May 19, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford senior running back Chris Evans and senior linebacker Bryce Smith have been named to the Sports Network's Preseason Top 10 list for their respective positions. The lists were released recently on the Sports Network's website.

Evans was named one of the top 10 running backs in all of the Division I-Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), with the list being released in alphabetical order. Evans is already Samford's all-time career rushing leader with 3,469 yards in his Samford career. He has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, including a school-record 1,284 yards as a sophomore in 2008.

Evans has led the Southern Conference in rushing in both of Samford's seasons in the league. He has also been named first-team All-SoCon in each of the last two seasons, and he was named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in all of FCS football, prior to the 2009 season.

Smith was named one of the top 10 linebackers in the FCS. Smith has led Samford in tackles in each of the last two seasons. Last season, he led the nation in solo tackles per game, averaging 7.2 per game.

As a junior, Smith led the team with 102 total tackles, despite missing one game due to injury. He also led the team in interceptions with four, and he ranked third in the SoCon in total tackles per game with an average of 10.2 per contest. Smith was named first-team All-SoCon as a junior and second-team All-SoCon after his sophomore season.

The Bulldogs will open the 2010 season on Sept. 4, when they travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to take on the Florida State Seminoles. The game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. (CT) kickoff from FSU's Doak Campbell Stadium.