Preseason OVC Predicted Order of Finish
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UT Martin senior quarterback Cade Thompson and Murray State senior defensive end Austen Lane have been tabbed the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in a vote on by the league’s head football coaches and sports information directors. Murray State led the way with the most individual selections (6), following closely by five from UT Martin, four from Jacksonville State and three apiece from Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky. Each of the league’s nine teams had at least one player on the preseason squad.
Returning players who were first-team All-OVC picks last season (8 in total) were automatic selections to the preseason team this year. The squad also included nine players who were second-team selections in 2008. Of the 26 total selections, 21 were seniors (including the entire offensive unit), four were juniors and there was one sophomore pick.
The offensive unit is led by Thompson, who earned OVC Offensive Player of the Year honors last season after UT Martin finished as the league’s runner-up and was among top offensive units in the country. Thompson finished the season with a league-best 2,680 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. He is joined by his own teammate in the backfield, senior Brandyn Young (744 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns). Eastern Kentucky senior C.J. Walker (706 yard, 7 touchdowns), the top returning rusher in the OVC from last season, is at the other running back spot. Three wide receivers were selected to the preseason team, UT Martin senior Mike Hicks (66 catches, 894 yards, 12 touchdowns), Murray State senior Derrick Townsel (53 catches, 667 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Southeast Missouri State senior Walter Peoples (65 catches, 903 yards, 6 touchdowns). Murray State senior tight end DeAngelo Nelson appears on the preseason All-OVC squad for the second year in a row. Last year Nelson grabbed 34 passes for 386 yards and a score. The offensive line is anchored by returning first-team All-OVC selections Chaz Millard (Eastern Illinois) and Derek Hardman (Eastern Kentucky). The other linemen are UT Martin’s Joe Gibbs, Jacksonville State’s Reggie Wade and Murray State’s Eric Ornella.
Lane ranked fourth nationally a year ago in sacks (12.0) in a breakout season as a junior. His development has been so impressive that Consensus Draft Services (CDS) named him the FCS Preseason National Defensive Player of the Year heading into this season. Joining Lane on the defensive line is Jacksonville State senior Brandt Thomas (34 tackles, 2.5 sacks), Eastern Kentucky senior Chris Hall (46 tackles, 13.0 TFL, 6.0 sacks) and Tennessee Tech junior Charlie Seivers (65 tackles, 5.0 sacks). The linebacker unit includes Jacksonville State senior Alexander Henderson (team-high 103 tackles), Austin Peay senior Daniel Becker (102 tackles) and UT Martin junior Josh Bey (team-best 88 tackles). The four defensive backs selected to the team are Austin Peay senior Kevis Buckley (league-high 6 interceptions), Jacksonville State senior Carnell Clark (66 tackles, 2 interceptions), Murray State senior Taylor Lanigan (104 tackles) and Tennessee State junior Eugene Clifford (61 tackles, 3 interceptions).
Specialists selected to the preseason team include Murray State sophomore kicker Kienan Cullen (14-of-20 FG’s, Long of 41, 27-of-29 PAT’s, 69 points), Southeast Missouri senior punter Doug Spada (47 punts, 2103 yards, 44.7 yards/punt, Long of 65) and Austin Peay junior return specialist Terrence Holt (52 kickoff returns, OVC record 1,285 yards, 24.7 yards/return).
2009 Preseason All-OVC Football Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Cade Thompson (QB), UT Martin
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Austen Lane (DE), Murray State
OFFENSE
QB - Cade Thompson, UT Martin*
RB - Brandyn Young, UT Martin**
RB - C.J. Walker, Eastern Kentucky
WR - Mike Hicks, UT Martin*
WR - Derrick Townsel, Murray State**
WR - Walter Peoples, Southeast Missouri**
TE - DeAngelo Nelson, Murray State**
C - Reggie Wade, Jacksonville State
OG - Chaz Millard, Eastern Illinois*
OG - Eric Ornella, Murray State
OT - Derek Hardman, Eastern Kentucky*
OT - Joe Gibbs, UT Martin**
DEFENSE
DL - Austen Lane, Murray State*
DL - Brandt Thomas, Jacksonville State**
DL - Chris Hall, Eastern Kentucky
DL - Charlie Seivers, Tennessee Tech
LB - Alexander Henderson, Jacksonville State*
LB - Daniel Becker, Austin Peay**
LB - Josh Bey, UT Martin**
DB - Kevis Buckley, Austin Peay*
DB - Carnell Clark, Jacksonville State*
DB - Eugene Clifford, Tennessee State**
DB - Taylor Lanigan, Murray State
SPECIALISTS
K - Kienan Cullen, Murray State
P - Doug Spada, Southeast Missouri*
RS - Terrence Holt, Austin Peay*
* - 1st team All-OVC team in 2008
** - 2nd team All-OVC team in 2008