HICKORY, N.C. – A school-record 13 Lenoir-Rhyne players were selected to the 2019 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference team as announced by the league today. The Bears have six First Team All-Conference selections and seven more on the Second Team.

Leading the first-teamers is Second Team All-American and Jacobs Blocking Trophy award winner OL Jason Poe. Poe played in 13 games for the Bears and helped LR to top-10 national rankings in rushing yards per game and scoring offense.

Kyle Dugger, Honorable Mention All-American Return Specialist, earns first team accolades at both return specialist as well as defensive back. Dugger was one of the most explosive punt returners in the nation, finishing second in Division II in punt return yardage and punt return TDs.

Drake Starks was named a first team TE after catching five touchdowns as a true freshman and being one of the best blocking tight ends in the region.

Along with Dugger on the defensive side of the ball, DL Dan Louba and LB Sherrod Williams were first team selections. Louba recorded 7.5 sacks from the DT position, while Williams led the conference in tackles (105) and led the nation with six forced fumbles.

The second team features a pair of running backs in Xzavion Huff and Ameen Stevens to go with OL Ronnie Clifton who started all 14 games at left tackle for the Bears in 2018. As a true freshman, Stevens ran for 11 touchdowns, which ranked second in the conference, and led the Bears in carries and yards. PK Chase Allbaugh set a conference and program record with 114 points by a kicker in 2018 which earned him a spot on the second team.

Defensively, DE Jaquan Artis, who leads all returning players with 11 sacks, was picked to the second team and was joined by LB Clayton Horn and DB Eric Jackson. For Horn, it is his second straight selection to the preseason all-conference squad. Jackson was the team's Ronnie Lott Heavy Hitter of the Year recipient and led the league with six interceptions. 

The Bears are coming off a 12-2 season that saw them go a perfect 7-0 in league play and clinch their eighth conference championship in program history. The previous record for most preseason all-conference selections was 11 which was done twice, most recently in 2013.

2019 Preseason All-SAC Football

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB –       Derrick Evans, Carson-Newman
RB –        Antonio Wimbush, Carson-Newman
RB –        Jordon Shippy, Tusculum
RB –        Nijere Peoples, Wingate
WR –     BJ Muckelvene, Wingate
WR –     Will Sweeper, Catawba
WR –     Craig Rucker, Mars Hill
OL –       Phil McDowell, Carson-Newman
OL –       Jordan Seal, Carson-Newman
OL –       Travis James, Mars Hill
OL –       Keveon Broadwater, Tusculum
OL –       Jason Poe, Lenoir-Rhyne
TE –       Drake Starks, Lenoir-Rhyne
PK –       McLean Robertson, Wingate
LS –        Dawson Campbell, Carson-Newman
RS –        Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
 
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL –       Montel Presley, Carson-Newman
DL –       Brian Bemby, Carson-Newman
DL –       Dan Louba, Lenoir-Rhyne
DL –       Colton Strickland, Tusculum
LB –        Jeremiah Ferguson, Catawba
LB –        Ivan Hogans, Tusculum
LB –        Sherrod Williams, Lenoir-Rhyne
LB –        Robbie Wallace, Wingate
DB –       Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB –       Desmond Fairell, Carson-Newman
DB –       Davion Washington, Wingate
DB –       Malik Goodman, Tusculum
P –         Shea Rodgers, Newberry
 
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB –      Shaw Crocker, Wingate
RB –       Ameen Stevens, Lenoir-Rhyne
RB –       Xzavion Huff, Lenoir-Rhyne
RB –       Austin Barnes, Newberry
WR –     Ajay Belanger, Tusculum
WR –     Tyler Ferguson, Mars Hill
WR –     Bobby Irby, Newberry
OL –       Connor Baroniunas, Wingate
OL –       Demetrius Blackwell, Catawba
OL –       Ronnie Clifton, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL –       Reese Fain, Carson-Newman
OL –       Tyler Anderson, Newberry
TE –       Carter Mangel, Tusculum
PK –       Chase Allbaugh, Lenoir-Rhyne
LS –        AJ Covan, Limestone
RS –       BJ Muckelvene, Wingate
 
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL –       Jaquan Artis, Lenoir-Rhyne
DL –       Cameron Davis, Catawba
DL –       Cal Hanford, Wingate
DL –       Keito Jordon, Newberry
LB –        Elijah Gilmore, Wingate
LB –        Antonio Henderson, Carson-Newman
LB –        Clayton Horn, Lenoir-Rhyne
LB –        LJ Melvin, Catawba
DB –       David Vereen, Newberry
DB –       Dee Alford, Tusculum
DB –       Cris Page, Catawba
DB –       Eric Jackson, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB –       Marcus Tarrer, UVa-Wise
P –          Thomas Cook, Limestone