Murray State's Brockman, JSU's Lewis and TSU's Council Named Preseason OVC Football Players of the Year

7/25/2011 2:15:00 PM

Predicted Order of Finish | OVC Media Guide

NASHVILLE - Murray State junior quarterback Casey Brockman was named 2011 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Jacksonville State senior defensive lineman Monte Lewis and Tennessee State senior linebacker Rico Council have been tabbed OVC Preseason Co-Defensive Players of the Year in a vote on by the league's head football coaches and sports information directors. Eastern Kentucky led the way with seven selections on the preseason team while Jacksonville State and Murray State had five players apiece on the squad. Each of the league's nine teams had at least one player on the preseason squad.

Returning players who were first-team All-OVC selections last season (nine in total) were automatic selections to the preseason team this year. The squad also included 10 players who were second-team selections in 2010. Of the 31 total selections, 21 were seniors, seven were juniors and three were sophomores.

The offensive unit is led by Brockman, the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Despite starting just the final six games of last season Brockman ranked fifth nationally in completions (23.67/game), fifth in total offense (303.78 yards/game), seventh in passing yards (271.33/game) and 10th in points responsible for (15.33/game) last season. He also earned a pair of National Player of Week honors during the season. He is joined on the team by Southeast Missouri State senior quarterback Matt Scheible who passed for 1,246 yards and rushed for 884 yards in leading the Redhawks to the OVC Championship last season. Three running backs made the team including Murray State senior Mike Harris (904 yards, 10 TD's), Austin Peay senior Ryan White (769 yards, 5 TD's) and Tennessee State senior Dante' Thomas (793 yards, 6 TD's). The wide receiver selections were Tennessee Tech senior Tim Benford (47 catches, 779 yards, 9 TD's) and Eastern Kentucky junior Orlandus Harris (56 catches, 940 yards, 7 TD's) while UT Martin senior Kenny Jones (16 catches, 248 yards) was the tight end pick. The offensive line included Austin Peay junior center Tim Schmid, Eastern Illinois senior guard Eric Zink, Tennessee State sophomore guard Kadeem Edwards, Tennessee Tech senior guard Scott Schweitzer, Southeast Missouri State junior tackle Evan Conrad and Jacksonville State senior tackle Odie Rush.

Defensively Lewis recorded 37 tackles, 7.0 tackles-for-loss and three sacks on the defensive line for Jacksonville State last year while Council had 79 tackles, 6.0 tackles-for-loss and four sacks at the linebacker position for Tennessee State. Joining Lewis on the defensive line is senior teammate Jamison Wadley (45 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Eastern Kentucky senior Emory Attig (35 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Eastern Illinois junior Artavious Dowdell (51 tackles, 12.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries) and Eastern Kentucky sophomore Anthony Brown (59 tackles, 12.5 tackles-for-loss, 6.5 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries). Joining Council at linebacker is Eastern Kentucky senior Tyson Patrick (43 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, two forced fumbles) and Jacksonville State senior Rodney Garrott (61 tackles, 13.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles). The defensive back position had six selections including Eastern Kentucky seniors Jeremy Caldwell (32 tackles, 3 interceptions, one touchdown, four pass breakups) and Patrick McClellan (68 tackles, 1 interception, 5 pass breakups), Jacksonville State junior Keginald Harris (49 tackles, 5 interceptions, 5 pass breakups), Southeast Missouri junior Tylor Brock (56 tackles, 6 interceptions, 3 pass breakups), Murray State senior Dontrell Johnson (67 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown, 8 pass breakups) and UT Martin senior Kendal Harper (42 tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, 3 interceptions, 6 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries).

Specialists selected to the preseason team include Murray State senior kicker Kienan Cullen (who ranked 11th nationally in field goals made/game last season at 1.36 and who was 16th nationally in points/game with 8.09), Eastern Kentucky sophomore punter Jordan Berry (who ranked seventh nationally by averaging 42.93 yards/punt) and Murray State senior return specialist Dontrell Johnson (a nation's-best 22.80 yards/punt return last season, including two touchdowns), who was also a pick at defensive back.

2011 Preseason All-OVC Football Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Casey Brockman (QB), Murray State
Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Monte Lewis (DL), Jacksonville State
Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Rico Council (LB), Tennessee State

OFFENSE
QB - Matt Scheible, Southeast Missouri
QB - Casey Brockman, Murray State
RB - Mike Harris, Murray State
RB - Ryan White, Austin Peay
RB - Dante' Thomas, Tennessee State
WR - Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech
WR - Orlandus Harris, Eastern Kentucky
TE - Kenny Jones, UT Martin
C - Tim Schmid, Austin Peay
OG - Eric Zink, Eastern Illinois
OG - Kadeem Edwards, Tennessee State
OG - Scott Schweitzer, Tennessee Tech
OT - Evan Conrad, Southeast Missouri
OT - Odie Rush, Jacksonville State

DEFENSE
DL - Monte Lewis, Jacksonville State
DL - Emory Attig, Eastern Kentucky
DL - Jamison Wadley, Jacksonville State
DL - Artavious Dowdell, Eastern Illinois
DL - Anthony Brown, Eastern Kentucky
LB - Rico Council, Tennessee State
LB - Tyson Patrick, Eastern Kentucky
LB - Rodney Garrott, Jacksonville State
DB - Jeremy Caldwell, Eastern Kentucky
DB - Keginald Harris, Jacksonville State
DB - Tylor Brock, Southeast Missouri
DB - Patrick McClellan, Eastern Kentucky
DB - Dontrell Johnson, Murray State
DB - Kendal Harper, UT Martin

SPECIALISTS
K - Kienan Cullen, Murray State
P - Jordan Berry, Eastern Kentucky
RS - Dontrell Johnson, Murray State