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Athlon Sports preseason magazine is now on newsstands, dishing out preseason All-American and Top 25 predictions across the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Jacksonville State senior defensive back T.J. Heath and Austin Peay senior kick returner/running back Terrence Holt were the two OVC selections to the one-team, 26-man preseason All-American squad.
Heath, an All-American pick by three outlets last season (Associated Press, College Sporting News and Sports Network) led the OVC in passes defended and led the Gamecocks with six interceptions, including returning two for touchdowns against UT Martin early in the season. The junior also led the team with 10 pass break-ups and also forced a fumble and blocked a kick. He recorded 34 total tackles on the season, including 20 solo stops.
A season ago Holt led the FCS in all-purpose yards per game (215.7), helped by his third straight season of at least 1,000 yards on kickoff returns. He was named first-team All-America all-purpose back by the College Sporting News and was named second second-team all-purpose back by The Sports Network. As a junior, he averaged for 25.4 yards on 47 kickoff returns, including a career-best 99-yard kickoff return for a score, and 12.4 yards on 16 punt returns, including a 71-yard return that proved to be the winning score against Tennessee State. As a running back last season, Holt rushed for 793 yards (5.4 yards per carry) with a league-best 16 touchdowns.
Athlon also released a preseason Top 25, tabbing Jacksonville State as the No. 19 team in the nation and Eastern Illinois as the No. 20 team among FCS squads.
The OVC will announce its official predicted order of finish preseason poll and Preseason All-OVC teams on Monday, July 26 as part of its annual Media Day festivities.