SPARTANBURG, S.C.— The Samford University football team was tabbed as the favorite to win the 2018 Southern Conference title when the league released its preseason polls and preseason All-SoCon teams Wednesday morning.
Senior quarterback
Devlin Hodges was named the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while senior defensive lineman
Ahmad Gooden was named the league's preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Hodges and Gooden were joined on the first team All-SoCon squad by
Nick Nixon (OL) and
Kelvin McKnight (WR). Samford's representatives on the second team were
Chris Shelling (WR),
Christian Stark (LB) and
Darius Harvey (DB).
In the Coaches Poll, Samford picked up 63 points, including seven of the nine first-place votes. The Bulldogs were followed by Wofford (53 pts, 1 first-place vote) and Furman (52 pts, 1 first-place vote). Rounding out the Coaches poll were Western Carolina (39 pts), Chattanooga (34 pts), Mercer (32 pts), The Citadel (28 pts), ETSU (15 pts) and VMI (8 pts).
The media awarded Samford 204 points and 20 of the 23 first-place votes. Furman came in second (174 pts, 2 first-place votes), while Wofford (163 pts, 1 first-place vote) was picked to finish third. Following Wofford in the Media Poll were Mercer (133 pts), Western Carolina (114 pts), Chattanooga (88 pts), The Citadel (83 pts), ETSU (53 pts) and VMI (23 pts).
Samford returns 10 starters on offense and six starters on defense from a team that went 8-4 overall and 6-2 in Southern Conference play last season. The Bulldogs have reached the NCAA Division I-FCS Playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
In 2017, Gooden, who was named the SoCon's Defensive Player of the Year, ranked second on the team and sixth in the Southern Conference in total tackles with 101. He also led the team and ranked second in the SoCon in tackles for loss with 15.5, and he tied for fourth in the league in sacks with 5.5. Gooden finished seventh in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in all of FCS football.
Hodges was named the Southern Conference's Offensive Player of the Year for a second-straight season in 2017. He passed for 3,983 yards and 31 touchdowns. He completed 65.7 percent of his passes (347-of-528) and averaged 331.9 passing yards per game. Hodges led the Southern Conference and ranked in the top 10 nationally in passing yards per game, total offense per game and total offensive plays. Hodges came in fourth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, given to the FCS' top offensive player.
Samford will open the 2018 season by hosting Shorter on Thursday, Aug. 30, at Seibert Stadium, with the kickoff time set for 6:30 p.m. To purchase season tickets, click here:
PURCHASE SEASON TICKETS.
2018 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Total
Samford (7) 63
Wofford (1) 53
Furman (1) 52
Western Carolina 39
Chattanooga 34
Mercer 32
The Citadel 28
ETSU 15
VMI 8
2018 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Total
Samford (20) 204
Furman (2) 174
Wofford (1) 163
Mercer 133
Western Carolina 114
Chattanooga 88
The Citadel 83
ETSU 53
VMI 23
2018 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Devlin Hodges, R-Sr., QB, Samford
Defensive Player of the Year: Ahmad Gooden, R-Sr., DL, Samford
First team offense
QB Devlin Hodges, R-Sr., Samford
RB Kealand Dirks, R-Sr., Furman
RB Andre Stoddard, Sr., Wofford
OL Tyler Davis, Sr., The Citadel
OL Austin Sanders, R-Jr., Mercer
OL Nick Nixon, Jr., Samford
OL Zach Weeks, R-Sr., Western Carolina
OL Michael Ralph, Jr., Wofford
TE Sam Walker, R-Sr., Mercer
WR Marquise Irvin, Sr., Mercer
WR Kelvin McKnight, Sr., Samford
First team defense
DL Nasir Player, R-Jr., ETSU
DL Ahmad Gooden, R-Sr., Samford
DL Isaiah Mack, R-Sr., Chattanooga
DL Miles Brown, Sr., Wofford
LB Elijah McKoy, So., Furman
LB LeMarkus Bailey, R-Sr., Mercer
LB Datavious Wilson, Jr., Wofford
DB Aron Spann III, Sr., The Citadel
DB Marvin Tillman, Sr., Western Carolina
DB Devin Watson, Sr., Wofford
DB Aaquil Annoor, Sr., Furman
First team specialists
PK Luke Carter, Jr., Wofford
P Ian Berryman, R-Sr., Western Carolina
RS Brandon Dowdell, So., Chattanooga
Second team offense
QB Tyrie Adams, R-Jr., Western Carolina
RB Tee Mitchell, Sr., Mercer
RB Tyrell Price, Jr., Chattanooga
OL Drew McEntyre, Jr., The Citadel
OL Matt Pyke, R-Sr., ETSU
OL Reed Kroeber, R-So., Furman
OL Malcolm White, R-Jr., Chattanooga
OL Brad Davis, So., VMI
OL Nathan Dalton, R-Sr., Western Carolina
OL Andrew Miles, R-Sr., Western Carolina
OL Justus Basinger, Jr., Wofford
TE Jake Walker, So., Furman
WR Thomas Gordon, Jr., Furman
WR Chris Shelling, Jr., Samford
WR Bingo Morton, R-Sr., Chattanooga
Second team defense
DL Ja'Lon Williams, Jr., The Citadel
DL Jaylan Reid, R-Sr., Furman
DL Isaiah Buehler, R-Sr., Mercer
DL Mikel Horton, Jr., Wofford
LB Noah Dawkins, Sr., The Citadel
LB Dylan Weigel, R-Sr., ETSU
LB Christian Stark, Sr., Samford
DB Eric Jackson, R-Jr., Mercer
DB Darius Harvey, R-Sr., Samford
DB Kareem Orr, Sr., Chattanooga
DB Mason Alstatt, Jr., Wofford
Second team specialists
PK JJ Jerman, Sr., ETSU
P Matt Shiel, Gr., Mercer
P Luke Carter, Jr., Wofford
RS Quan Harrison R-Jr., ETSU
