By: Andrew Clausen
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
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