ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Eight Tusculum University student-athletes have been named to the 2018 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference football team announced league officials Thursday.
Tusculum placed five players on the second team offense including quarterback Alex Ogle, running back Maxwell Joseph, offensive lineman Keveon Broadwater, tight end Gary Breuklander and return specialist Jay Boyd. Boyd was also was named a second team defensive back, while linebacker Ivan Hogans and defensive back Dee Alford were also recognized on the All-SAC second team.
The Preseason All-Conference team is selected by a vote of the SAC's eight media relations directors.
Ogle, a 6-4, 230-pound graduate student from Hobe Sound, Florida, started all 10 games under center last season, passing for 2,056 yards and 14 touchdowns. Ogle completed 56.3 percent of his passes with only seven interceptions. He was named the AstroTurf/SAC Offensive Player of the Week on two occasions in 2017.
Joseph, a 6-2, 230-pound junior from Naples, Florida, led the Pioneers in scoring with 54 points as he ran for nine touchdowns. He finished the season with 551 yards on 128 carries for a 4.3 yards per rush average. His nine rushing TDs were fifth in the league last season.
Broadwater, a 6-4, 300-pound junior from Gaffney, South Carolina, returns to the Preseason All-Conference team for a second straight year. He started in all 10 games last season and graded out at 84 percent on the year on the offensive line.
Breuklander, a 6-2, 240-pound sophomore from Jacksonville, Florida, played in eight games as a true freshman a year ago. He finished with seven receptions for 124 yards and three touchdowns.
Boyd, a 6-0, 190-pound junior from Viera, Florida, earned All-SAC honors as a return specialist in 2017 for a second straight season. He finished third in the league in kickoff returns averaging 24.7 yards per return. His 664 combined total return yards were most in the league and ranked 31st in NCAA Division II. The 2016 SAC Defensive Freshman of the Year finished his sophomore season with 58 tackles, including two tackles for loss, one forced fumble and six passes defended including a pair of interceptions. In his rookie season, he led the SAC with five interceptions and finished with 44 tackles to earn All-America honors.
Hogans, a 6-1, 215-pound sophomore from Stockbridge, Georgia, finished fourth on the team with 53 tackles and led the squad with 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. He was also tops on the team with six credited quarterback hurries while starting in all 10 games.
Alford, a 6-0, 170-pound junior from Griffin, Georgia, was a 2017 All-SAC second team selection in the secondary. He recorded 44 tackles including three for loss and led the conference with his three fumble recoveries which were eighth in the nation. He was tied for the team lead with three interceptions which were fourth in the SAC. He also posted seven passes defended and forced a fumble and tallied one sack.
Tusculum's eight All-Conference selections were the fourth-most in the league.
The Pioneers will open the 2018 season on Thursday, August 30 when they host North Greenville University for a 7 p.m. contest.
2018 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Football Team
First Team Offense
QB – Derrick Evans, Carson-Newman
RB – Antonio Wimbush, Carson-Newman
RB – Kenyatta Greene, Catawba
RB – Jerko'ya Patton, Limestone
WR – Markell Castle, Newberry
WR – BJ Muckelvene, Wingate
WR – Craig Rucker, Mars Hill
OL – Phil McDowell, Carson-Newman
OL – Quinzavious Sands, Catawba
OL – Brandon Berridge, Mars Hill
OL – Jordan Seal, Carson-Newman
OL – Connor Baroniunas, Wingate
TE – Jourdan Osinskie, Catawba
PK – Lee Brackman, Catawba
LS – Dawson Campbell, Carson-Newman
RS – BJ Muckelvene, Wingate
First Team Defense
DL – Montel Presley, Carson-Newman
DL – Jamarcus Henderson, Newberry
DL – Keito Jordan, Newberry
DL – Auntrell Mack, Wingate
LB – Sherrod Williams, Lenoir-Rhyne
LB – Robbie Wallace, Wingate
LB – Joe Blue, Newberry
LB – Antonio Henderson, Carson-Newman
DB – Darius Williams, Carson-Newman
DB – Desmond Fairell, Carson-Newman
DB – Cris Page, Catawba
DB – Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Christopher Birozes, Wingate
Second Team Offense
QB – Alex Ogle, Tusculum
RB – Maxwell Joseph, Tusculum
RB – Austin Barnes, Newberry
RB – Marcus Williams, Carson-Newman
WR – JT Stokes, Wingate
WR – Saaehim Brooks, Lenoir-Rhyne
WR – Jaquay Mitchell, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL – Jalen Soto, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL – Tyler Anderson, Newberry
OL – Keveon Broadwater, Tusculum
OL – Cody Meree, Limestone
OL – Austin May, Wingate
TE – Gary Breuklander, Tusculum
PK – Shea Rodgers, Newberry
LS – Tucker Mullis, Wingate
RS – Jay Boyd, Tusculum
Second Team Defense
DL – Brian Bembry, Carson-Newman
DL – Omar Staley, Catawba
DL – Jordan Hemingway, Catawba
DL – Kelvin Atkins, Limestone
DL - Cardell Rawlings, Wingate
LB – Ivan Hogans, Tusculum
LB – Anfernee Moffett, Newberry
LB – Temoris Coats, Carson-Newman
LB – Clayton Horn, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB – Jawanza Adams, Newberry
DB – Dee Alford, Tusculum
DB – Kam Johnson, Wingate
DB – Joshua Simmons, Limestone
DB - Jay Boyd, Tusculum
P – Caleb Berry, Catawba