Mercer Picked To Three-Peat, Smith Named Preseason Player Of The Year

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The two-time reigning league champion Mercer football team was picked to complete a task that has not been accomplished in more than 40 years, while senior Brayden Smith was tabbed as the league's preseason offensive player of the year, as the Southern Conference kicked off its annual Football Media Day on Tuesday with the results of preseason voting by the league's 10 head coaches.

The Bears raked in six of a possible nine first-place votes to nestle itself atop the preseason coaches' poll for the second-straight year with 76 points. SoCon newcomer Tennessee Tech picked up three first-place votes on the way to 73 points and a runner-up spot in the preseason prognostication, while East Tennessee State (61 points) grabbed the only other first-place vote.

Points were awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis and coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

Should the foreshadowing hold true, the Bears would become the first team since Appalachian State (2005-07) to claim three-straight SoCon championships, including a shared title (Wofford) by the Mountaineers in 2010. West Virginia (1953-56) and Furman (1980-83) are the only other current or former SoCon squads to capture the league title outright for three or more consecutive seasons.

In addition to preseason player of the year status, Smith claimed two (wide receiver, return specialist) of six first team Preseason All-SoCon awards for the Orange & Black. He was joined on the first team by offensive linemen Brody Balliew and Tyler Murray, as well as defensive standouts Kobe McInnis (defensive line) and Jyarius Carter (linebacker).

The announcement marked just the second time in program history that the Bears have been represented on the preseason all-SoCon squad by six first-team selections. Mercer also claimed six first-team honors on the 2023 SoCon Football Preseason All-Conference Team.

Mercer will kick off its 52^nd season of intercollegiate football on August 29 when the Bears suit up to take on Southland Conference foe East Texas A&M in the FCS Kickoff at Five Star Stadium. Reserved seat and general admission tickets for the ninth edition of the annual event begin at $20 and can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets.

The FCS Kickoff, which will be played away from the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., for the first time since its inception in 2016, is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. in front of an ESPN nationally-televised audience.

Mercer Picked To Three-Peat, Smith Named Preseason Player Of The Year

Players Mentioned

Brody Balliew

Jyarius Carter

Kobe McInnis

Tyler Murray

Brayden Smith

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