ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum Pioneers have been picked to finish sixth in the South Atlantic Conference according to the 2024 SAC Football Coaches' Poll. Four Pioneers were also named to the 2024 Preseason All-Conference Team.

Tusculum received 60 total points in a vote of the league's 12 head football coaches. The Pioneers are the defending SAC Mountain Division champions after posting a 6-5 overall record including 6-3 in league play.

Defending SAC and NCAA Division II national semifinalist Lenoir-Rhyne is the preseason favorite as the Bears received 104 points including six first place votes. Wingate is second in the poll with 94 points and three first place nods. Limestone comes in third with 92 points, while Mars Hill is fourth with 87 points and two first place votes. Newberry is fifth with 73 points, followed by Tusculum (60), Catawba (51), Carson-Newman (49), Barton (47), Emory & Henry (33), UVA Wise (20) and Anderson (12). Anderson University is competing in its first year sponsoring the sport.

Garnering Preseason All-SAC Mountain Division recognition are defensive back Jermaine Witherspoon, linebacker Earnest Johnson, running back Jalen Hunt and offensive lineman Garrett Priest.

Witherspoon, a 6-0, 165-pound graduate student from Miami, Florida, is a two-time All-SAC Mountain Division choice. In 2023, he finished second on the team and third in the league with his four interceptions (43^rd in NCAA II). He finished second on the squad in tackles for a second straight year as he posted 49 tackles (27 solos, 22 assists). He also tallied six pass break-ups while forcing a fumble and recovering another which he returned for a 23-yard touchdown in last year's divisional clincher against Mars Hill.

Witherspoon has been credited with 175 career tackles including six hits for loss. His 10 career interceptions are tied for the third-most in school history, while his 133 interception return yards are sixth in the TU record book. He is also listed 10^th in program history with his 24 career passes defended.

Johnson, a 6-1, 215 senior from Miami, Florida, earns Preseason All-SAC Mountain Division laurels for a second consecutive year. He finished second on the team with his 76 tackles (30 solos, 46 assists), along with 13 tackles for loss (-41 yds), five sacks (-31 yds) and led the team with nine quarterback hurries. He enters his senior campaign with 156 career tackles including 30 for loss while forcing two fumbles and recovering another.

Hunt, a 5-9, 180-pound junior from Athens, Tennessee, emerged as Tusculum's leading rusher last season as he ran for 419 yards on 108 attempts and averaged 3.9 yards per carry to go along with a touchdown. He also made 14 receptions for 35 yards and played in all 11 games with nine starts.

Priest, a 5-10, 280-pound junior from Athens, Tennessee, has seen action in the offensive trenches in each of the last two seasons and saw significant playing time during TU's spring drills.

The Preseason All-SAC football team is selected by a vote of the league's media relations directors.

Tusculum opens the season Sep. 7 when they travel to West Alabama for a 7 p.m. (ET) kickoff. TU will begin the conference slate on Sep. 21 when they host Newberry at Pioneer Field.

2024 SAC Football Coaches' Poll

2024 Preseason All-SAC Football Teams
All-Mountain Division Offense
QB - JR Martin, Mars Hill
RB - Jon Gullette, Mars Hill
RB - Jalen Hunt, Tusculum
RB - Jayden Sullins, Carson-Newman
WR - Malik Laurent, Mars Hill
WR - Cam Abshire, Emory & Henry
WR - Cam Peoples, Emory & Henry
OL - Fletcher Gibson, Carson-Newman
OL - Garrett Priest, Tusculum
OL - Noah Sage, Emory & Henry
OL - Christian Jones, Carson-Newman
OL - Deshaun Sharp, Emory & Henry
TE - Beau DeBerry, Mars Hill
PK - Trace Butcher, Emory & Henry
LS - Andrew Bradshaw, Carson-Newman
RS - Cam Peoples, Emory & Henry

All-Mountain Division Defense
DL - Boris Lewis, Mars Hill
DL - Jacorey Long, Carson-Newman
DL - Andre Crawley, Jr., Emory & Henry
DL - Ean Rhea, Emory & Henry
LB - Kaleb Lundy, Emory & Henry
LB - Dexter Fitzpatrick, Mars Hill
LB - Mekhi Brown, Carson-Newman
LB - Earnest Johnson III, Tusculum
DB - Major Williams, Carson-Newman
DB - Addison Knicely, Emory & Henry
DB - Tristan Rankin, Mars Hill
DB - Jermaine Witherspoon, Tusculum
DB - Kendall Williams, Carson-Newman

All-Piedmont Division Offense
QB - Dustin Noller, Limestone
RB - Dwayne Wright, Newberry
RB - Marquece Williams, Catawba
WR - Bo Pryor, Catawba
WR - DeAree Rogers, Lenoir-Rhyne
WR - Songa Yates, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL - Porfirio Acosta, Wingate
OL - Charles Couch, Limestone
OL - Damari Joyner, Newberry
OL - Erwil Anthony, Wingate
OL - Blake Martin, Wingate
TE - John Godwin, Lenoir-Rhyne
PK - Caleb Bonesteel, Wingate
LS - Carson Keaton, Lenoir-Rhyne
RS - DeAree Rogers, Lenoir-Rhyne

All-Piedmont Division Defense
DL - Daniel Morrison, Wingate
DL - Marquise Fleming, Wingate
DL - Andre Jefferson, Lenoir-Rhyne
DL - Bryan Bordeaux, Wingate
LB - Dontorian Best, Wingate
LB - Evan Simons, Catawba
LB - Ty Cade, Limestone
LB - Matt Smith, Barton
DB - Jakarri Martin II, Catawba
DB - Jeremiah Lomax, Limestone
DB - Deno Wardlow, Catawba
DB - James Ussery, Lenoir-Rhyne
P - Bryan Frey, Limestone