ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Samford senior quarterback Liam Welch was named the Southern Conference's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and the Bulldogs were picked second in a poll voted on by the league's head coaches. The preseason polls and All-SoCon teams were released at the SoCon's Annual Football Media Day, held Monday at the Biltmore Estates.
 
All nine Southern Conference head coaches met with the media during Monday's session. An interview with each head coach will stream on ESPN+ Tuesday at 9 a.m. (CT). To watch the interviews, click here: WATCH.
 
Nine total Samford players were named to the two preseason All-SoCon teams. Welch was joined on the first team by offensive lineman Gavin Orr, wide receiver Ty King, defensive lineman Armond Lloyd, defensive back Chris Edmonds and return specialist Montrell Washington. Samford's second team members were tight end Michael Vice, wide receiver A.J. Toney and linebacker Trimarcus Cheeks.
 
In the preseason coaches' poll, Chattanooga was picked as the preseason favorite with 59 total points and four first-place votes. Samford came in second with 52 points and two first-place nods. VMI (50 points, two first-place votes) was picked third, followed by ETSU (49 points, one first-place vote) at fourth. Furman (34 points) was picked fifth, followed by Mercer (29), The Citadel (22), Wofford (21) and Western Carolina (8).
 
In the media's preseason poll, Chattanooga was again picked to win the league with 248 points and 18 first-place votes, followed by VMI with 217 points and six first-place votes. Samford, ETSU and Furman tied for third in the poll with 181 points each. ETSU had three first-place votes, Samford had two and Furman had one. Mercer (123 points) was picked sixth, followed by Wofford (108), The Citadel (79) and Western Carolina (32).
 
Welch had a break-out season during the 2021 spring campaign. Welch led the SoCon and ranked second in the nation in total offense (424.2 ypg.), fourth in the nation in passing yards per game (373.7 ypg.) and fifth nationally in total passing yards (2,242). Welch started six of Samford's seven games in the spring, passing for at least 300 yards in five of those games. He set a Samford and SoCon record with 570 passing yards against VMI. He was named the Co-Offensive Player of the Year at the end of the season, and was named an All-American and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award for the top offensive player in FCS football.
 
Orr started all seven games on the offensive line at right tackle. He was one of the leaders of the unit in the spring. He was named second team All-SoCon by both the coaches and the media at the conclusion of the season.
 
King finished the spring season ranked second in the SoCon in both total receiving yards at 609 and in receiving yards per game at 87.0. He also ranked third in the league in receptions per game at 4.7, and second in the SoCon in all-purpose yards per game at 148.6. King was named first team All-SoCon by both the coaches and the media after the season.
 
Lloyd registered 33 total tackles, including 16 solo stops during the spring season. He also had 2.5 sacks on the season. He was named first team All-SoCon by the coaches and second team by the media.
 
Edmonds had an outstanding season in the spring, earning first team All-America honors by multiple sources. He was also named first team All-SoCon and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in all of FCS football. Edmonds led the SoCon and tied for third in the nation in total interceptions (4), and led the league and ranked 13th nationally in interceptions per game (0.6).
 
Washington returned 18 punts for an average of 11.1 yards per return, and had one return for a 55-yard touchdown at Furman. He also returned two kickoffs for an average of 23.5 yards per return. As a receiver, Washington caught 27 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns. He was named first team All-SoCon as a return specialist and second team as a wide receiver.
 
Vice stared all seven games at tight end in the spring. He caught 24 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown during the season. Toney led the team in receptions with 41 catches for 437 yards and one touchdown. He ranked second in the SoCon in total receptions (41) and receptions per game (5.9). Cheeks finished second on the team with 48 tackles, including 23 solo stops. He also tallied 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
 
Samford will open the 2021 fall season by hosting Tennessee Tech on Thursday, Sept. 2 at Seibert Stadium. Season tickets are on sale at the following link: PURCHASE TICKETS.
 
For the latest news and information on Samford football, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordFootball (Facebook), @SamfordFootball (Instagram) and @SamfordFootball (Twitter). 
 
2021 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
 

Team (1st-place votes)	Total
1. Chattanooga (4)	59
2. Samford (2)	52
3. VMI (2)	50
4. ETSU (1)	49
5. Furman	34
6. Mercer	29
7. The Citadel	22
8. Wofford	21
9. Western Carolina	8

2021 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Liam Welch, QB, Gr., Samford
Defensive Player of the Year: Stone Snyder, LB, Jr., VMI
 
First team offense
QB: Liam Welch, Gr., Samford
RB: Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU
RB: Devin Wynn, 5th, Furman
RB: Ailym Ford, So., Chattanooga
OL: Tre'mond Shorts, R-Jr., ETSU
OL: Gavin Orr, Jr., Samford
OL: Cole Strange, Sr., Chattanooga
OL: Marshall Gill, Sr., VMI
OL: Tyler Smith, R-So., Western Carolina
OL: Zak Kurz, Sr., Wofford
TE: Nate Adkins, Jr., ETSU
WR: Ty King, R-So., Samford
WR: Jakob Herres, Sr., VMI

First team defense
DL: Solomon Zubairu, So., Mercer
DL: Armond Lloyd, R-Sr., Samford
DL: Devonnsha Maxwell, Jr., Chattanooga
DL: Michael Mason, Jr., Wofford
LB: Willie Eubanks III, Sr., The Citadel
LB: Jared Folks, Gr., ETSU
LB: Stone Snyder, Jr., VMI
DB: Tyree Robinson, Sr., ETSU
DB: Chris Edmonds, So., Samford
DB: Brandon Dowdell, Sr., Chattanooga
DB: Ethan Caselberry, Sr., VMI
 
First team specialists
PK: Tyler Keltner, So., ETSU
P: Matthew Campbell, Jr., The Citadel
RS: Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford
 
Second team offense
QB: Seth Morgan, R-So., VMI
RB: Brandon Marshall, Fr., Mercer
RB: Nathan Walker, Sr., Wofford
OL: Haden Haas, R-Sr., The Citadel
OL: Tavon Matthews, So., ETSU
OL: Anderson Tomlin, R-Jr., Furman
OL: McClendon Curtis, Jr., Chattanooga
OL: Harrison Moon, Sr., Chattanooga
OL: Al Hogan, Jr., Wofford
TE: Michael Vice, So., Samford
WR: AJ Toney, So., Samford
WR: Reggie Henderson, Sr., Chattanooga
 
Second team defense
DL: Parker Stokes, 5^th, Furman
DL: Chris Hill, Fr., Mercer
DL: Jay Person, So., Chattanooga
DL: Warren Dabney, Sr., VMI
LB: Anthony Britton Jr., So., The Citadel
LB: Donovan Manuel, R-So., ETSU
LB: Isaac Dowling, Fr., Mercer
LB: Trimarcus Cheeks, So., Samford
DB: Alijah Huzzie, R-Fr., ETSU
DB: Travis Blackshear, R-Jr., Furman
DB: Lance Wise, So., Mercer
DB: Jerrell Lawson, Sr., Chattanooga
 
Second team specialists
PK: Timmy Bleekrode, R-So., Furman
P: Timmy Bleekrode, R-So., Furman
RS: Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU
 
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or team.
 

2021 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll

Team (1st-place votes)	Total
1. Chattanooga (18)	248
2. VMI (6)	217
t3. Samford (2)	181
t3. ETSU (3)	181
t3. Furman (1)	181
6. Mercer	123
7. Wofford	108
8. The Citadel	79
9. Western Carolina	32