Senior DL Josh Williams (Griffin, Ga.) was one of three on the first team defense from UTC. He is a two-time First Team All-SoCon selection and is Chattanooga's career leader with 21.5 sacks. The Mocs were the only team in the league with three individuals on the first team defense. UTC led the SoCon in total defense (305.3), scoring defense (19.7) and was No. 2 in the nation in pass defense (140.8) and pass efficiency defense (100.15) last season.
Joining Williams on the first team are junior LB Wes Dothard (Carrollton, Ga.) and junior DB D.J. Key (Centerville, Tenn.). Dothard was a First Team All-American in 2011, totaling 88 tackles and five forced fumbles. He also had two defensive scores, returning an interception against Jacksonville State and a fumble against Samford.
Key was Second Team All-SoCon last season, finishing with 77 tackles, three interceptions and nine pass breakups. He had a school-record 85-yard interception return for a touchdown against Western Carolina.
The SoCon coaches picked the preseason teams, and were not allowed to vote for their own players. Georgia Southern senior DL Brent Russell was named the preseason Defensive Player of the Year while Wofford senior RB Eric Breitenstein was the Offensive Player of the Year.
Two Mocs made the second team offense, including sophomore TE Faysal Shafaat (Orlando, Fla.) and senior OL Adam Miller (Cohutta, Ga.). Shafaat was on the SoCon All-Freshman team after making 19 catches for 179 yards and two TDs in 2011.
Miller was a preseason pick last year and is a three-year returning starter at right tackle. He is a two-time Academic All-SoCon honoree and has twice been named to the FCS ADA Academic All-Star team.
Sophomore DL Davis Tull (Knoxville, Tenn.) and junior DB Kadeem Wise (Lawrenceville, Ga.) both made the preseason second team. Tull was an all-freshman choice in 2011, posting 30 tackles and five sacks while starting all 11 games. Wise is a two-time Second Team All-SoCon choice. He has eight career interceptions and has started all 22 games over the last two years.
Sophomore PK Nick Pollard (Smyrna, Tenn.) is on the specialists second team. He broke UTC's freshman scoring record with 61 points in 2011. He connected on 31-33 PATs and 10-14 field goals while being named to the SoCon All-Freshman squad.
Georgia Southern was the No. 1 choice to win the league in both the media and coaches polls. Appalachian State was second in the coaches and third in the media, trading places with Wofford on both lists. Both polls had Chattanooga, Furman, Samford, Elon, The Citadel and Western Carolina round out the preseason predictions.
UTC opens the season with a trip to South Florida on Sept. 1. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. (E.D.T.) in Tampa, Fla., and the game will broadcast on ESPN3. The five-game home schedule opens on Thursday, Sept. 13, against Glenville State at 7:00 p.m. at Finley Stadium.
2012 Southern Conference Football
Preseason All-Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Eric Breitenstein, Sr., RB, Wofford
Defensive Player of the Year: Brent Russell, Sr., DL, Georgia Southern
First Team Offense
QB Jamal Jackson, Jr., Appalachian State
RB Jerodis Williams, Sr., Furman
RB Eric Breitenstein, Sr., Wofford
OL Mike Sellers, Jr., The Citadel
OL Dakota Dozier, Jr., Furman
OL Dorian Byrd, Jr., Georgia Southern
OL Ryan Dudchock, Sr., Samford
OL Jake Miles, Sr. Wofford
TE Colin Anderson, Sr., Furman
WR Aaron Mellette, Sr., Elon
WR Kelsey Pope, Jr., Samford
First Team Defense
DL Chris Billingslea, Sr., The Citadel
DL Josh Lynn, Sr., Furman
DL Brent Russell, Sr., Georgia Southern
DL Josh Williams, Sr., Chattanooga
LB Jeremy Kimbrough, Sr., Appalachian State
LB Wes Dothard, Jr., Chattanooga
LB Alvin Scioneaux, Jr., Wofford
DB Demetrius McCray, Sr., Appalachian State
DB Greg Worthy, Jr., Furman
DB Deion Stanley, So., Georgia Southern
DB D.J. Key, Jr., Chattanooga
First Team Specialists
PK Cameron Yaw, Sr., Samford
P Cass Couey, Sr., The Citadel
RS Fabian Truss, Jr., Samford
Second Team Offense
QB Thomas Wilson, Sr., Elon
RB Darien Robinson, Jr., The Citadel
RB Fabien Truss, Jr., Samford
OL Kendall Lamm, So., Appalachian State
OL Blake DeBartola, Sr., Georgia Southern
OL Charlie Sanford, Sr., Samford
OL Adam Miller, Sr., Chattanooga
OL Jared Singleton, Jr., Wofford
OL (tie) Calvin Cantrell, Sr., Wofford
TE Faysal Shafaat, So., Chattanooga
WR Andrew Peacock, Jr., Appalachian State
WR Tony Washington, Jr., Appalachian State
Second Team Defense
DL Ronald Blair, So., Appalachian State
DL Derek Douglas, Jr., The Citadel
DL Tony Thompson, Jr., Elon
DL Nick Williams, Sr., Samford
DL (tie) Davis Tull, So., Chattanooga
LB Brandon Grier, Sr., Appalachian State
LB Mitch McGrath, Sr., Furman
LB Darius Eubanks, Sr., Georgia Southern
LB (tie) Rock Williams, Sr., Western Carolina
DB Troy Sanders, Sr., Appalachian State
DB Alvin Hines II, Sr., Samford
DB Kadeem Wise, Jr., Chattanooga
DB Nathan Wade, Sr., Furman
Second Team Specialists
PK Nick Pollard, So., Chattanooga
P Sam Martin, Sr., Appalachian State
RS Darreion Robinson, Sr., Georgia Southern
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
2012 SoCon Football Preseason Coaches Poll
School (First-place votes) Points
1. Georgia Southern (7) 63
2. Appalachian State (2) 57
3. Wofford 48
4. Chattanooga 44
5. Furman 36
6. Samford 27
7. Elon 24
8. The Citadel 17
9. Western Carolina 8
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team
2012 SoCon Football Preseason Coaches Poll
School (First-place votes) Points
1. Georgia Southern (7) 63
2. Appalachian State (2) 57
3. Wofford 48
4. Chattanooga 44
5. Furman 36
6. Samford 27
7. Elon 24
8. The Citadel 17
9. Western Carolina 8
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