SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford senior running back Eric Breitenstein has been named the Southern Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Georgia Southern senior defensive lineman Brent Russell has been named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in voting conducted by the league’s head coaches. Breitenstein and Russell were named Players of the Year following the 2011 season and also garnered the same preseason honors one year ago.
The league’s head coaches also selected an all-conference first and second team in conjunction with the league’s media day on Thursday (July 26). Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes as part of the balloting.
Appalachian State led all schools with 10 all-conference honorees. The Mountaineers had three student-athletes earn first-team recognition, while seven players were named to the second team. Samford and Chattanooga each had eight players earn preseason all-conference honors.
Furman led all SoCon programs with five players selected to the first team, while seven schools placed at least three student-athletes on the first team.
A 2012 Preseason Buck Buchanan Watch List honoree, Russell was named the league’s top defender last fall. As a junior he finished the season with 67 tackles, including 16 for loss. A disruptive force on the defensive line, Russell tallied 6.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries, two PBUs and a blocked kick in 2011.
Breitenstein led the SoCon and ranked 10th nationally with 122.8 rushing yards per game, marking the second consecutive year he led the league in rushing. He finished the 2011 season with 1,474 yards, 19 touchdowns and rushed for at least 100 yards in 10 games, including a season-high 217 yards against Elon. Breitenstein enters 2012 needing just 368 yards to break into the top 10 of the league’s all-time rushing list.
The 2012 Southern Conference football season begins Thursday, August 30 when Western Carolina hosts Mars Hill. The league’s eight other teams hit the field Saturday, September 1, including a conference game between Furman and Samford.
2012 Southern Conference Football
Preseason All-Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Eric Breitenstein, Sr., RB, Wofford
Defensive Player of the Year: Brent Russell, Sr., DL, Georgia Southern
First Team Offense
QB Jamal Jackson, Jr., Appalachian State
RB Jerodis Williams, Sr., Furman
RB Eric Breitenstein, Sr., Wofford
OL Mike Sellers, Jr., The Citadel
OL Dakota Dozier, Jr., Furman
OL Dorian Byrd, Jr., Georgia Southern
OL Ryan Dudchock, Sr., Samford
OL Jake Miles, Sr. Wofford
TE Colin Anderson, Sr., Furman
WR Aaron Mellette, Sr., Elon
WR Kelsey Pope, Jr., Samford
First Team Defense
DL Chris Billingslea, Sr., The Citadel
DL Josh Lynn, Sr., Furman
DL Brent Russell, Sr., Georgia Southern
DL Josh Williams, Sr., Chattanooga
LB Jeremy Kimbrough, Sr., Appalachian State
LB Wes Dothard, Jr., Chattanooga
LB Alvin Scioneaux, Jr., Wofford
DB Demetrius McCray, Sr., Appalachian State
DB Greg Worthy, Jr., Furman
DB Deion Stanley, So., Georgia Southern
DB D.J. Key, Jr., Chattanooga
First Team Specialists
PK Cameron Yaw, Sr., Samford
P Cass Couey, Sr., The Citadel
RS Fabian Truss, Jr., Samford
Second Team Offense
QB Thomas Wilson, Sr., Elon
RB Darien Robinson, Jr., The Citadel
RB Fabien Truss, Jr., Samford
OL Kendall Lamm, So., Appalachian State
OL Blake DeBartola, Sr., Georgia Southern
OL Charlie Sanford, Sr., Samford
OL Adam Miller, Sr., Chattanooga
OL Jared Singleton, Jr., Wofford
OL (tie) Calvin Cantrell, Sr., Wofford
TE Faysal Shafaat, So., Chattanooga
WR Andrew Peacock, Jr., Appalachian State
WR Tony Washington, Jr., Appalachian State
Second Team Defense
DL Ronald Blair, So., Appalachian State
DL Derek Douglas, Jr., The Citadel
DL Tony Thompson, Jr., Elon
DL Nick Williams, Sr., Samford
DL (tie) Davis Tull, So., Chattanooga
LB Brandon Grier, Sr., Appalachian State
LB Mitch McGrath, Sr., Furman
LB Darius Eubanks, Sr., Georgia Southern
LB (tie) Rock Williams, Sr., Western Carolina
DB Troy Sanders, Sr., Appalachian State
DB Alvin Hines II, Sr., Samford
DB Kadeem Wise, Jr., Chattanooga
DB Nathan Wade, Sr., Furman
Second Team Specialists
PK Nick Pollard, So., Chattanooga
P Sam Martin, Sr., Appalachian State
RS Darreion Robinson, Sr., Georgia Southern
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
