SOUTHERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW PART V

UP CLOSE: APPALACHIAN STATE

By Josh Buchanan - Small School Insider


RETURNING STARTERS
Offense: 5
Defense: 7
Special Teams: 2
Total: 14


KEY RETURNEES

QB Armanti Edwards, Jr., RB Devon Moore, Jr., WR James Hill, Sr., WR TJ Courman, Sr., WR Tavaris Washington, Jr., WR/RS CoCo Hillary, Soph., WR Brian Quick, Fr., WR Josh Johnson, Jr., OT Brad Coley, Sr., OT Jonathan Bieschke, Sr., OG Daniel Kilgore, Soph., OG Mario Acitelli, Jr., C Brett Irvin, Soph., DE Tony Robertson, Jr., DT Anthony Williams, Jr., DT Gordy Whitte, Fr., DT Daniel Finnerty, Jr., LB Pierre Banks, Sr., LB DJ Smith, Soph., LB Jacque Roman, Jr., CB Cortez Gilbert, Jr., CB Jared Reine, Soph., S Leonard Love, Sr., S Mark LeGree, Soph., P Neil Young, Sr.

KEY LOSSES

QB Trey Elder, RB Kevin Richardson, WR Dexter Jackson, WR Hans Batichon, TE Nic Cardwell, OG Kerry Brown, OG John Holt, C Scott Suttle, DE Gary Tharrington (academics), CB Jerome Touchstone, CB Justin Woazeah, FS Corey Lynch, SS Titus Howard, K Julian Rauch, LS Russell Wilson

KEY NEWCOMERS

RB Rod Chisholm (HS), RB Devin Radford (Virginia Tech), TE Jordan Gary (HS), DE Quavian Lewis (Vanderbilt), DE Lanston Tanyi (HS), DT Malcolm Bennett (JUCO), LB Terrence McLean (HS), CB Ed Gainey (HS), CB Ingram Bell (HS), S Justin Lloyd (HS), and S DeMorris Brooks (JUCO).

HONORS CANDIDATES

QB Armanti Edwards, Jr., RB Devon Moore, Jr., WR TJ Courman, Sr., WR/RS CoCo Hillary, Soph., OT Brad Coley, Sr., OG Mario Acitelli, Jr., DE Tony Robertson, Jr., DT Anthony Williams, Jr., DT Malcolm Bennett, Jr., LB Pierre Banks, Sr., LB DJ Smith, Soph., LB Jacque Roman, Jr., CB Cortez Gilbert, Jr., S Leonard Love, Sr.

TOP 5 PLAYERS

1. QB Armanti Edwards, Jr.
2. LB Pierre Banks, Sr.
3. DT Anthony Williams, Jr.
4. LB DJ Smith, Soph.
5. WR/RS CoCo Hillary, Soph.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW PART III

By Josh Buchanan

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

QB Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, Jr.: The junior amassed 1,948 passing yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for 1,588 yards and 21 more touchdowns last year. He did that missing 4 _ games and led the Mountaineers to their 3rd straight national title. Injuries left him off the All-SoCon team but his playoff performance earned him 2nd team All-America plaudits by The Sports Network and the distinction of the preseason #1 QB, also by The Sports Network. Phil Steele Magazine has Edwards as a preseason 1st team All-American, and the QB has been selected as the preseason SoCon Offensive Player of the Year by the league’s coaches.

Others Considered: WR Terrell Hudgins, Elon, Jr.; QB Scott Riddle, Elon, Soph.; WR Andre Roberts, The Citadel, Jr.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LB Pierre Banks, Appalachian State, Sr.: This selection could easily change by season’s end but nobody enters the season with the career consistency of Banks. He earned 1st team All-America honors by The Sports Network last year with 108 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 7 passes defended. Phil Steele Magazine also named him a preseason 1st team All-American while the SoCon coaches tabbed him the SoCon preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Others Considered: LB Seth Goldwire, Wofford, Sr.; LB Corey Weaver, Elon, Sr.; LB Joseph Thornton, Chattanooga, Jr.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR

OT Joel Bell, Furman, Sr.: Bell earned 1st team All-SoCon honors as a junior and 2nd team plaudits as a sophomore. The Sports Network also named him honorable mention All-America last year and Bell earned preseason 1st team All-SoCon honors from both the league’s coaches and Phil Steele Magazine. The magazine also named him a 1st team preseason All-American.

Others Considered: OT Derek Wooten, Wofford, Sr.; OG Mario Acitelli, Appalachian State, Jr.; OG/OT William Giles, UTC, Sr. OT Brad Coley, Appalachian State, Sr.

TOP NFL PROSPECT

OT Joel Bell, Furman: Bell’s mammoth size (6’7, 315) and good footwork make him a potential mid-round left tackle prospect. Consistency and technique are his main weaknesses but they can be improved with experience and coaching. Expect him to earn mid-round grades from most teams with a solid senior campaign.

Others Considered: OG William Giles, UTC; WR TJ Courman, Appalachian State, P Brandon Lane, Elon.

NATIONAL AWARD CANDIDATES

WALTER PAYTON AWARD CANDIDATES
QB Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, Jr.
QB Scott Riddle, Elon, Soph.
WR Terrell Hudgins, Elon, Jr.
WR Andre Roberts, The Citadel, Jr.

BUCK BUCHANAN AWARD CANDIDATES
LB Pierre Banks, Appalachian State, Sr.
LB Seth Goldwire, Wofford, Sr.

Tomorrow: Team Predictions

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW PART II

PRESEASON PLAYER RANKINGS

By Josh Buchanan - Small School Insider


TOP 20 PLAYERS

1. QB Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State
2. WR Terrell Hudgins, Elon
3. LB Pierre Banks, Appalachian State
4. WR Andre Roberts, The Citadel
5. OT Joel Bell, Furman
6. QB Scott Riddle, Elon
7. DT Anthony Williams, Appalachian State
8. LB Seth Goldwire, Wofford
9. OT Derek Wooten, Wofford
10. DT Justin Brown, Furman
11. TE Larry Hedden, Furman
12. LB Corey Weaver, Elon
13. S Chris Covington, Georgia Southern
14. LB Joseph Thornton, Chattanooga
15. LB DJ Smith, Appalachian State
16. OG/OT William Giles, Chattanooga
17. WR/RS CoCo Hillary, Appalachian State
18. LB Jacque Roman, Appalachian State
19. DE Larry Beard, Georgia Southern
20. TE Fenn Allen, Wofford

TOP 10 SENIOR NFL PROSPECTS

1. OT Joel Bell, Furman
2. OG/OT William Giles, Chattanooga
3. WR TJ Courman, Appalachian State
4. DE Brandon Drumgoole, Western Carolina
5. P Brandon Lane, Elon
6. CB William Middleton, Furman
7. DE Jeffrey Bradley, Western Carolina
8. LB/SS Pierre Banks, Appalachian State
9. TE Fenn Allen, Wofford
10. OT Derek Wooten, Wofford

Tomorrow: Award Winners

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW PART I

PRESEASON ALL-SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

By Josh Buchanan - Small School Insider


FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
WR Terrell Hudgins, Elon, Jr.
WR Andre Roberts, The Citadel, Jr.
TE Larry Hedden, Furman, Jr.
OT Joel Bell, Furman, Sr.
OT Derek Wooten, Wofford, Sr.
OG Mario Acitelli, Appalachian State, Jr.
OG William Giles, Chattanooga, Sr.
C Kevin Wiggins, Western Carolina, Sr.
QB Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, Jr.
RB Devon Moore, Appalachian State, Jr.
RB Mike Brown, Furman, Soph.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL Terrence Reese, The Citadel, Jr.
DL Anthony Williams, Appalachian State, Jr.
DL Justin Brown, Furman, Jr.
DL Larry Beard, Georgia Southern, Sr.
LB Pierre Banks, Appalachian State, Sr.
LB Seth Goldwire, Wofford, Sr.
LB Corey Weaver, Elon, Sr.
DB Chris Covington, Georgia Southern, Sr.
DB Thomas Twitty, Furman, Sr.
DB Leonard Love, Appalachian State, Sr.
DB Carson Hill, Georgia Southern, Jr.

FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
K Jesse Hartley, Georgia Southern, Sr.
P Brandon Lane, Elon, Sr.
RS Sean Lees, Wofford, Soph.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
WR Bo Williamson, Elon, Sr.
WR CoCo Hillary, Appalachian State, Soph.
TE Fenn Allen, Wofford, Sr.
OT Brad Coley, Appalachian State, Sr.
OT Ben Quick, Wofford, Sr.
OG Tyler Haynes, Furman, Jr.
OG Ben Miller, Wofford, Sr.
C Clay Muirhead, The Citadel, Sr.
QB Scott Riddle, Elon, Soph.
RB Dane Romero, Wofford, Sr.
RB Bryan Fitzgerald, Chattanooga, Sr.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL Tony Robertson, Appalachian State, Jr.
DL Damon Suggs, Georgia Southern, Sr.
DL Layton Baker, Wofford, Sr.
DL Jeff Bradley, Western Carolina, Sr.
LB Quintin Phillips, Western Carolina, Jr.
LB Joseph Thornton, Chattanooga, Jr.
LB D.J. Smith, Appalachian State, Soph.
DB William Middleton, Furman, Sr.
DB Cameron McGlenn, Elon, Jr.
DB Cortez Gilbert, Appalachian State, Jr.
DB Ryan Jones, The Citadel, Jr.

SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
K Patrick Mugan, Wofford, Sr.
P Mark Kaspar, The Citadel, Sr.
RS CoCo Hillary, Appalachian State, Soph.

HONORABLE MENTION
RB Chris Evans, Samford, Soph.
WR Blue Cooper, Chattanooga, Jr.
WR TJ Courman, Appalachian State, Sr.
WR R.J. Webb, Furman, Jr.
WR Marquel Pittman, Western Carolina, Soph.
TE Taylor Cornett, The Citadel, Sr.
OT Thomas Slaughter, Furman, Sr.
OT Daniel DeHaven, The Citadel, Jr.
OT Mitchell Waters, Samford, Sr.
OT Chris Werden, Elon, Sr.
DE Kevin McCaskill, The Citadel, Sr.
DT Malcolm Bennett, Appalachian State, Jr.
DT Neil Brown, Chattanooga, Sr.
LB Jacque Roman, Appalachian State, Jr.
LB Rodney Shepherd, Samford, Sr.
CB Raeshon Ball, Chattanooga, Sr.
CB Karlos Sullivan, Elon, Jr.
K Andrew Wilcox, Elon, Sr.
P Chris Tommie, Wofford, Sr.
RS Mike Brown, Furman, Soph.