Photo by: Southern ConferenceSPARTANBURG, S.C. - Wofford fullback Eric Breitenstein has been named the Southern Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in voting conducted by the league's head coaches. Defensive linemen Ameet Pall (Wofford) and Brent Russell (Georgia Southern) were tabbed Preseason Co-Defensive Players of the Year.
Breitenstein led the league and ranked fifth in the nation with 1,639 rushing yards last season. The junior scored 22 touchdowns a season ago and ranked fourth nationally with 10.15 points per game. The Terriers boasted the top rushing attack in all of FCS last season with 297.7 yards per game on the ground.
Russell posted 71 tackles for Georgia Southern in 2010. A first-team Associated Press All-American last season, Russell helped anchor one of the top defenses in FCS last year as the Eagles ranked among the nation's leaders in total defense (ninth), pass defense (11th) and scoring defense (11th).
Pall was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. The Montreal, Quebec native recorded 60 tackles on the defensive line for the Terriers. He ranked eighth nationally in both sacks (12.5) and tackles for loss (22.5). Pall forced two fumbles and recorded two others in 2010 as Wofford ranked seventh nationally in total defense.
Georgia Southern led all schools with 14 selections, including eight on the first team. Appalachian State placed five on the first team and six on the second team.
Chattanooga and Furman each had seven student-athletes honored, while Wofford placed three on both the first and second team.
The 2011 Southern Conference football season begins Thursday, September 1 when Western Carolina visits Georgia Tech. The league's eight other teams hit the field Saturday, September 3, including a conference game between Georgia Southern and Samford.
2011 Southern Conference Football
Preseason All-Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Eric Breitenstein, Jr., FB, Wofford
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Ameet Pall, Sr., DL, Wofford & Brent Russell, Jr., DL, Georgia Southern
First Team Offense
QB DeAndre Presley, Sr., Appalachian State
RB Robert Brown, So, Georgia Southern
RB Eric Breitenstein, Jr., Wofford
OL Orry Frye, Sr., Appalachian State
OL Rodney Austin, Sr., Elon
OL Ryan Lee, Sr., Furman
OL Brett Moore, Sr., Georgia Southern
OL Nate Page, Sr., Wofford
TE Ben Jorden, Sr., Appalachian State
WR Aaron Mellette, Jr., Elon
WR Joel Bradford, Sr., Chattanooga
First Team Defense
DL John Rizor, Jr., Appalachian State
DL Brent Russell, Jr., Georgia Southern
DL Alex Davis, Sr., Samford
DL Ameet Pall, Sr., Wofford
LB Kadarron Anderson, Sr., Furman
LB Josh Rowe, Jr., Georgia Southern
LB Ryan Consiglio, Sr., Chattanooga
DB Ed Gainey, Sr., Appalachian State
DB Ryan Steed, Sr., Furman
DB Derek Heyden, Sr., Georgia Southern
DB Laron Scott, Sr., Georgia Southern
First Team Specialists
PK Ray Early, So., Furman
P Charlie Edwards, Sr., Georgia Southern
RS Laron Scott, Sr., Georgia Southern
Second Team Offense
QB B.J. Coleman, Sr., Chattanooga
RB Travaris Cadet, Sr., Appalachian State
RB J.J. Wilcox, Jr., Georgia Southern
OL Matt Ruff, Sr., Appalachian State
OL Dakota Dozier, So., Furman
OL Dorian Byrd, So., Georgia Southern
OL Willie Maxwell, Sr., Georgia Southern
OL Adam Miller, Jr., Chattanooga
TE (tie) Colin Anderson, Jr., Furman
TE (tie) Tyler Sumner, Jr., Georgia Southern
WR Brian Quick, Sr., Appalachian State
WR Brenton Bersin, Sr., Wofford
Second Team Defense
DL Josh Lynn, Jr., Furman
DL Roderick Tinsley, Sr., Georgia Southern
DL Nick Davison, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Eric Eberhardt, Sr., Wofford
LB Brandon Grier, Jr., Appalachian State
LB Tolu Akindele, Sr., The Citadel
LB Joshua Jones, Sr., Elon
DB Corey White, Sr., Samford
DB Chris Lewis-Harris, Sr., Chattanooga
DB Kadeem Wise, So., Chattanooga
DB Blake Wylie, Jr., Wofford
Second Team Specialists
PK Adrian Mora, Sr., Georgia Southern
P Sam Martin, Jr., Appalachian State
RS Travaris Cadet, Sr., Appalachian State
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes.
