, Newberry
Running Back – Damien Baker, Carson-Newman
Running Back – David Burgess, Catawba
Wide Receiver – TraShaun Ward, Carson-Newman
Wide Receiver – Keyshaun Taylor, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – Victor Brannan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Dan Gallman, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Mathu Gibson, Wingate
Offensive Line – Hayden Wilks, Newberry
Offensive Line – Joe Hillin, Mars Hill
Offensive Line – Lewis McCormick, Catawba
Tight End – Zach Edmunds, Newberry
Placekicker – Chad Hollandsworth, Catawba
Return Specialist – Justin Houston, Tusculum
Long Snapper – Andrew Smith, Newberry 

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Jalen Hunter, Newberry
Defensive Line – D'Andre Johnson, Tusculum
Defensive Line – Johnny Maxey, Mars Hill
Defensive Line – Landon Allen, Brevard
Linebacker – Brandyn Bartlett, Tusculum
Linebacker – Jordan Forney, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – Jamal Lacky, Catawba
Linebacker – L'Keith Brown, Tusculum
Defensive Back – Arnez Gray, Newberry
Defensive Back – Chris Shaffer, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back – Eien Jacob, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back – Nortavius Otis, Wingate
Punter – Caleb Berry, Catawba AND Mikey Destephens, Lenoir-Rhyne