Eight Bears Named to 2018 SoCon Preseason Teams

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A program-record eight Mercer football student-athletes earned 2018 Preseason All-Southern Conference honors as the league announced its preseason voting results Wednesday morning.

The Bears were picked fourth and sixth in the SoCon media and coaches preseason polls, respectively, totaling 133 and 32 points in each poll. Mercer's predicted fourth-place finish in the media poll matches its highest selection since also appearing fourth in the preseason media poll in 2016.

Offensive lineman Austin Sanders, tight end Sam Walker, wide receiver Marquise Irvin and linebacker LeMarkus Bailey garnered Preseason All-SoCon First Team honors. Running back Tee Mitchell, defensive lineman Isaiah Buehler, defensive back Eric Jackson and punter Matt Shiel were recognized on the Preseason All-SoCon Second Team.

Mercer's eight preseason all-conference selections are the second most behind Wofford (10) and set a new program record, besting the former mark of seven set in 2017. The league's coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes, selected both preseason all-conference teams.

Austin Sanders | R-Jr., OL
Sanders started all 11 games at right tackle in 2017 and earned All-SoCon Second Team honors from the league's coaches after helping Mercer average 332.4 total offensive yards per game. He will anchor the Bears' offensive line this fall.

Sam Walker | R-Sr., TE
Walker will continue to serve as a top target in Mercer's offense this fall after hauling in 262 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 27 receptions last season. The versatile tight end needs 209 yards to become just the fourth Bear with 1,000 career receiving yards.

Marquise Irvin | Sr., WR
Mercer's prolific receiving threat is within striking distance of nearly every program receiving record as he enters his senior season. The two-time All-SoCon receiver led the Bears with 41 receptions and 536 receiving yards last season.

LeMarkus Bailey | R-Sr., LB
Bailey ended last season on a high note individually with All-SoCon Second Team accolades after leading the Bears with 42 solo tackles (63 total tackles). The redshirt senior, who served as a team captain in 2017, will start at outside linebacker.

Tee Mitchell | Sr., RB
Mitchell enters his senior season just 25 yards shy of the 2,000-yard mark for his career after leading the Bears with 626 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground last season. The Jacksonville, Fla., native is a two-time All-SoCon selection.

Isaiah Buehler | R-Sr., DL
Buehler garnered All-SoCon First Team honors last season and has started 33 consecutive games at defensive end for the Bears. The Apopka, Fla., native tallied 5.5 sacks in 2017 along with 7.5 tackles for loss and 38 total tackles.

Eric Jackson | R-Jr., DB
Jackson produced in his first season at the strong safety position, ranking second on the team with 89 tackles and earned All-SoCon Second Team honors. He tallied four games with 10-plus tackles.

Matt Shiel | Gr., P
Mercer re-added punter Matt Shiel as a graduate student for the upcoming season after he played one year for the Bears in 2015. The Australian earned All-SoCon honors in his lone season with the Bears (averaged 44.1 yards per punt).

2018 Preseason SoCon Coaches Poll

Team (1st-place votes)	Total
Samford (7)	63
Wofford (1)	53
Furman (1)	52
Western Carolina	39
Chattanooga	34
Mercer	32
The Citadel	28
ETSU	15
VMI	8

2018 Preseason SoCon Media Poll

Team (1st-place votes)	Total
Samford (20)	204
Furman (2)	174
Wofford (1)	163
Mercer	133
Western Carolina	114
Chattanooga	88
The Citadel	83
ETSU	53
VMI	23

2018 Preseason All-SoCon Football Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Devlin Hodges, R-Sr., QB, Samford
Defensive Player of the Year: Ahmad Gooden, R-Sr., DL, Samford

First Team Offense
QB          Devlin Hodges, R-Sr., Samford
RB           Kealand Dirks, R-Sr., Furman
RB           Andre Stoddard, Sr., Wofford
OL           Tyler Davis, Sr., The Citadel
OL           Austin Sanders, R-Jr., Mercer
OL           Nick Nixon, Jr., Samford
OL           Zach Weeks, R-Sr., Western Carolina
OL           Michael Ralph, Jr., Wofford
TE           Sam Walker, R-Sr., Mercer
WR         Marquise Irvin, Sr., Mercer
WR         Kelvin McKnight, Sr., Samford

First Team Defense
DL           Nasir Player, R-Jr., ETSU
DL           Ahmad Gooden, R-Sr., Samford
DL           Isaiah Mack, R-Sr., Chattanooga
DL           Miles Brown, Sr., Wofford
LB           Elijah McKoy, So., Furman
LB           LeMarkus Bailey, R-Sr., Mercer
LB           Datavious Wilson, Jr., Wofford
DB          Aron Spann III, Sr., The Citadel
DB          Aaquil Annoor, Sr., Furman
DB          Marvin Tillman, Sr., Western Carolina
DB          Devin Watson, Sr., Wofford

First Team Specialists
PK           Luke Carter, Jr., Wofford
P             Ian Berryman, R-Sr., Western Carolina
RS           Brandon Dowdell, So., Chattanooga

Second Team Offense
QB          Tyrie Adams, R-Jr., Western Carolina
RB           Tee Mitchell, Sr., Mercer
RB           Tyrell Price, Jr., Chattanooga
OL           Drew McEntyre, Jr., The Citadel
OL           Matt Pyke, R-Sr., ETSU
OL           Reed Kroeber, R-So., Furman
OL           Malcolm White, R-Jr., Chattanooga
OL           Brad Davis, So., VMI
OL           Nathan Dalton, R-Sr., Chattanooga
OL           Andrew Miles, R-Sr., Western Carolina
OL           Justus Basinger, Jr., Wofford
TE           Jake Walker, So., Furman
WR         Thomas Gordon, Jr., Furman
WR         Chris Shelling, Jr., Samford
WR         Bingo Morton, R-Sr., Chattanooga

Second Team Defense
DL           Ja'Lon Williams, Jr., The Citadel
DL           Jaylan Reid, R-Sr., Furman
DL           Isaiah Buehler, R-Sr., Mercer
DL           Mikel Horton, Jr., Wofford
LB           Noah Dawkins, Sr., The Citadel
LB           Dylan Weigel, R-Sr., ETSU
LB           Christian Stark, Sr., Samford
DB          Eric Jackson, R-Jr., Mercer
DB          Kareem Orr, Sr., Chattanooga
DB          Mason Alstatt, Jr., Wofford

Second Team Specialists
PK           JJ Jerman, Sr., ETSU
P             Matt Shiel, Gr., Mercer
P             Luke Carter, Jr., Wofford
RS           Quan Harrison, R-Jr., ETSU

Season Tickets Available
Season tickets for Mercer's five home games at Five Star Stadium are currently available to purchase at tickets.mercer.edu, or by calling the Mercer Ticket Office at (478) 301-5470.

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Eight Bears Named to 2018 SoCon Preseason Teams

Players Mentioned

LeMarkus Bailey

Isaiah Buehler

Marquise Irvin

Eric Jackson

Tee Mitchell

Austin Sanders

Matt Shiel

Sam Walker

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Eight Bears Named to 2018 SoCon Preseason Teams

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Players Mentioned

LeMarkus Bailey

Isaiah Buehler

Marquise Irvin

Eric Jackson

Tee Mitchell

Austin Sanders

Matt Shiel

Sam Walker

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