July 25, 2011

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Two Samford players were named to the Southern Conference coaches' preseason All-Conference teams, released by the league on Monday.

Senior defensive end Alex Davis was named to the first team, while senior cornerback Corey White was named second team. The league also released its coaches' preseason poll, with the Bulldogs picked to finish seventh in the league standings.

As a junior in 2010, Davis was named second team All-Southern Conference by the SoCon Sports Media Association. Davis finished the year fourth on the team in total tackles with 41, including 30 solo stops.

Davis, a Moody, Ala., native, led the Bulldogs in sacks last season with seven, and he tied for the team lead in tackles for a loss with 10. Davis also tallied four quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery in 2010.

White, a native of Dunwoody, Ga., started all 11 games last season for the Bulldogs. He tallied 31 tackles, including 27 solo stops and two tackles for a loss.

White had one interception and a team-high seven pass break-ups as a junior in 2010. He also recorded two forced fumbles for the Bulldogs last season.

In the preseason poll, Appalachian State was picked as the league favorite for the sixth-consecutive year. The Mountaineers received 60 points and five of the nine first-place votes in the poll. Georgia Southern, after reaching the NCAA semifinals last season, was picked second with 59 points and three first-place votes.

Wofford, last season's co-champion with Appalachian State, was picked third in the poll with 49 points. Chattanooga came in fourth, earning 45 points and one first-place vote. Elon (33 points) was voted fifth, while Furman (30 points) came in sixth.

Samford received 25 points to come in seventh in the voting. Behind the Bulldogs were The Citadel (13 points) in eighth place and Western Carolina (10 points) in ninth.

The SoCon Sports Media Association will release its preseason poll on Tuesday.

Samford will begin practice for the 2011 season on Aug. 8, and the Bulldogs will open the season on Sept. 3, when they play host to 2010 national semifinalist Georgia Southern. Kickoff for the season-opener is set for 6 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.

2011 Southern Conference Football
Preseason All-Conference Teams

Offensive Player of the Year: Eric Breitenstein, Jr., FB, Wofford
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Ameet Pall, Sr., DL, Wofford & Brent Russell, Jr., DL, Georgia Southern

First Team Offense
QB DeAndre Presley, Sr., Appalachian State
RB Robert Brown, So, Georgia Southern
RB Eric Breitenstein, Jr., Wofford
OL Orry Frye, Sr., Appalachian State
OL Rodney Austin, Sr., Elon
OL Ryan Lee, Sr., Furman
OL Brett Moore, Sr., Georgia Southern
OL Nate Page, Sr., Wofford
TE Ben Jorden, Sr., Appalachian State
WR Aaron Mellette, Jr., Elon
WR Joel Bradford, Sr., Chattanooga

First Team Defense
DL John Rizor, Jr., Appalachian State
DL Brent Russell, Jr., Georgia Southern
DL Alex Davis, Sr., Samford
DL Ameet Pall, Sr., Wofford
LB Kadarron Anderson, Sr., Furman
LB Josh Rowe, Jr., Georgia Southern
LB Ryan Consiglio, Sr., Chattanooga
DB Ed Gainey, Sr., Appalachian State
DB Ryan Steed, Sr., Furman
DB Derek Heyden, Sr., Georgia Southern
DB Laron Scott, Sr., Georgia Southern

First Team Specialists
PK Ray Early, So., Furman
P Charlie Edwards, Sr., Georgia Southern
RS Laron Scott, Sr., Georgia Southern

Second Team Offense
QB B.J. Coleman, Jr., Chattanooga
RB Travaris Cadet, Sr., Appalachian State
RB J.J. Wilcox, Jr., Georgia Southern
OL Matt Ruff, Sr., Appalachian State
OL Dakota Dozier, So., Furman
OL Dorian Byrd, So., Georgia Southern
OL Willie Maxwell, Sr., Georgia Southern
OL Adam Miller, Jr., Chattanooga
TE (tie) Colin Anderson, Jr., Furman
TE (tie) Tyler Sumner, Jr., Georgia Southern
WR Brian Quick, Sr., Appalachian State
WR Brenton Bersin, Sr., Wofford

Second Team Defense
DL Josh Lynn, Jr., Furman
DL Roderick Tinsley, Sr., Georgia Southern
DL Nick Davidson, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Eric Eberhardt, Sr., Wofford
LB Brandon Grier, Jr., Appalachian State
LB Tolu Akindele, Sr., The Citadel
LB Joshua Jones, Sr., Elon
DB Corey White, Sr., Samford
DB Chris Lewis-Harris, Sr., Chattanooga
DB Kadeem Wise, So., Chattanooga
DB Blake Wylie, Jr., Wofford

Second Team Specialists
PK Adrian Mora, Sr., Georgia Southern
P Sam Martin, Jr., Appalachian State
RS Travaris Cadet, Sr., Appalachian State

NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.

2011 SoCon Football Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Appalachian State (5) 60
2. Georgia Southern (3) 59
3. Wofford 49
4. Chattanooga (1) 45
5. Elon 33
6. Furman 30
7. Samford 25
8. The Citadel 13
9. Western Carolina 10

NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team