Southland Announces 2009 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams
LAKE CHARLES, La. – McNeese senior tailback Toddrick Pendland and Central Arkansas defensive lineman Larry Hart highlight the 2009 Southland Conference preseason all-conference football teams, which were announced Wednesday at the league’s football media day at the L’Auberge du Lac Resort.
Pendland was the conference offensive of the year in 2008, while Hart was the league’s defensive player of the year. In total, the two preseason teams include a pair of returning 1,000-yard rushers and a handful of All-Americans.
Each of the eight universities garnered at least three selections to the two preseason all-conference teams. Central Arkansas led all teams with 15 honorees, including a league-best eight on the first team, while no other team had more than McNeese State’s and Northwestern State’s nine preseason all-conference picks. Texas State netted seven players to either the first or second team, while Stephen F. Austin had five, Nicholls and Sam Houston State had four apiece and Southeastern had three.
While Central Arkansas was picked to finish no higher than third in the preseason polls, the Bears, with their 15 preseason all-conference selections, should have the talent to compete for the league’s best record for the second consecutive season. Led by Hart, the Bears comprised nearly half of the first-team defense with six selections.
Hart, a senior and former transfer from Holmes College, finished his first campaign for the Bears with an impressive 12 sacks among his 43 tackles. He is joined on the preseason first-team defense by senior defensive backs Pieri Feazell and Anthony Gambles, both first-team all-conference selections in 2008, senior defensive lineman Taylor Scott and senior linebacker James Lancaster. Junior defensive back Henry Minor, senior punter Jonathan Beard and sophomore return specialist T.J. Adams were named to the second team.
Included among Central Arkansas’ six preseason offensive honorees are three first-teamers. Senior fullback Nick Cowger and senior offensive linemen Lane Friewald and Will Merritt hope to maintain stability in an offense that last year outscored its opponents by 142 points while combining for nearly 5,300 yards of total offense. In addition, the Bears three second-team selections include senior running back Brent Grimes, junior wideout Willie Landers and senior lineman Casey Thurber.
One of two teams with nine preseason all-conference picks, McNeese State boasts more first-team offensive players than any other program. Pendland hopes to again headline the Cowboys’ offensive attack and get the team back into the conference championship hunt. The Associated Press second-team All-American in 2008 set the program’s single-season rushing record with 1,431 yards, the sixth best total in the nation.
Joining Pendland on the first team is senior quarterback Derrick Fourroux, the owner of a 24-10 record as the Cowboys’ starting signal caller. Also earning first-team honors are senior tight end Wes Mangan and senior lineman Casey Richter. Senior fullback Brandon Broussard and senior receiver Immanuel Friddle garnered second-team offense honors. McNeese State also had three named second-team defense in senior linebacker Deron Minor, the team’s tackles leader in 2008, junior lineman Terrance Freeman and sophomore defensive back Darrell Jenkins.
Only one of Northwestern State’s nine honorees earned a preseason first-team designation, but opponents who take the Demons’ defense lightly could be in for a rude awakening in 2009. Leading the Demons’ charge will be first-team defensive back and senior leader Wesley Eckles. The Mansfield, La., native enters his final campaign with 113 career tackles, including a 2008 season that saw him make 89 tackles, and he is a reigning first-team all-conference selection.
Five of Northwestern State’s eight second-team honorees also come on the defensive side of the ball. Senior Albert Smith and junior Ledell Love will look to anchor the defensive line while senior defensive backs Gary Riggs and Kasey Brown should allow the Demons’ to possess a dominant defensive secondary. Included among the Demons’ second-team offensive selections are senior tight end Gordon Freeman and linemen Marcus Washington, a senior, and Michael Booker, a junior.
The reigning Southland Conference champion, Texas State clocks in with three first-team preseason all-conference picks and four second-team selections. Two of the Bobcats’ three first-team honorees are the same person in Karrington Bush. The junior became only the Bobcats’ second running back to post consecutive seasons of at least 1,000 yards rushing when he scampered for 1,065 yards and 11 touchdowns on 136 carries as a sophomore. Sophomore lineman D.J. Hall, Texas State’s other first-teamer, hopes to help Bush make it three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons as he anchors the offensive line. Bush, who now has a career rushing total of 2,104 yards, has also made a significant impact on special teams as a kick returner, where he ran for 1,055 return yards and one touchdown as a sophomore.
Texas State’s preseason second-team honorees include senior quarterback Bradley George, a three-year starter and the Bobcats’ first quarterback to throw for at least 2,000 yards in consecutive seasons, and two of his chief guardians in senior linemen Calvin Gore and Alex Luna. Junior linebacker Marcus Clark was the Bobcats’ lone defensive representative on the second team.
Stephen F. Austin has high hopes that its five preseason all-conference selections can return the Lumberjacks to prominence and conference championship contention. The Lumberjacks’ offensive attack will largely revolve around their star wide receiver Duane Brooks, a senior first-team offense selection. In his first season in Nacogdoches, Brooks, a former transfer from Central Michigan, is a Consensus Draft Services (CDS) Preseason Honorable Mention All-American that in 2008 set the school record with 68 receptions en route to Southland Newcomer of the Year honors. He and senior wideout Contravious Parks, a preseason second-team honoree at receiver and kick returner, will look to comprise what will arguably be the league’s most formidable receiving corps.
Senior lineman Tim Knicky and junior linebacker Jabara Williams represent the Lumberjacks on the first-team defense. Knicky enters 2009 as a CDS Preseason Second-Team All-American after ranking among the nation’s leaders in sacks and tackles for a loss. Knicky had 12 sacks in 2008 and garnered multiple All-American honors for his junior campaign.
Each of Southeastern’s three preseason honorees garnered first-team selections. Sophomore wide receiver, the 2008 Southland Freshman of the Year and one of the league’s up and coming stars, started six of 11 games while hauling in 51 catches for 490 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie campaign. Senior Tommy Connors was named to a pair of All-America teams following a junior campaign that saw him finish third in the Southland with 108 tackles, including a league-high 79 solo stops. Connors also led the league with four interceptions and finished the year with five tackles for loss and two sacks. Place kicker Jeff Turner also garnered first-team honors after a junior season that saw him lead the Lions with 75 points on 12-of-17 field goals and 39-of-41 PATs.
Sam Houston’s preseason honorees include two offensive players and two on defense. Hunter Schmidt, a senior first-team pick on the offensive line, will look to open running lanes for second-team running back and junior Chris Poullard while first-team pick and senior Chris Brown anchors the defensive line in front of second-team linebacker Luke McCall.
Junior punter Patrick Dolan netted Nicholls’ lone first-team preseason all-conference honor. Dolan averaged 42.4 yards per kick on 38 attempts with a season long of 57 yards and 10 inside the 20-yard line while avoiding any blocks. Nicholls’ other preseason honorees include second-team kicker Ross Schexnayder and defensive back Dominique Daniels, both seniors.
2009 Preseason All-Southland Conference Football Teams
|
First Team Offense
|
|
Pos
|
Name
|
University
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Cl.
|
Hometown
|
|
QB
|
Derrick Fourroux
|
McNeese State
|
6-1
|
200
|
Sr.
|
Erath, La.
|
|
RB
|
Toddrick Pendland
|
McNeese State
|
5-10
|
175
|
Sr.
|
Newton, Texas
|
|
RB
|
Karrington Bush
|
Texas State
|
5-10
|
182
|
Jr.
|
Whitewright, Texas
|
|
FB
|
Nick Cowger
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-1
|
236
|
Sr.
|
Vilonia, Ark.
|
|
WR
|
Duane Brooks
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
6-0
|
185
|
Sr.
|
Irving, Texas
|
|
WR
|
Simmie Yarborough
|
Southeastern La.
|
6-1
|
190
|
So.
|
Brookhaven, Miss.
|
|
TE
|
Wes Mangan
|
McNeese State
|
6-4
|
245
|
Sr.
|
Brenham, Texas
|
|
OL
|
Lane Freiwald
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-7
|
318
|
Sr.
|
Little Rock, Ark.
|
|
OL
|
D.J. Hall
|
Texas State
|
6-2
|
280
|
So.
|
Palestine, Texas
|
|
OL
|
Hunter Schmidt
|
Sam Houston State
|
6-3
|
304
|
Sr.
|
Alvin, Texas
|
|
OL
|
Casey Richter
|
McNeese State
|
6-6
|
300
|
Sr.
|
Praireville, La.
|
|
OL
|
Will Merritt
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-5
|
292
|
Sr.
|
Sterlington, La.
|
|
PK
|
Jeff Turner
|
Southeastern La.
|
5-10
|
170
|
Sr.
|
Houston, Texas
|
|
|
|
First Team Defense
|
|
Pos
|
Name
|
University
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Cl.
|
Hometown
|
|
DL
|
Larry Hart
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-1
|
255
|
Sr.
|
Madison, Miss.
|
|
DL
|
Tim Knicky
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
6-4
|
235
|
Sr.
|
Cedar Park, Texas
|
|
DL
|
Chris Brown
|
Sam Houston State
|
6-2
|
220
|
Sr.
|
Texarkana, Texas
|
|
DL
|
Taylor Scott
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-4
|
264
|
Sr.
|
Little Rock, Ark.
|
|
LB
|
Jabara Williams
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
6-3
|
205
|
Jr.
|
Garrison, Texas
|
|
LB
|
James Lancaster
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-0
|
224
|
Sr.
|
Cordova, Tenn.
|
|
DB
|
Tommy Connors
|
Southeastern La.
|
6-1
|
205
|
Sr.
|
Marrero, La.
|
|
DB
|
Pieri Feazell
|
Central Arkansas
|
5-11
|
206
|
Sr.
|
Mount Olive, Miss.
|
|
DB
|
Wesley Eckles
|
Northwestern State
|
6-0
|
185
|
Sr.
|
Mansfield, La.
|
|
DB
|
Anthony Gambles
|
Central Arkansas
|
5-9
|
174
|
Sr.
|
Byhalia, Miss.
|
|
DB
|
Derrick Boyd
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-0
|
208
|
Sr.
|
West Point, Miss.
|
|
P
|
Patrick Dolan
|
Nicholls
|
6-1
|
180
|
Jr.
|
Mobile, Ala.
|
|
RS
|
Karrington Bush
|
Texas State
|
5-10
|
182
|
Jr.
|
Whitewright, Texas
|
|
|
|
Second Team Offense
|
|
Pos
|
Name
|
University
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Cl.
|
Hometown
|
|
QB
|
Bradley George
|
Texas State
|
6-6
|
225
|
Sr.
|
New Braunfels, Texas
|
|
RB
|
Brent Grimes
|
Central Arkansas
|
5-9
|
194
|
Sr.
|
Baton Rouge, La.
|
|
RB
|
Chris Poullard
|
Sam Houston State
|
5-10
|
205
|
Jr.
|
Killeen, Texas
|
|
FB
|
Brandon Broussard
|
McNeese State
|
6-2
|
245
|
Sr.
|
Deridder, La.
|
|
WR
|
Contravious Parks
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
5-10
|
185
|
Sr.
|
Killeen, Texas
|
|
WR*
|
Willie Landers
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-2
|
204
|
Jr.
|
El Dorado, Ark.
|
|
WR*
|
Immanuel Friddle
|
McNeese State
|
6-3
|
215
|
Sr.
|
Iowa, La.
|
|
TE
|
Gordon Freeman
|
Northwestern State
|
6-2
|
255
|
Sr.
|
Longview, Texas
|
|
OL
|
Calvin Gore
|
Texas State
|
6-5
|
305
|
Sr.
|
Canyon Lake, Texas
|
|
OL
|
Marcus Washington
|
Northwestern State
|
6-3
|
295
|
Sr.
|
Alexandria, La.
|
|
OL
|
Alex Luna
|
Texas State
|
6-3
|
295
|
Sr.
|
Houston, Texas
|
|
OL
|
Casey Thurber
|
Central Arkansas
|
5-11
|
278
|
Sr.
|
Tulsa, Okla.
|
|
OL
|
Michael Booker
|
Northwestern State
|
6-3
|
320
|
Jr.
|
Paris, Texas
|
|
PK
|
Ross Schexnayder
|
Nicholls
|
5-11
|
185
|
Sr.
|
Houma, La.
|
|
|
|
Second Team Defense
|
|
Pos
|
Name
|
University
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Cl.
|
Hometown
|
|
DL
|
Zac Reddix
|
Nicholls
|
6-2
|
215
|
Sr.
|
Prairieville, La.
|
|
DL
|
Ledell Love
|
Northwestern State
|
6-1
|
240
|
Jr.
|
Dallas, Texas
|
|
DL
|
Albert Smith
|
Northwestern State
|
6-0
|
301
|
Sr.
|
Matthews, La.
|
|
DL
|
Terrance Freeman
|
McNeese State
|
6-4
|
235
|
Jr.
|
Newton, Texas
|
|
LB
|
Deron Minor
|
McNeese State
|
6-2
|
235
|
Sr.
|
Beaumont, Texas
|
|
LB*
|
Blake Delcambre
|
Northwestern State
|
6-1
|
235
|
Sr.
|
New Iberia, La.
|
|
LB*
|
Luke McCall
|
Sam Houston State
|
6-0
|
227
|
Sr.
|
Corpus Christi, Texas
|
|
LB*
|
Marcus Clark
|
Texas State
|
5-10
|
215
|
Jr.
|
Fort Worth, Texas
|
|
DB
|
Gary Riggs
|
Northwestern State
|
6-3
|
220
|
Sr.
|
Jennings, La.
|
|
DB
|
Henry Minor
|
Central Arkansas
|
5-10
|
176
|
Jr.
|
Baton Rouge, La.
|
|
DB
|
Kasey Brown
|
Northwestern State
|
5-9
|
170
|
Sr.
|
Shreveport, La.
|
|
DB
|
Darrell Jenkins
|
McNeese State
|
5-11
|
205
|
So.
|
Newton, Texas
|
|
DB
|
Dominique Daniels
|
Nicholls
|
6-2
|
190
|
Sr.
|
Gibsonton, Fla.
|
|
P
|
Jonathan Beard
|
Central Arkansas
|
5-10
|
165
|
Sr.
|
Weir, Miss.
|
|
RS*
|
T.J. Adams
|
Central Arkansas
|
6-1
|
192
|
So.
|
Beckville, Texas
|
|
RS*
|
Contrevious Parks
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
5-10
|
185
|
Sr.
|
Killeen, Texas
|
* indicates ties for final spot at position