SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Samford football team was picked third in the Southern Conference by the coaches and fifth by the media in the league's preseason poll, released at the SoCon's annual Media Day Wednesday afternoon. Samford also placed eight players in the coaches' preseason All-SoCon teams.
In the coaches' poll, Chattanooga was picked to win the league with 63 points, including seven first-place votes. The Citadel was picked second with 52 points and one first-place vote, while Samford came in third with 50 points and one first-place vote. The coaches' poll was rounded out by Western Carolina (41 pts.), Mercer (38), Wofford (33), Furman (24), VMI (14) and ETSU (9).
Chattanooga was also tabbed as the preseason favorite in the media poll with 250 points and 26 first-place votes. The Citadel was picked second with 208 points and the final two first-place votes. Western Carolina (179 pts.) was picked third, Mercer (148) fourth, Samford (147) fifth, Wofford (136) sixth, Furman (102) seventh, VMI (62) eighth and ETSU (28) ninth.
On the preseason All-SoCon teams, Samford placed four players on the first team and four more on the second. The team's first-team honorees are
Armando Bonheur (OL),
Karel Hamilton (WR),
Ahmad Gooden (DL) and
Jamerson Blount (DB).
Samford's representatives on the second team are
Devlin Hodges (QB),
Kelvin McKnight (WR),
Xavier Forrest (DL) and
Austin Barnard (P).
2016 SoCon Football Preseason Coaches Poll
School (First-place votes) Points
1. Chattanooga (7) 63
2. The Citadel (1) 52
3. Samford (1) 50
4. Western Carolina 41
5. Mercer 38
6. Wofford 33
7. Furman 24
8. VMI 14
9. ETSU 9
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams
2016 SoCon Football Preseason Media Poll
School (First-place votes) Points
1. Chattanooga (26) 250
2. The Citadel (2) 208
3. Western Carolina 179
4. Mercer 148
5. Samford 147
6. Wofford 136
7. Furman 102
8. VMI 62
9. ETSU 28
2016 Southern Conference Football: Preseason All-Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Detrez Newsome, Jr., RB, Western Carolina
Defensive Players of the Year: Keionta Davis, Sr., DL, Chattanooga
First Team Offense
QB Al Cobb, Jr., VMI
RB Derrick Craine, Sr., Chattanooga
RB Detrez Newsome, Jr., Western Carolina
OL Isaiah Pinson, Jr. The Citadel
OL Brett Niederreither, Sr., Mercer
OL Armando Bonheur, Sr., Samford
OL Corey Levin, Sr., Chattanooga
OL Jacob Revis, Jr., Chattanooga
(tie) OL Anton Wahrby, Sr., Wofford
TE Tyler Sexton, Sr., Western Carolina
WR Karel Hamilton, Sr., Samford
WR Aaron Sanders, Sr., VMI
First Team Defense
DL Joe Crochet, Sr., The Citadel
DL Ahmad Gooden, So., Samford
DL Keionta Davis, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Miles Brown, So., Wofford
LB Tevin Floyd, Sr., The Citadel
LB Nakevion Leslie, Sr., Chattanooga
LB Tyson Dickson, Sr., Western Carolina
(tie) LB Daniel Riddle, Jr., Western Carolina
DB Dee Delaney, Jr., The Citadel
DB Trey Robinson, Sr., Furman
DB Jamerson Blount, Sr., Samford
DB Lucas Webb, Jr., Chattanooga
First Team Specialists
PK Henrique Ribeiro, Sr., Chattanooga
P Ian Berryman, So., Western Carolina
RS Dane Forlines, Sr., VMI
Second Team Offense
QB Devlin Hodges, So., Samford
RB Tyler Renew, Sr., The Citadel
RB Lorenzo Long, Sr., Wofford
OL Ryan Bednar, Sr., The Citadel
OL Josh Cardiello, Jr., Chattanooga
OL Andrew Lewis, Sr., VMI
OL Nathan Dalton, So., Western Carolina
OL Dequan Miller, Sr., Wofford
TE Sam Walker, So., Mercer
WR Kelvin McKnight, So., Samford
WR Spearman Robinson, Sr., Western Carolina
Second Team Defense
DL Tosin Aguebor, Sr., Mercer
DL Isaiah Buehler, So., Mercer
DL Xavier Forrest, Jr., Samford
DL Vantrel McMillan, Sr., Chattanooga
LB Carl Rider, Sr., Furman
LB Ryan Francis, Jr., VMI
LB Dylan Weigel, So., ETSU
DB Cedric Nettles, Sr., Chattanooga
DB Fred Payne, Sr., Western Carolina
DB Malik Diggs, Sr., The Citadel
DB Trey Morgan, Sr., Western Carolina
Second Team Specialists
PK Logan Howard, So., Western Carolina
P Austin Barnard, Jr., Samford
RS Chandler Curtis, Jr., Mercer
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
