Southland Announces 2011 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams
LAKE CHARLES, La. - A total of 30 of the 52 Southland Conference football players who earned all-conference honors following the 2010 season return for the 2011 season and garner spots on the preseason all-conference teams that were announced Wednesday at the league's football media day at the L'Auberge du Lac Resort in Lake Charles, La.
Fourteen first-team selections, including seven each on the offense and defense, highlight the two teams that also see 16 second-team picks return for an automatic spot on the preseason squads. Three of the conference's individual award winners from last year are back, including McNeese State senior running back Andre Anderson, the league's newcomer of the year, along with Central Arkansas sophomore defensive back Jestin Love and Sam Houston State sophomore running back Tim Flanders, who shared the freshman of the year award.
Five Southland institutions have at least six student-athletes named to the preseason all-conference teams. Stephen F. Austin, which won the Southland championship in 2010 to earn consecutive conference championships for the first time in school history, leads all universities with 12 selections, including a conference-best eight first-team honorees. Sam Houston State has 11 honorees, including five first-team members. Central Arkansas is next with 10, followed by McNeese State with eight and Northwestern State with six. Nicholls State had three players named to the teams and Southeastern Louisiana had two.
Stephen F. Austin returns 20 starters from a team that recorded its fourth Southland Conference championship and its fifth appearance in the NCAA Division I Championship. On the first-team offense, the Lumberjacks return receivers Gralyn Crawford and Cordell Roberson and nabbed three of the five positions on the offensive line thanks to George Bias, John Steel and Corey Dickerson.
Crawford, one of the nation's top returning receivers and kick returners in the nation, finished second in the league with 74 catches for 981 yards and five touchdowns. He led the league with 2,207 all-purpose yards thanks to returns totaling 1,221. Crawford averaged 183.9 all-purpose yards in the Lumberjacks' 12 games. Roberson led the conference in receiving yards per game (84.2), reception yards (1,011) and receiving touchdowns (16), a figure that also led the nation.
The Lumberjacks' other first-team selections included Josh Aubrey at defensive back and specialists Drew Nelson (punter) and Crawford (returns). Aubrey finished fourth on the team with 77 total tackles, including 49 solo stops and five tackles for loss. Nelson averaged 41.6 yards per punt, which ranked second in the conference.
SFA's second-team picks, include receiver Anthony Foster, defensive lineman Darren Robinson, linebacker Devin Ducote and defensive back Caleb Nelson. Gone, though, is record-setting quarterback Jeremy Moses, the Southland Conference Player of the Year who became the league's first recipient of the Walter Payton Award, and linebacker Jabara Williams, the conference's defensive player of the year.
Sam Houston State returns five preseason first-team selections, including Flanders as its lone first-team pick on offense. He led the conference with 948 rushing yards and scored 13 touchdowns on 172 rushes in only 10 games last year. Flanders, who finished second in scoring with 78 points and ranked ninth in total offense, set the school's freshman rushing record and posted six consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing.
He was joined by four defenders on the first team, including linemen J.T. Cleveland and Preston Sanders, linebacker Will Henry and defensive back Kenneth Jenkins. Cleveland registered 43 tackles last year, including seven tackles for loss and five sacks. Sanders made 12 stops with one sack and Henry made 48 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Jenkins led the team with three interceptions, while totaling 58 tackles that included four tackles for loss and one sack.
The Bearkats' six second-team selections include offensive linemen Travis Watson and Caleb Hopson, defensive back Darnell Taylor, placekicker Miguel Antonio, punter Matt Foster and return specialist Brandon Closner.
Central Arkansas placed 10 on the preseason all-league teams, including a pair of first-team honorees. Quarterback Nathan Dick, the second-team quarterback in 2010, headlines the first team. The Bears also placed offensive lineman Matt Dickerson on the first team.
In 16 games at UCA, Dick has completed 256 passes for 2,668 yards and 12 touchdowns and added 233 rushing yards and three scores. Last year's second-team all-conference quarterback ranked second in the Southland with 254.6 yards of total offense per game last year and had the league's second best pass efficiency rating (124.9) and second most passing yards per game (235.4). Dickerson helped the Bears average 5.2 yards per play and 372.2 yards of total offense per game.
Eight UCA players received second-team kudos, including Love, who led the league with six interceptions, all during conference play. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns, including a 98-yard score at Nicholls State. He followed it the next week with a 25-yard score against Southeastern Louisiana and had two interceptions in each of those games. His 166 yards off interception returns ranked third in school history.
Joining Love on the second team from UCA are running back Terence Bobo, halfback Isaiah Jackson, receiver Dominique Croom, tight end Brennan Rushing, offensive lineman Joe LeHocky, defensive lineman Larry Duvall and linebacker Frank Newsome.
Of McNeese's eight all-conference picks, five were first-team honorees, including Anderson, the league's newcomer of the year. The transfer from Michigan State led the Southland with 713 rushing yards in seven conference games and finished the season with 855 yards after injuries forced him into the starting lineup at LSU, when he ran for a team-high 79 yards on 23 carries. His top game came against Texas State, when the Cowboys' most valuable player tallied 170 yards. Joining him on the first team from McNeese are offensive lineman Miguel Gauthreaux, defensive lineman Desmund Lighten, defensive back Malcolm Bronson and placekicker Josh Lewis.
The Cowboys ranked second in the conference, averaging 153.8 rushing yards per game with Gauthreaux on the offensive line. Lighten enters his senior season with 168 career tackles, including 16.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. His 8.5 tackles for loss led the team. Bronson, the conference freshman of the year in 2009, led the 2010 Cowboys and ranked third in the league with five interceptions, including four in conference play. He returned one 74 yards for a touchdown in a win over Texas State. Lewis ranked second in the Southland in kick scoring, averaging 5.9 points per game on 13-of-16 accuracy on field goals and 26-of-29 aim on PATs. His 81.2 field goal percentage was the best in the league.
The Cowboys' second-team selections are offensive lineman Jonathan Landry, defensive lineman Pat Williams and defensive back Darrell Jenkins.
Northwestern State placed six on the preseason all-conference teams, including three on each side of scrimmage. Tight end Justin Aldredge, linebacker Derek Rose and defensive back Jamaal White earned first-team honors. Aldredge made 22 catches for 289 yards and led Demon receivers with four touchdowns. Rose made 138 tackles to lead the conference and rank 14th nationally. The total was the most at Northwestern since 1991. White finished fourth on the team with 53 tackles, including two tackles for loss. He also snagged three of the team's four interceptions.
Demon quarterback Paul Harris, offensive lineman Zach Case and defensive back Brashard Booker earned second-team mention.
Nicholls' preseason honorees include a first-team selection and two second-team members. Senior defensive back Bobby Felder represents the Colonels on the first-team defense. Felder received 2010 first-team All-Southland honors, leading the team with four interceptions, the fourth-most in the conference. Running back Jesse Turner and defensive lineman Edet Udoh earned second-team preseason honors.
Both of Southeastern Louisiana's all-conference selections were first-team picks. Wide receiver Simmie Yarborough and defensive end Devan Walker represent the Lions on the teams. Yarborough, who is the school's all-time leader in receptions and touchdown receptions, caught a career-high 60 passes in 2010, the third-most by a Southeastern receiver in a single-season. He finished the season with 709 receiving yards and 11.8 yards per catch. Junior defensive end Devan Walker was also a first-team selection, coming off a 2010 campaign where he had eight tackles for loss and four sacks to go with 35 tackles.
Returning student-athletes who earned all-conference honors at the conclusion of the 2010 season were automatically named to the preseason teams. Head coaches from the eight schools that play football in the Southland Conference voted for the remaining 22 positions, which included two on the first-team defense and nine positions each on the second-team offense and defense. Coaches could not vote for their own players.
2011 Preseason All-Southland Conference Football Teams
|
First Team Offense
|
|
Pos
|
Name
|
University
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Cl.
|
Hometown
|
|
QB
|
Nathan Dick
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-4
|
214
|
Sr.
|
Allen, Texas
|
|
RB
|
Tim Flanders
|
Sam Houston State
|
5-9
|
208
|
So.
|
Midwest City, Okla.
|
|
RB
|
Andre Anderson
|
McNeese State
|
5-9
|
190
|
Sr.
|
Barrington, Ill.
|
|
F/HB
|
Gralyn Crawford
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
5-10
|
175
|
Jr.
|
Palestine, Texas
|
|
WR
|
Cordell Roberson
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
6-3
|
192
|
Jr.
|
Jefferson, Texas
|
|
WR
|
Simmie Yarborough
|
Southeastern La.
|
6-1
|
205
|
Sr.
|
Brookhaven, Miss.
|
|
TE
|
Justin Aldredge
|
Northwestern State
|
5-11
|
211
|
Sr.
|
Ruston, La.
|
|
OL
|
George Bias
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
6-3
|
304
|
Sr.
|
Houston, Texas
|
|
OL
|
Miguel Gauthreaux
|
McNeese State
|
6-1
|
291
|
Sr.
|
Plaquemine, La.
|
|
OL
|
John Steel
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
6-4
|
273
|
Jr.
|
Boyd, Texas
|
|
OL
|
Matt Dickerson
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-5
|
278
|
Sr.
|
Monroe, La.
|
|
OL
|
Corey Dickerson
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
6-10
|
320
|
Jr.
|
Livingston, Texas
|
|
PK
|
Josh Lewis
|
McNeese State
|
6-0
|
190
|
Jr.
|
Denham Springs, La.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Team Defense
|
|
DL
|
Desmund Lighten
|
McNeese State
|
6-0
|
250
|
Sr.
|
Monroe, La.
|
|
DL
|
J.T. Cleveland
|
Sam Houston State
|
6-0
|
290
|
Sr.
|
Baytown, Texas
|
|
DL
|
Preston Sanders
|
Sam Houston State
|
6-4
|
255
|
So.
|
Red Oak, Texas
|
|
DL
|
Devan Walker
|
Southeastern La.
|
6-3
|
245
|
Jr.
|
Baton Rouge, La.
|
|
LB
|
Derek Rose
|
Northwestern State
|
5-11
|
225
|
Jr.
|
New Orleans, La.
|
|
LB
|
Will Henry
|
Sam Houston State
|
5-10
|
210
|
Sr.
|
Waco, Texas
|
|
DB
|
Malcolm Bronson
|
McNeese State
|
5-11
|
188
|
Jr.
|
Jasper, Texas
|
|
DB
|
Bobby Felder
|
Nicholls State
|
5-11
|
200
|
Sr.
|
McComb, Miss.
|
|
DB
|
Kenneth Jenkins
|
Sam Houston State
|
5-10
|
195
|
Jr.
|
Galveston, Texas
|
|
DB
|
Josh Aubrey
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
5-11
|
191
|
Jr.
|
Tyler, Texas
|
|
DB
|
Jamaal White
|
Northwestern State
|
6-0
|
193
|
Jr.
|
Garland, Texas
|
|
P
|
Drew Nelson
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
6-1
|
193
|
Sr.
|
Livingston, Texas
|
|
RS
|
Gralyn Crawford
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
5-10
|
175
|
Jr.
|
Palestine, Texas
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second Team Offense
|
|
QB
|
Paul Harris
|
Northwestern State
|
6-1
|
196
|
Jr.
|
Baton Rouge, La.
|
|
RB
|
Jesse Turner
|
Nicholls State
|
5-8
|
180
|
Jr.
|
Houma, La.
|
|
RB
|
Terence Bobo
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-0
|
210
|
Jr.
|
Atkins, Ark.
|
|
F/HB
|
Isaiah Jackson
|
Central Arkansas
|
5-10
|
187
|
Sr.
|
Conway, Ark.
|
|
WR
|
Dominique Croom
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-3
|
191
|
Jr.
|
Cherokee, Ala.
|
|
WR
|
Anthony Foster
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
6-2
|
200
|
Jr.
|
Schertz, Texas
|
|
TE
|
Brennan Rushing
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-2
|
237
|
Sr.
|
Tempe, Ariz.
|
|
OL
|
Travis Watson
|
Sam Houston State
|
6-4
|
295
|
Sr.
|
Norman, Okla.
|
|
OL
|
Jonathan Landry
|
McNeese State
|
6-4
|
295
|
Jr.
|
Lafayette, La.
|
|
OL
|
Zach Case
|
Northwestern State
|
6-2
|
308
|
Sr.
|
Morgan City, La.
|
|
OL
|
Caleb Hopson
|
Sam Houston State
|
6-6
|
300
|
Jr.
|
Early, Texas
|
|
OL
|
Joe LeHocky
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-4
|
286
|
Sr.
|
Albuquerque, N.M.
|
|
PK
|
Miguel Antonio
|
Sam Houston State
|
5-10
|
170
|
Jr.
|
Lovelady, Texas
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second Team Defense
|
|
DL
|
Darren Robinson
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
5-11
|
235
|
So.
|
Dallas, Texas
|
|
DL
|
Larry Duvall
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-3
|
274
|
Jr.
|
Marianna, Ark.
|
|
DL
|
Pat Williams
|
McNeese State
|
6-3
|
275
|
Jr.
|
Plaquemine, La.
|
|
DL
|
Edet Udoh
|
Nicholls State
|
6-1
|
315
|
Jr.
|
Houston, Texas
|
|
LB
|
Frank Newsome
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-2
|
232
|
Sr.
|
Petal, Miss.
|
|
LB
|
Devin Ducote
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
5-11
|
200
|
Sr.
|
Baton Rouge, La.
|
|
DB
|
Jestin Love
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-0
|
195
|
So.
|
West Memphis, Ark.
|
|
DB
|
Darrell Jenkins
|
McNeese State
|
5-10
|
205
|
Sr.
|
Bon Weir, Texas
|
|
DB
|
Darnell Taylor
|
Sam Houston State
|
6-0
|
200
|
Jr.
|
Mesquite, Texas
|
|
DB
|
Caleb Nelson
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
5-11
|
190
|
So.
|
Apopka, Fla.
|
|
DB
|
Brashard Booker
|
Northwestern State
|
6-1
|
183
|
Jr.
|
Terrell, Texas
|
|
P
|
Matt Foster
|
Sam Houston State
|
6-5
|
200
|
Sr.
|
Melbourne, Australia
|
|
RS
|
Brandon Closner
|
Sam Houston State
|
5-10
|
170
|
Sr.
|
Arlington, Texas
|