CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Kennesaw State football received 17-of-18 first-place votes to rank first overall in the Big South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced on Tuesday.

Highlighting the league-best 14 student-athletes on the preseason all-conference team, Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Chandler Burks and Big South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Bryson Armstrong swept the league's top individual preseason honors.

In total, six Owls earned first-team offensive all-Big South honors, including running back Darnell Holland and wideout Justin Sumpter. After helping block for the nation's top ground attack last season, three offensive linemen – CJ Collins, Joseph Alexander, Jr., Ryan Warrior – also earned all-conference spots.

Defensively, Kennesaw State's five all-conference selections included defensive linemen Desmond Johnson, Jr. and McKenzie Billingslea, as well as defensive backs Jace White and Dorian Walker. Joining Armstrong on the all-Big South linebacker team is Anthony Gore, Jr.

Place kicker Justin Thompson and long snapper Drew McCracken rounded out the Owls' first-team all-conference honors among the specialists.

New to this year's Big South preseason awards is an all-conference honorable mention list, where Kennesaw State garnered two addition selections. Sophomore Shaquil Terry earned a place at both running back and kick return, while sophomore Nicholas Jones was named the team's punter.

Kennesaw State finished 12-2 in 2017, ranking No. 8 in the final national poll after becoming the first NCAA Division I program to make the FCS quarterfinals in its third year. The Owls' 12 victories set a new NCAA record for an FCS program in just its third season and their 12-straight wins marked the longest hot streak in Big South history. KSU capped the historic season as the country's leading offensive attack and the conference's leading defense.

Season tickets are still available for the 2018 campaign. Fans can purchase season tickets by clicking HERE or calling the KSU Department of Athletics ticket office at 470-578-4849.

2018 Big South Football Preseason All-Conference Teams
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST-TEAM
OFFENSE     
QB    Chandler Burks, Sr., Kennesaw State
RB    Pete Guerriero, R-Soph., Monmouth
RB    Darnell Holland, Sr., Kennesaw State
WR   Reggie White Jr., R-Sr., Monmouth
WR   Justin Sumpter, Sr., Kennesaw State
WR   Kameron Brown, R-Jr., Charleston Southern
TE    Jake Powell, R-Jr., Monmouth
OL    CJ Collins, Sr., Kennesaw State
OL    Ryan Wetzel, R-Sr., Monmouth
OL    Joseph Alexander Jr., Sr., Kennesaw State
OL    Ryan Warrior, Sr., Kennesaw State
OL    Russ Clayton, R-Sr., Monmouth
 
DEFENSE
DL    Solomon Brown, R-Sr., Charleston Southern
DL    Desmond Johnson, Jr., Kennesaw State
DL    Johnny Robinson, Sr., Charleston Southern
DL    McKenzie Billingslea, Sr., Kennesaw State
LB    Bryson Armstrong, Soph., Kennesaw State
LB    Anthony Gore Jr., Sr., Kennesaw State
LB    J.D. Sosebee, R-Jr., Charleston Southern
LB    Jack Ryan, R-Sr., Campbell
DB    Jace White, Sr., Kennesaw State
DB    Tymere Berry, Jr., Monmouth
DB    Shadarius Hopkins, Sr., Charleston Southern
DB    Dorian Walker, Jr., Kennesaw State
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK    Justin Thompson, Sr., Kennesaw State
P      Kyle Reighard, R-Jr., Charleston Southern
KR    Pete Guerriero, R-Soph., Monmouth
PR    Taz Lindsey, Sr., Charleston Southern
LS    Drew McCracken, Sr., Kennesaw State
 
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION
QB    Kenji Bahar, Jr., Monmouth
RB    Shaquil Terry, Soph., Kennesaw State
WR   Aaron Blockmon, R-Sr., Campbell
TE    Riley Hilton, R-Sr., Presbyterian College
OL    Will Millikan, Sr., Gardner-Webb
DL    Josh Ramseur, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb
LB    Diego Zubieta, Sr., Monmouth
DB    Brandon Rowland, R-Sr., Charleston Southern
PK    Tyler Tekac, Sr., Charleston Southern
P      Nicholas Jones, Soph., Kennesaw State
KR    Shaquil Terry, Soph., Kennesaw State
PR    Jaquan Brooks, R-Jr., Campbell
LS    Ethan Ray, R-Soph., Charleston Southern
  
PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Chandler Burks, Sr., QB, Kennesaw State (Douglasville, Ga.)
 
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bryson Armstrong, Soph., LB, Kennesaw State (Marietta, Ga)
 
2018 Preseason Poll (first-place votes)  Points
1.     Kennesaw State (17)                             107
2.    Monmouth (1)                                          82
3.    Charleston Southern                                 75
4.    Gardner-Webb                                         52
5.    Campbell                                                 36
6.    Presbyterian College                                 26
 
For more information on Kennesaw State athletics, follow @KSUOwlNation on Twitter or like Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook and Instagram.
 

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