Hiers, Smith Named Preseason All-Americans by Stats Perform

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford football's offensive dynamic duo of senior quarterback Michael Hiers and graduate student wide receiver Chandler Smith were named preseason All-Americans by Stats Perform when the website released its preseason teams on Tuesday afternoon.

This is Hiers' fourth preseason All-American honor as the Southern Conference Preseason Player of the Year was named to teams by Athlon Sports, Hero Sports and Phil Steele.

Hiers was named the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 after leading the Bulldogs to an 11-2 overall record and a perfect 8-0 mark in SoCon play. The 2022 team won the program's first outright SoCon title and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I-FCS Playoffs for the first time since 1991.

Individually in 2022, Hiers passed for a SoCon-best 3,544 yards and 36 touchdowns to tie Devlin Hodges' single-season school record that he set in 2016. Hiers ranked in the top 10 nationally in completion percentage (76.6%/1st), completions per game (27.15/3rd), passing efficiency (165.2/8th), passing touchdowns (36/4th), passing yards (3,544/6th), points responsible for (2,234/6th) and points responsible per game (18/7th) for the 2022 season.

Smith Ranked in the top 100 nationally in receptions per game (7.7/4th), receiving touchdowns (11/10th), receiving yards (1,071/11th), receiving yards per game (82.4/24th), total touchdowns (11/51st) and All-Purpose yards (87.54/96th). Along with former Bulldog teammate Kendall Watson, Smith and Watson were one of two pairs of teammates in the country to have 1,000+ receiving yards and 10+ touchdowns during the 2022 season.

Samford opens the 2023 season by hosting Shorter on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m. at Seibert Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at SamfordTickets.com

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Players Mentioned

#0 Chandler Smith: WR; 5' 10"; Senior

#84 Kendall Watson: WR; 5' 10"; Graduate Student

#10 Michael Hiers: QB; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#0 Chandler Smith
: 5' 10"; Senior
: WR

#84 Kendall Watson
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student
: WR

#10 Michael Hiers
: 6' 1"; Junior
: QB

Samford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

#0 Chandler Smith

#84 Kendall Watson

#10 Michael Hiers

Players Mentioned

#0 Chandler Smith

#84 Kendall Watson

#10 Michael Hiers