OVC Preseason All-Conference Team

 Murray State QB Casey Brockman

Staff Report

College Sports Journal

 

NASHVILLE – Murray State senior quarterback Casey Brockman was named 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Southeast Missouri State senior linebacker Blake Peiffer was tabbed OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in a vote of by the league’s head football coaches and sports information directors.

Eastern Kentucky led the way with 10 selections on the preseason team while Murray State, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech had three picks apiece.

Returning players who were first-team All-OVC selections last season (13 in total) were automatic selections to the preseason team this year.

The squad also included nine players who were second-team selections in 2011. Of the 26 total selections, 18 were seniors, six were juniors and two were sophomores.

The offensive unit was led by Brockman who was tabbed Preseason Player of the Year for the second-straight season. Brockman set numerous OVC records last season while throwing for 3,276 yards and 25 touchdowns, rushing for four touchdowns and even catching a pair of touchdown passes. He enters this season with a chance to become the OVC’s all-time leader in passing yards.

He is joined on the team by Eastern Kentucky senior running back Matt Denham (1,570 rushing yards, 9 TDs) and Jacksonville State tailback Washaun Ealey (1,082 rushing yards, 8 TDs), Eastern Kentucky senior Tyrone Goard (39 receptions, 627 yards, 11 TDs) and UT Martin senior Quentin Sims (54 catches, 712 yards, 10 TDs) at the wide receiver spot and Eastern Illinois senior tight end Von Wise (32 catches, 348 yards, 2 TDs).

The offensive line included three Eastern Kentucky players, senior center O.J. Enabosi and senior tackles Aaron Adams and Patrick Ford. The line was rounded out by Jacksonville State senior guard Tori Mobley and Tennessee State junior guard Kadeem Edwards.

Defensively Peiffer ranked third nationally in tackles/game last season (13.7), fi nishing the year with 151 total stops, which set the school’s single-season record. Four linebackers joined Peiffer on the team including Eastern Kentucky juniors Anthony Brown (59 tackles, 10.5 RFL, 3.5 sacks) and Ichiro Vance (78 tackles, 9.5 TFL) and the Murray State duo of senior Sam Small (115 tackles, 9.5 TFL) and junior Qua Huzzie (80 tackles, 14.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks).

The three defensive linemen selected to the squad were Tennessee Tech senior Marcus Edwards (41 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks), Eastern Illinois senior Artavious Dowdell (45 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks) and Tennessee State junior Antonio Harper (44 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks).

The four defensive backs on the team included the Tennessee Tech duo of senior Will Johnson (45 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 INT) and sophomore Austin Tallant (92 tackles, 2.0 TFL) and Eastern Kentucky senior teammates Justin Bell (48 tackles, 2 INTs) and Brooklyn Fox (80 tackles, 3 INTs).

Specialists selected to the preseason team included UT Martin senior kicker Cody Sandlin (14-of-17 FGs, 45-of-48 PATs), Eastern Kentucky junior punter Jordan Berry (41.0 yards/punt) and Tennessee State sophomore return specialist Weldon Garlington (20.9 yards/kickoff return, 1 TD; 19.4 yards/punt return, 1 TD).

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Casey Brockman (QB), Murray State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Blake Peiffer (LB), Southeast Missouri

OFFENSE
Pos. Player, School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown
QB Casey Brockman, Murray State * 6-2 215 Sr. Murray, Ky.
RB Matt Denham, Eastern Kentucky * 5-11 181 Sr. Rineyville, Ky.
RB Washaun Ealey, Jacksonville State * 5-11 215 Sr. Stillmore, Ga.
WR Tyrone Goard, Eastern Kentucky ** 6-5 194 Sr. Charleston, W.Va.
WR Quentin Sims, UT Martin ** 6-3 202 Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio
TE Von Wise, Eastern Illinois ** 6-4 209 Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio
C O.J. Enabosi, Eastern Kentucky * 6-3 284 Sr. Villa Rica, Ga.
OG Kadeem Edwards, Tennessee State ** 6-4 290 Jr. Sanford, Fla.
OG Tori Mobley, Jacksonville State 6-3 280 Sr. Columbus, Ga.
OT Aaron Adams, Eastern Kentucky * 6-6 290 Sr. Lake Worth, Fla.
OT Patrick Ford, Eastern Kentucky * 6-6 306 Sr. Richmond, Ky.

DEFENSE
Pos. Player, School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown
DL Marcus Edwards, Tennessee Tech * 6-1 245 Sr. Alabaster, Ala.
DL Artavious Dowdell, Eastern Illinois ** 6-2 230 Sr. Belle Glade, Fla.
DL Antonio Harper, Tennessee State ** 6-3 245 Jr. Memphis, Tenn.
LB Anthony Brown, Eastern Kentucky * 6-1 240 Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio
LB Ichiro Vance, Eastern Kentucky * 6-1 234 Jr. LaGrange, Ky.
LB Blake Peiffer, Southeast Missouri * 6-1 225 Sr. Jackson, Mo.
LB Qua Huzzie, Murray State ** 5-11 237 Jr. LaGrange, Ga.
LB Sam Small, Murray State ** 6-1 230 Sr. Winona, Miss.
DB Will Johnson, Tennessee Tech ** 6-2 205 Sr. Nashville, Tenn.
DB Austin Tallant, Tennessee Tech 5-10 190 So. Alcoa, Tenn.
DB Justin Bell, Eastern Kentucky * 5-11 184 Sr. Tampa, Fla.
DB Brooklyn Fox, Eastern Kentucky 6-4 221 Sr. Tulsa, Okla.

SPECIALISTS
Pos. Player, School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown
K Cody Sandlin, UT Martin * 6-2 180 Sr. Goodlettsville, Tenn.
P Jordan Berry, Eastern Kentucky * 6-5 195 Jr. Essendon, Victoria, Australia
RS Weldon Garlington, Tennessee State 5-10 160 So. Antioch, Tenn.

* – 1st team All-OVC team in 2011 ** – 2nd team All-OVC team in 2011