Birmingham, Ala. – Samford graduate linebacker Noah Martin was named a first team Preseason All-American by Phil Steele when the publication announced preseason honors on Friday morning.
 
This is the Chattanooga, Tenn., native's third All-American preseason honor. Martin was also named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List while landing on the Southern Conference's preseason first team.
 
Martin, a consensus first team All-SoCon defender in 2023, led the SoCon with 109 and became the first Bulldog defender to eclipse 100 tackles since John Staton had 115 in 2019. Martin's 109 tackles were good enough to rank him 13th nationally. 
 
To close out the 2023 campaign, Martin tallied 19 tackles in a losing effort at Mercer. The 19 tackles were the most by any SoCon defender during the 2023 season and the most by a Bulldog since 2019. On senior day, Martin recorded 11 more tackles in the upset victory over UT Martin to reach triple-digit stops for the season.
 
Samford opens the season on the road at West Georgia (Aug. 31) and at Florida (Sept. 7) before welcoming Alabama State to town on Saturday, Sept. 14 for the Home Opener.
 
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