Complete Sports Network All-American Team
Four Ohio Valley Conference football players have been named to the Sports Network/Fathead.com Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Preseason All-American Team as announced on Friday.
The OVC selections included one player on the first-team and three on the second-team.
Murray State senior return specialist Dontrell Johnson was the first-team selection. Last season Johnson led all FCS players in punt return average (22.8 yards/return) including returning two for touchdowns.
The second-team selections included Southeast Missouri State junior offensive lineman Evan Conrad, Eastern Kentucky senior return specialist Jeremy Caldwell and Southeast Missouri junior safety Tylor Brock.
Conrad was a first-team All-OVC selection last season while blocking for OVC Offensive Player of the Year Henry Harris and leading the Redhawks to the OVC Championship and FCS Playoff berth. Caldwell ranked third nationally in kick returns (33.7 yards/return) and scored touchdowns via a kick return, a punt return and an interception return. Brock led the OVC in interceptions last year (6), including returning two for touchdowns.
Overall there were 84 players selected to the Preseason All-America Team. The Big Sky led all conferences with 16 selections, followed by the Southern Conference with 14, CAA Football with 10, Missouri Valley Football Conference with nine and the Big South and Southland Conference with six each. All 14 FCS conferences plus an independent school (Texas State) have at least one representative.
The Sports Network/Fathead.com All-America Team will be announced on Dec. 19.
TSN presents and Fathead.com sponsors the four major awards in the division the Walter Payton, the Buck Buchanan, the Jerry Rice (FCS outstanding freshman player) and the Eddie Robinson (FCS coach of the year) - and team up for the FCS's most widely recognized weekly Top 25 poll and weekly awards honoring the nation's top offensive player, defensive player and special teams players.
OVC Players on the Sports Network/Fathead.com All-American Team
PR - Dontrell Johnson, Murray State (1st Team)
OL - Evan Conrad, Southeast Missouri (2nd Team)
KR - Jeremy Caldwell, Eastern Kentucky (2nd Team)
S - Tylor Brock, Southeast Missouri (2nd Team)