Ohio Valley Conference

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Jacksonville State senior running back DaMarcus James was named the 2014 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Tennessee State senior defensive end Anthony Bass was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in a vote of by the league’s head football coaches and sports information directors.
 
Eastern Illinois and Jacksonville State each had eight Preseason All-OVC selections to lead all teams. Tennessee State had six picks, Tennessee Tech and UT Martin had two apiece while Eastern Kentucky and Southeast Missouri each had one. Returning players who were first-team All-OVC selections last season (10 in total) were automatic selections to the preseason team this year. The squad also included nine players who were second-team picks in 2013. Of the 28 total selections, 20 were seniors, six were juniors and two were sophomores.
 
The offensive unit was led by James who earned All-American honors last season after rushing for a JSU record 1,477 yards and scoring an OVC record 29 rushing touchdowns in leading the Gamecocks to the FCS Quarterfinals. He is joined at the running back position by Eastern Illinois junior Shepard Little who rushed for 1,548 yards and 15 touchdowns in helping his team to the OVC title and FCS Quarterfinals. Both James and Shepard are on the Preseason Walter Payton Award Watch List released by the Sports Network in early July. Two quarterbacks are on the squad in Tennessee State senior Michael German (84-of-140, 1168 yards, 13 TDs) and Jacksonville State sophomore Eli Jenkins (74-of-124, 887 yards, 3 passing TDs; 953 rushing yards, 8 rushing TDs). The wide receiver picks were Eastern Illinois senior Adam Drake (85 catches, 1305 yards, 13 TDs), Southeast Missouri junior Paul McRoberts (44 catches, 646 yards, 9 TDs) and Jacksonville State sophomore Josh Barge (58 catches, 885 yards, 2 TDs) while the tight end selection was EIU senior Jeff LePak (51 catches, 723 yards, 8 TDs). The offensive line included Jacksonville State senior Max Holcombe, Eastern Illinois senior Collin Seibert, Jacksonville State senior Blake Burks, Tennessee State senior Robert Myers and UT Martin senior Charles Sweeton.
 
Bass was named OVC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 after registering 34 tackles, 14.5 tackles-for-loss, 10.0 sacks, four pass breakups, six quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a blocked kick and a safety in leading the Tigers into the second round of the FCS Playoffs. It marks the second-straight year a TSU player has been named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year (Stephen Godbolt III earned the honor in 2013). Bass is joined on the defensive line by Eastern Illinois junior Dino Fanti (45 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks, 3 FR), Jacksonville State senior Caleb Lawrence (46 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 2 QBH) and JSU junior Chris Landrum (38 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 4 QBH). The linebacker selections included Tennessee State senior Nick Thrasher (110 tackles, 12.0 TFL, 3 FF, 3 FR), UT Martin senior Tony Bell (80 tackles, 15.0 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 8 QBH, 3 FF, 3 FR), Eastern Illinois senior Robert Haynes (79 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 2 FF) and Tennessee Tech senior Tra’Darius Goff (101 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR). The defensive back choices were TSU seniors Daniel Fitzpatrick (75 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 8 INTs, 8 PBU) and De’Ante Saunders (39 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 4 INTs, 9 PBU), Eastern Illinois senior Jourdan Wickliffe (91 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 3 INTs, 8 PBU, 4 FF) and Tennessee Tech senior Marty Jones (98 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 2 INTs, 1 FF, 2 FR).
 
Specialists selected to the preseason team included Eastern Kentucky senior kicker Andrew Lloyd (8-of-10 FGs, 19-of-19 PATs), Jacksonville State junior Hamish MacInnes (42.9 yards per punt, Long of 86, 18 of 50-plus yards) and EIU’s Little, who was selected as a return specialist (20.0 yards/kick return, 23.5 yards/punt return, 2 TDs) in addition to being a selection at running back.
 
 
2014 Preseason All-OVC Football Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: DaMarcus James (RB), Jacksonville State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Bass (DL), Tennessee State

OFFENSE
QB - Michael German, Tennessee State
QB - Eli Jenkins, Jacksonville State                     
RB - DaMarcus James, Jacksonville State
RB - Shepard Little, Eastern Illinois
WR - Adam Drake, Eastern Illinois
WR - Josh Barge, Jacksonville State
WR - Paul McRoberts, Southeast Missouri            
TE - Jeff LePak, Eastern Illinois
C - Max Holcombe, Jacksonville State
OG - Collin Seibert, Eastern Illinois
OG - Blake Burks, Jacksonville State
OT - Charles Sweeton, UT Martin
OT - Robert Myers, Tennessee State
 
DEFENSE
DL - Anthony Bass, Tennessee State
DL - Dino Fanti, Eastern Illinois                                           
DL - Caleb Lawrence, Jacksonville State
DL - Chris Landrum, Jacksonville State                                
LB - Nick Thrasher, Tennessee State                                                   
LB - Tony Bell, UT Martin                                                    
LB - Robert Haynes, Eastern Illinois
LB - Tra’Darius Goff, Tennessee Tech
DB - Daniel Fitzpatrick, Tennessee State
DB - Jourdan Wickliffe, Eastern Illinois                                
DB - Marty Jones, Tennessee Tech                                                    
DB - De’Ante Saunders, Tennessee State             
 
SPECIALISTS
K - Andrew Lloyd, Eastern Kentucky                                    
P - Hamish MacInnes, Jacksonville State                             
RS - Shepard Little, Eastern Illinois