Preseason OVC Predicted Order of Finish
NASHVILLE - Austin Peay senior running back/return specialist Terrence Holt and UT Martin senior linebacker Josh Bey have been tabbed the 2010 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. Eastern Illinois, Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech each had four selections apiece on the preseason team to lead the league. Eastern Kentucky had the next-most selections with three. 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 (12 in total) were automatic selections to the preseason team this year. The squad also included seven players who were second-team selections in 2009. Of the 25 total selections, 13 were seniors, 11 were juniors and there was one sophomore.
The offensive unit is led by Holt, who was a first-team All-OVC selection as both a running back and return specialist in 2009. Holt led all FCS players in all-purpose yards last season (215.73/game) while ranking 17th nationally in scoring (8.18 points/game). Holt rushed for 793 yards and 13 touchdowns and added a score on each a kick and punt return. He is joined on the preseason squad by his teammate, junior Ryan White, who rushed for a league-best 1,081 yards a season ago. Southeast Missouri State junior Matt Scheible (1,596 yards, 11 touchdowns) was tabbed the preseason quarterback while the wide receivers were Tennessee Tech junior Tim Benford (33 catches, 580 yards) and Murray State senior Marcus Harris (45 catches, 417 yards). Jacksonville State’s Cory Freeman was named the preseason tight end selection. The offensive line included Eastern Illinois junior center Willie Henderson, Jacksonville State junior guard Tylor Chambers and senior tackle Curt Porter and Tennessee Tech sophomore guard Slade Adams and junior tackle Malcolm Jones.
Defensively Bey ranked 10th nationally in tackles-for-loss last season (16.5), while also ranking in the top 40th nationally in tackles (1.50/game) and sacks (0.59/game). Joining Bey in the linebacking corps is Eastern Kentucky senior Jordan Dalrymple (85 tackles, 8.0 tackles-for-loss) and Eastern Illinois senior Nick Nasti (83 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, 2 forced fumbles). The defensive line includes Eastern Kentucky senior Andrew Soucy (49 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks, 7 quarterback hurries), Eastern Illinois junior Perry Burge (31 tackles, 7.0 tackles-for-loss, 5.0 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries), Southeast Missouri senior J.J. Sanchez (46 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks) and Tennessee State junior Donte’e Nicholls (35 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss). The defensive back unit includes Tennessee State senior Eugene Clifford (60 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries), Jacksonville State senior T.J. Heath (34 tackles, 6 interceptions, 16 passes defended), Eastern Illinois senior CJ James (44 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 9 passes defended) and Eastern Kentucky junior Jeremy Caldwell (48 tackles, 7 interceptions, 13 passes defended).
Specialists selected to the preseason team include Murray State junior Kienan Cullen who appears on the team as both the kicker and punter. Cullen was a first-team All-OVC pick as a punter last season after averaging 41.0 yards/punt, and a second-team pick as a kicker after connecting on 14-of-17 field goals and being perfect on point after attempts. Holt was a first-team return specialist selection last year after averaging 25.4 yards/kickoff return last season and 12.4 yards/punt return.
2010 Preseason All-OVC Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Terrence Holt (RB/KR), Austin Peay
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Bey (LB), UT Martin
OFFENSE
QB - Matt Scheible, Southeast Missouri
RB - Ryan White, Austin Peay
RB - Terrence Holt, Austin Peay
WR - Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech
WR - Marcus Harris, Murray State
TE - Cory Freeman, Jacksonville State
C - Willie Henderson, Eastern Illinois
G - Tylor Chambers, Jacksonville State
G - Slade Adams, Tennessee Tech
T - Curt Porter, Jacksonville State
T - Malcolm Jones, Tennessee Tech
DEFENSE
DL - Andrew Soucy, Eastern Kentucky
DL - Perry Burge, Eastern Illinois
DL - J.J. Sanchez, Southeast Missouri
DL - Donte’e Nicholls, Tennessee State
LB - Josh Bey, UT Martin
LB - Jordan Dalrymple, Eastern Kentucky
LB - Nick Nasti, Eastern Illinois
DB - Eugene Clifford, Tennessee State
DB - T.J. Heath, Jacksonville State
DB - CJ James, Eastern Illinois
DB - Jeremy Caldwell, Eastern Kentucky
SPECIALISTS
RS - Terrence Holt, Austin Peay
K - Kienan Cullen, Murray State
P - Kienan Cullen, Murray State