Courtesy: Louis Bonnette McNeese State head coach Matt Viator is on the big screen during the SLC football media day on Wednesday.

 

            McNeese State, winners of three of the last four Southland Conference football titles, has placed a high of 14 players on the league's 2010 pre-season all-league team.

            Also, the Cowboys have been picked for a second place finish in the conference by league coaches.

            All was announced Wednesday during the SLC's annual media day at L'Auberge du Lac in Lake Charles.

            Returning 2009 first team all-conference players Desmund Lighten (defensive tackle), Darrell Jenkins (defensive back) and Malcolm Bronson (defensive back) head up the Cowboy selections.

            Bronson was also named the league's freshman of the year last season.

            Joining those three on the all-SLC pre-season first team on defense was defensive back Seth Thomas while named to the first team on offense were tailback Champlain Babin, tackle Miguel Gauthreaux and guard Jonathan Landry.

            Cowboys selected to the second team offense were wide receiver Chris Royal, tight end Corday Clark and tackle Taylor Johnson  and named to the defensive team were ends Terrance Freeman and Josh Ellison, linebacker Geremy Pilate and defensive back Ford Smesny.

            Stephen F. Austin was next in selections with 12 while Central Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana had seven each, Texas State had five, Northwestern State four and Nicholls three.

            In the pre-season poll, Stephen F. Austin received seven first place votes while McNeese got the other first place vote. 

            Southeastern Louisiana and Texas State were picked to tie for third in the coaches' poll with Central Arkansas fifth, Northwestern State sixth, Sam Houston State seventh and Nicholls eighth.

            Players begin reporting in to Southland Conference schools next week.  McNeese State will open its season by hosting Lamar on Sept. 4.

            A year ago the Cowboys and the Lumberjacks shared the league title with 6-1 conference marks.  McNeese also won the crown in 2007 and 2006 under head coach Matt Viator.

 

            2010 Preseason All-Southland Conference Football Teams

First Team Offense

Pos. - Name - University - Ht. - Wt. - Cl. - Hometown

QB - Jeremy Moses - Stephen F. Austin - 6-0 - 200 - Sr. - Baytown, Texas

RB - Champlain Babin - McNeese State - 5-10 - 195 - So. - Donaldsonville, La.

RB - Jackie Hinton - Central Arkansas - 5-11 - 200 - So. - Houston, Texas

FB/HB - Rico Moss - Central Arkansas - 6-1 - 236 - Sr. - Hope, Ark.

WR - Da'Marcus Griggs - Texas State - 6-1 - 185 - Sr. - Bay City, Texas

WR - Willie Landers - Central Arkansas - 6-2 - 204 - Sr. - El Dorado, Ark.

TE - Simmie Yarborough - Southeastern La. - 6-1 - 205 - Jr. - Brookhaven, Miss.

OL - D.J. Hall - Texas State - 6-3 - 300 - Jr. - Palestine, Texas

OL - Miguel Gauthreaux - McNeese State -- 6-1 - 291 - Jr. - Plaquemine, La.

OL - Austin Emerson - Central Arkansas -- 6-3 - 292 - Sr. - Sperry, Okla.

OL - Michael Booker - Northwestern State - 6-3 - 314 - Sr. - Paris, Texas

OL - Jonathan Landry - McNeese State - 6-4 - 295 - So. - Lafayette, La.

PK - Eddie Carmona - Central Arkansas - 6-0 - 211 - Sr. - Charleston, Ark.

First Team Defense

Pos. - Name - University - Ht. - Wt. - Cl. - Hometown

DL - Desmund Lighten - McNeese State - 6-0 - 250 - Jr. - Monroe, La.

DL - Markell Carter - Central Arkansas - 6-4 - 248 - Sr. - Bartlesville, Okla.

DL - Kenneth Charles - Stephen F. Austin - 6-3 - 273 - Sr. - Missouri City, Texas

DL - Sean Warren - Stephen F. Austin - 6-0 - 285 - Sr. - Texas City, Texas

LB - Jabara Williams - Stephen F. Austin - 6-3 - 225 - Sr. - Garrison, Texas

LB - Mark Newbill - Southeastern La. - 6-0 - 215 - Sr. - Monroe, La.

DB - Re'Keem Wilson - Southeastern La. - 6-0 - 175 - Sr. - Franklinton, La.

DB - Malcolm Bronson - McNeese State - 5-11 - 188 - So. - Jasper, Texas

DB - Darrell Jenkins - McNeese State - 5-10 - 205 - Jr. - Bon Weir, Texas

DB - Seth Thomas - McNeese State - 5-9 - 177 - So. - Orange, Texas

DB - Tommy Connors - Southeastern La. - 6-1 - 215 - Sr. - Marrero, La.

P - Patrick Dolan - Nicholls - 6-1 - 180 - Sr. - Mobile, Ala.

RS - Gralyn Crawford - Stephen F. Austin - 5-10 - 180 - So. - Palestine, Texas

Second Team Offense

Pos. - Name - University - Ht. - Wt. - Cl. - Hometown

QB - Paul Harris - Northwestern State - 6-1 - 190 - So. - Baton Rouge, La.

RB - Zeke Jones - Southeastern La. - 6-0 - 240 - So. - Springfield, La.

RB - Romonte Hampton - Stephen F. Austin - 6-0 - 200 - So. - Tyler, Texas

FB/HB - Gralyn Crawford - Stephen F. Austin - 5-10 - 180 - So. - Palestine, Texas

WR - Daren Dillard - Texas State - 6-1 -- 180 - Jr. - Garland, Texas

WR - Chris Royal - McNeese State - 6-0 - 220 - Sr. - Beaumont, Texas

TE - Corday Clark - McNeese State - 6-3 - 235 - Sr. - Baton Rouge, La.

OL - Kevin Hughes - Southeastern La. - 6-4 - 290 - Sr. - New Orleans, La.

OL - Taylor Johnson - McNeese State - 6-4 - 285 - Jr. - League City, Texas

OL - George Bias - Stephen F. Austin - 6-3 - 295 - So. - Houston, Texas

OL - Zach Case - Northwestern State - 6-2 - 290 - Jr. - Morgan City, La.

OL - Brandon Ward - Nicholls - 6-3 - 275 - Sr. - Conroe, Texas

PK - Drew Nelson - Stephen F. Austin - 6-1 - 191 - Jr. - Livingston, Texas

Second Team Defense

Pos. - Name - Univeristy - Ht. - Wt. - Cl. - Hometown

DL - Terrance Freeman - McNeese State - 6-4 - 240 - Sr. - Newton, Texas

DL - Devan Walker - Southeastern La. - 6-3 - 245 - So. - Baton Rouge, La.

DL - Adley Eshraghipour - Texas State - 6-3 - 280 - Jr. - Arlington, Texas

DL - Josh Ellison - McNeese State - 6-3 - 240 - Sr. - Houston, Texas

LB - Geremy Pilate - McNeese State - 6-0 - 220 - Sr. - Crowley, La.

LB - Devin Ducote - Stephen F. Austin - 5-10 - 200 - Jr. - Baton Rouge, La.

DB - Bobby Felder - Nicholls - 6-0 - 195 - Jr. - McComb, Miss.

DB - Andre Banks - Stephen F. Austin - 6-3 - 220 - Sr. - Austin, Texas

DB - Ford Smensy - McNeese State - 5-10 - 200 - So. - Dayton, Texas

DB - Henry Minor - Central Arkansas - 5-10 - 180 - Sr. - Baton Rouge, La.

DB - Marcus Clark - Texas State - 5-10 - 205 - Sr. - Fort Worth, Texas

P - Drew Nelson - Stephen F. Austin - 6-1 - 191 - Jr. - Livingston, Texas

RS - Bradley Brown - Northwestern State - 5-10 - 170 - So. - Baton Rouge, La.

 

 

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL

Coaches (First-place votes)

1. Stephen F. Austin (7)          49

2. McNeese State (1)  43

T3. Southeastern Louisiana     29

T3. Texas State           29

5. Central Arkansas     27

6. Northwestern State 20

7. Sam Houston State 18

8. Nicholls State          9