By: Michael Goss
2022 Football Schedule | Learn More About Season Tickets | Buy Now
ATLANTA, Ga. – Kennesaw State placed four on the Preseason All-ASUN Conference squad while the Owls were picked to finish first in the ASUN Preseason Football Coaches Poll, the conference announced on Friday. Quarterback
Xavier Shepherd and the offensive line trio of
Zion Katina,
Matt Olson and
Terrell Paxton each received recognition on the conference's preseason team.
Shepherd was named the ASUN Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the conference's inaugural full-schedule season. The award marked the third time in KSU's eight-year history that an Owl has taken home the top offensive individual preseason honor.
Shepherd took over as a starter in week two of the 2021 season. The KSU signal-caller went on to lead the FCS in rushing touchdowns (23) and set a new school record for passing touchdowns in both a single season (15) and a single game (4).
During his sophomore campaign, Shepherd was named a
STATS Perform FCS First Team All-American, HERO Sports First Team All-American and Associated Press Third Team All-American. He also took home the Big South Offensive Player of the Year Award and was selected to the All-Big South Conference First Team.
Katina, Olson and Paxton were key pieces to an offensive line that helped pave the way for the nation's number two rushing attack last season. In the fall of 2021, Katina and Paxton were honored on the All-Big South Conference Second Team. As for Olson, the graduate student totaled 700 snaps at multiple positions along the offensive line. The award marks the first preseason accolade for each of the three linemen.
KSU was picked to finish first in the ASUN Preseason Football Coaches Poll and received four of the six first-place votes. This marked the fifth time in the team's eight-year history that the Owls were selected as the preseason favorite and first since the team was picked to win four consecutive times from 2017-2020.
Fans can watch the Owls six times this season inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Season tickets are still on sale and feature several price decreases to highlight the most affordable purchasing options in KSU football history. New benefits include the first football concessions discount and the option to purchase a season-long parking pass. Click
here to purchase today!
2022 ASUN Conference Football Preseason Honors & Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Matthew Jackson, Eastern Kentucky
ASUN Preseason Football All-Conference Team
Offense
QB
Xavier Shepherd Kennesaw State Jr. Nashville, Tenn.
RB Darius Hale Central Arkansas So. Pearland, Texas
RB Parker Driggers North Alabama So. Brantley, Ala.
WR Drae McCray Austin Peay So. Tallahassee, Fla.
WR Takairee Kenebrew North Alabama Jr. Childersburg, Ala.
WR Cortez Hall North Alabama Gr. Hoover, Ala.
TE Corson Swan North Alabama Gr. Spanish Fort, Ala.
OL Payton Collins Eastern Kentucky So. Columbus, Ohio
OL
Zion Katina Kennesaw State Sr. Franklin, Tenn.
OL Jaylin Hendrix Central Arkansas Sr. Everman, Texas
OL
Terrell Paxton Kennesaw State Sr. Stone Mountain, Ga.
C Howard Watkins Jr. Eastern Kentucky Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio
C
Matt Olson Kennesaw State Gr. Cumming, Ga.
Defense
DL *Logan Jessup Central Arkansas Jr. Wynne , Ark.
DL Kelton Dawson Eastern Kentucky Sr. Stockbridge, Ga.
DL Chuck Manning Austin Peay Gr. Durham, N.C.
DL Jaylen Swain Jacksonville State So. Oxford, Ala.
DL Micah Bland North Alabama Jr. Louisville, Ky.
LB *Matthew Jackson Eastern Kentucky Sr. Nashville, Tenn.
LB Stevonte Tullis Jacksonville State Sr. Dothan, Ala.
LB Markail Benton Jacksonville State Sr. Phenix City, Ala.
LB Eli Hairston Eastern Kentucky Jr. Columbus, Ohio
DB Tamuarion Wilson Central Arkansas So. Bryant, Ark.
DB Joseph Sayles Eastern Kentucky Sr. Alpharetta, Ga.
DB Kyree Fields North Alabama Sr. Columbus, Miss.
DB Shamari Simmons Austin Peay Jr. Ashland, Ala.
Special Teams
K Maddux Trujillo Austin Peay So. Flowery Branch, Ga.
P Jack Dawson Jacksonville State So. Sylvania Waters, Australia
RS Kobe Warden North Alabama So. Killen, Ala.
- A tie in voting resulted in a 29-man Preseason All-Conference Team
* - Unanimous Selection to Preseason All-Conference Team
Preseason Football ASUN Coaches Poll
Pl. Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Kennesaw State (4) 34
T2. Eastern Kentucky 25
T2. Central Arkansas (1) 25
3. Jacksonville State 19
5. Austin Peay (1) 15
6. North Alabama 8
For more information on Kennesaw State athletics, follow @KennesawStFB on Twitter or like Kennesaw State Football on Facebook and Instagram.
