• Complete Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-American Team
Five Ohio Valley Conference football players have been named to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-American Team.
The selections included a first-team selection in Austin Peay senior nickelback
Kordell Jackson, two second-team picks in UT Martin senior tight end
Rodney Williams and Tennessee State junior kicker
Antonio Zita and a pair of third-team picks in Southeast Missouri senior running back
Geno Hess and Murray State senior defensive back
Marcis Floyd.
In 2019 Jackson was named the FCS ADA Defensive Back of the Year after tallying seven interceptions. Last season he did not see the ball thrown his way as much; instead, he wreaked havoc in the opposing offense's backfields. Jackson led all OVC tacklers with 10.5 tackles for loss – seven of those coming in OVC play, where he also had five passes defended. Jackson recorded a tackle for loss in seven of the Govs' nine games, including two TFL at Pittsburgh in the fall and three TFL at Tennessee Tech to open the spring.
Williams earned his third All-American honor of his career after receiving postseason accolades courtesy of Phil Steele and Stats Perform following the 2020-21 season. Williams is a Preseason All-OVC selection after tallying 30 receptions for 327 yards and four touchdowns last season. The converted wide receiver averaged 10.9 yards per catch in his first year at tight end. Williams ranked amongst OVC leaders in touchdowns (four, second), receptions (30, fifth), receptions per game (4.3, sixth), yards (327, eighth) and yards per game (46.7, 10th) last year. His best game of the season came against Eastern Illinois when he set career-highs in receptions (eight), yards (95) and touchdowns (two).
Last season Zita converted 14 field goals, leading the OVC and finishing fourth in the country with 2.0 per game. The junior impressed this season with eight field goals from beyond 40 yards, including five from 50-yards or more. He was the only kicker in the nation to have more than two field goals made from 50-plus and recorded the longest kick at all levels of the NCAA this season with a 62-yard blast against Eastern Illinois.
Hess led the FCS with 12 rushing touchdowns a year ago. He ranked first in the OVC and eighth nationally with nine points per contest. Hess finished fourth among conference leaders and 15th in the FCS with 666 yards (82.1 ypg), as well. Additionally, he scored multiple rushing touchdowns three times and claimed First-Team All-OVC honors.
Floyd was part of an amazing first season in the Coach Dean Hood era at MSU last year. The Racers started the season 5-0, their best start in 26 years, and finished second in the OVC race with a 5-2 record. Murray State broke into the Top-25 nationally for the first time in 10 years. Playing cornerback, Floyd racked up 32 tackles, three interceptions, nine pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He returned one of his interceptions for a touchdown in the Racers' 24-21 win at Southeast Missouri (March 7).
2021 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-American Team
DB – Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay (1st Team)
TE – Rodney Williams II, UT Martin (2nd Team)
PK – Antonio Zita, Tennessee State (2nd Team)
RB – Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri (3rd Team)
DB – Marcis Floyd, Murray State (3rd Team)