Preseason Socon Poll

[stonemd]

Preseason SoCon Coaches Poll:

T1. Furman (5)
T1. Samford (4)
3. Mercer
4. Chattanooga
5. Western Carolina
6. ETSU 
7. Wofford
8. The Citadel
9. VMI

Media:
1. Furman (30)
2. Samford (8)
3. Mercer (2)
4. Chattanooga
5. Western Carolina
6. ETSU
7. The Citadel
8. Wofford
9. VMI

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2023 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Total
T1. Furman (5) 59
T1. Samford (4) 59
3. Mercer 49
4. Chattanooga 47
5. Western Carolina 35
6. ETSU 29
7. Wofford 22
8. The Citadel 14
9. VMI 10


2023 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Michael Hiers, Sr., QB, Samford
Defensive Player of the Year: Jay Person, Sr., DL, Chattanooga

First team offense
QB Michael Hiers, Sr., Samford
RB Dominic Roberto, R-Sr., Furman
RB Ailym Ford, Sr., Chattanooga
OL Jacob Johanning, R-Sr., Furman
OL Pearson Toomey, R-Sr., Furman
OL John Thomas, Sr., Mercer
OL Jabari Brooks, Jr., Samford
OL Reid Williams, Jr., Chattanooga
OL Tyler Smith, R-Sr., Western Carolina
TE Ajay Belanger, Sr., Western Carolina
WR Devron Harper, Sr., Mercer
WR Ty James, R-Jr., Mercer
WR Chandler Smith, Sr., Samford

First team defense
DL Solomon Zubairu, Sr., Mercer
DL Joseph Mera, Sr., Samford
DL Ben Brewton, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Jay Person, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Micah Nelson, Jr., Western Carolina
LB Braden Gilby, Gr., Furman
LB Isaac Dowling, Jr., Mercer
LB Noah Martin, Jr., Samford
DB Travis Blackshear, Gr., Furman
DB Hugh Ryan, R-Sr., Furman
DB Kourtlan Marsh, Jr., Samford
DB Kameron Brown, Sr., Chattanooga
DB Alex Oliver, Sr., VMI
DB Andreas Keaton, Jr., Western Carolina

First team specialists
PK Richard McCollum, R-Sr., Western Carolina
P Jack Culbreath, Sr., VMI
LS Julian Ashby, R-Jr., Furman
RS Devron Harper, Sr., Mercer

Second team offense
QB Tyler Huff, Gr., Furman
RB Jay Stanton, Sr., Samford
RB Desmond Reid, So., Western Carolina
OL Israel Mukwiza, R-Jr., Mercer
OL Bryce Goodner, R-So., Chattanooga
OL Tyriq Poindexter, R-So., VMI
OL Christian Coulter, Sr., Western Carolina
OL Jason Swann, Sr., Wofford
TE Noah West, R-Jr., ETSU
WR Will Huzzie, R-Sr., ETSU
WR Joshua Harris, Jr., Furman

Second team defense
DL Max Evans, R-Jr., ETSU
DL Jack Barton, R-Sr., Furman
DL Sirod Cook, Gr., Furman
DL Matt Sochovka, Gr., Furman
DL Savio Frazier, Jr., Mercer
DL Marlon Taylor, R-Jr., Chattanooga
DL Chuck Smith, Sr., Wofford
LB Ken Standley, R-Jr., Mercer
LB Evan Eller, Sr., VMI
LB Antoine Williams, R-Jr., Western Carolina
DB Sheldon Arnold II, Jr., ETSU
DB Kam Brinson, R-Sr., Furman
DB Richie Coffey, Sr., Mercer
DB Myles Redding, Jr., Mercer
DB Lance Wise, Sr., Mercer
DB Reuben Lowery III, Jr., Chattanooga

Second team specialists
PK Ian Williams, R-Jr., Furman
P Trace Kelley, R-So., ETSU
LS Ryan Phillips, So., ETSU
RS Wayne Anderson Jr., R-Sr., Furman

NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or team.


2023 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Total
1. Furman (30) 345
2. Samford (8) 316
3. Mercer (2) 263
4. Chattanooga 250
5. Western Carolina 218
6. ETSU 143
7. The Citadel 103
8. Wofford 102
9. VMI 60

[stonemd]

24% of the all conference slots go to Paladins


2023 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Total
T1. Furman (5) 59
T1. Samford (4) 59
3. Mercer 49
4. Chattanooga 47
5. Western Carolina 35
6. ETSU 29
7. Wofford 22
8. The Citadel 14
9. VMI 10


2023 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Michael Hiers, Sr., QB, Samford
Defensive Player of the Year: Jay Person, Sr., DL, Chattanooga

First team offense
QB Michael Hiers, Sr., Samford
RB Dominic Roberto, R-Sr., Furman
RB Ailym Ford, Sr., Chattanooga
OL Jacob Johanning, R-Sr., Furman
OL Pearson Toomey, R-Sr., Furman
OL John Thomas, Sr., Mercer
OL Jabari Brooks, Jr., Samford
OL Reid Williams, Jr., Chattanooga
OL Tyler Smith, R-Sr., Western Carolina
TE Ajay Belanger, Sr., Western Carolina
WR Devron Harper, Sr., Mercer
WR Ty James, R-Jr., Mercer
WR Chandler Smith, Sr., Samford

First team defense
DL Solomon Zubairu, Sr., Mercer
DL Joseph Mera, Sr., Samford
DL Ben Brewton, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Jay Person, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Micah Nelson, Jr., Western Carolina
LB Braden Gilby, Gr., Furman
LB Isaac Dowling, Jr., Mercer
LB Noah Martin, Jr., Samford
DB Travis Blackshear, Gr., Furman
DB Hugh Ryan, R-Sr., Furman
DB Kourtlan Marsh, Jr., Samford
DB Kameron Brown, Sr., Chattanooga
DB Alex Oliver, Sr., VMI
DB Andreas Keaton, Jr., Western Carolina

First team specialists
PK Richard McCollum, R-Sr., Western Carolina
P Jack Culbreath, Sr., VMI
LS Julian Ashby, R-Jr., Furman
RS Devron Harper, Sr., Mercer

Second team offense
QB Tyler Huff, Gr., Furman
RB Jay Stanton, Sr., Samford
RB Desmond Reid, So., Western Carolina
OL Israel Mukwiza, R-Jr., Mercer
OL Bryce Goodner, R-So., Chattanooga
OL Tyriq Poindexter, R-So., VMI
OL Christian Coulter, Sr., Western Carolina
OL Jason Swann, Sr., Wofford
TE Noah West, R-Jr., ETSU
WR Will Huzzie, R-Sr., ETSU
WR Joshua Harris, Jr., Furman

Second team defense
DL Max Evans, R-Jr., ETSU
DL Jack Barton, R-Sr., Furman
DL Sirod Cook, Gr., Furman
DL Matt Sochovka, Gr., Furman
DL Savio Frazier, Jr., Mercer
DL Marlon Taylor, R-Jr., Chattanooga
DL Chuck Smith, Sr., Wofford
LB Ken Standley, R-Jr., Mercer
LB Evan Eller, Sr., VMI
LB Antoine Williams, R-Jr., Western Carolina
DB Sheldon Arnold II, Jr., ETSU
DB Kam Brinson, R-Sr., Furman
DB Richie Coffey, Sr., Mercer
DB Myles Redding, Jr., Mercer
DB Lance Wise, Sr., Mercer
DB Reuben Lowery III, Jr., Chattanooga

Second team specialists
PK Ian Williams, R-Jr., Furman
P Trace Kelley, R-So., ETSU
LS Ryan Phillips, So., ETSU
RS Wayne Anderson Jr., R-Sr., Furman

NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or team.


2023 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Total
1. Furman (30) 345
2. Samford (8) 316
3. Mercer (2) 263
4. Chattanooga 250
5. Western Carolina 218
6. ETSU 143
7. The Citadel 103
8. Wofford 102
9. VMI 60
[/quote]

[The Jackal]

So, if I understand this coaches other than Clay Hendrix voted Sirod Cook onto the pre-season all conference team and he's never even played a snap of SoCon football.

I thought Cook would be a good rotational piece for the defense. It would seem that other SoCon coaches think he's one of the top defensive linemen in the league already.

[purplehorse123]

Sure seems like most of our All-Conference folks are playing their last year which makes it seem like this is the year. If nothing else, losing Tyler Huff will be huge.

I remember within the last 5 years or so there was a season where expectations were so high and we were terrible.

Hoping for the best!

[MNORM]

Sure seems like most of our All-Conference folks are playing their last year which makes it seem like this is the year. If nothing else, losing Tyler Huff will be huge.

I remember within the last 5 years or so there was a season where expectations were so high and we were terrible.

Hoping for the best!

I quick dive into our incoming QB recruiting makes me feel a lot more secure about our future at that position.

[MidlandsPaladin]

Preseason SoCon Coaches Poll:

T1. Furman (5)
T1. Samford (4)
3. Mercer
4. Chattanooga
5. Western Carolina
6. ETSU 
7. Wofford
8. The Citadel
9. VMI

Media:
1. Furman (30)
2. Samford (8)
3. Mercer (2)
4. Chattanooga
5. Western Carolina
6. ETSU
7. The Citadel
8. Wofford
9. VMI

Correct me if I am wrong, but with 5 first place votes compared to Samford’s 4 and a tie for the top spot means one of the coaches picked us third.

[The Jackal]

Sure seems like most of our All-Conference folks are playing their last year which makes it seem like this is the year. If nothing else, losing Tyler Huff will be huge.

I remember within the last 5 years or so there was a season where expectations were so high and we were terrible.

Hoping for the best!

No question, we've got some veteran players in their last year.

Look down the roster, though. The depth is there. You'll start seeing next year's stars materialize some this season.

[FUBeAR]

So, if I understand this coaches other than Clay Hendrix voted Sirod Cook onto the pre-season all conference team and he's never even played a snap of SoCon football.

I thought Cook would be a good rotational piece for the defense. It would seem that other SoCon coaches think he's one of the top defensive linemen in the league already.

That IS interesting.

Checked his Twitter - didn’t mention offers other than the FU offer.

Checked SAC (Wingate’s Conference) website - he was selected 2nd Team All Conference (Piedmont Division) DL in 2022. Didn’t see any additional honors.

Somehow, with the prior history of naming a Long Snapper (just a Long Snapping Specialist - not a dual role Player) as an All SoCon Offensive Lineman, FUBeAR believes Mr. Cook’s selection to this All SoCon Team says more about the selection process than it does about his ability or the ability of other SoCon Defensive Linemen.

No offense or ill will intended to Mr. Cook. FUBeAR hopes he finishes as the FCS Buchanan Award Runner-Up to Jack Barton (FUBeAR has a historical bias there). Just don’t like seeing these kind of anomalies in the process. It means a lot to these kids and some returning Starter from some SoCon Team should have had that ‘slot’ until Mr. Cook earns it.

BTW - FUBeAR also railed against the Jackson State WR/DB, Travis Hunter, who was named an FCS All-American before he played a down of College Football. He even received some post-season accolades, before following Coach Prime to Boulder…but check his stats - he sure didn’t earn those either.

Despite living a life of internet literary crime, FUBeAR does have some modicum of integrity.

[The Jackal]

Interesting too that the Furman had three defensive linemen chosen but not the team leader in sacks from a year ago (Xavier Stephens).

['Din Djarin]

This season for Furman reminds me of that old adage, "Pressure is a privilege." There's going to be a lot of pressure on this 2023 squad to succeed, but looking up and down the lineup, you see guys who are heavy on experience and measurable success. I have no idea how far or how many wins it will account for, but I really believe this team is going to use the pressure on them as jet fuel. Very excited for this season.

[FUBeAR]

This season for Furman reminds me of that old adage, "Pressure is a privilege." There's going to be a lot of pressure on this 2023 squad to succeed, but looking up and down the lineup, you see guys who are heavy on experience and measurable success. I have no idea how far or how many wins it will account for, but I really believe this team is going to use the pressure on them as jet fuel. Very excited for this season.

Like that … “pressure is a privilege.”

FUBeAR has a little different take on it though…and maybe this is old-timey / ‘shut-up boomer’ thinking … but …

The ‘80, ‘81, ‘82 and ‘83 FU Football Teams just felt entitled (in a good way) to be SoCon Champions. The idea that we were not going to win the SoCon Championship, to those Teams, in those years, just seemed ludicrous. In our minds, it was a foregone conclusion and the idea of not winning it was just unimaginable. Honestly.

FUBeAR thinks peeps today might call this something like “positive manifestation.” We definitely had ‘group positive manifestation’ and when you have that, there really is no pressure because you already know the outcome.

Coach Hendrix attained his FU DNA in that kind of mindset environment. FUBeAR would speculate he’s been able to impart that to this group of FU Players and they really don’t feel any pressure. They already know.

[The Jackal]

I think it has taken a while, but I saw some of that swagger back last season. Instead of hoping to win, we are expecting to win again.

It didn't come easy last year. We played some tough games. As the season went on, you started to see the team play with more energy. They played with the sort of mentality that even in the tough games, we were going to keep coming at you. When the offense struggled, the defense was hitting. When the defense struggled, the offense was hitting.

[AllTimeFU]

I completely agree. You could see the energy building. There were probably a few factors in that, but Huff and Roper getting familiar with each other was critical. I'm pretty sure they know they are going to be good, but they see all the accolades as "rat poisoning." The only game that matters rights now is the next game. TN Tech.