Preseason predictions, selections announced ahead of 2024 SoCon football season

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – Furman was selected to finish second and Wofford was picked to finish eighth in the Southern Conference during the preseason poll selection by the league’s coaches.

Several players from each team were also recognized as part of the 2024 SoCon Football Media Day, held in Greenville Thursday.

On top of their second place pick, Furman had eight players earn all-conference accolades. The defending SoCon champs received three first place votes to finish behind Chattanooga in the poll despite beating the Mocs twice last season.

On the Terriers side nine players were selected, making it the most from Wofford since the 2019 season. Wofford also had the most first-team selections in the league with five players earning a spot, including the team’s leading rusher in running back Ryan Ingram and linebacker David Powers, who led the team with 102 tackles in 2023.

A complete list of preseason selections can be found below:

2024 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll

*(1st place votes)

1. Chattanooga (5)
2. Furman (3)
3. Western Carolina (1)
4. Mercer
5. Samford
6. ETSU
7. VMI
8. Wofford
9. The Citadel

2024 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams

• Offensive Player of the Year: Cole Gonzalez, JR, QB, Western Carolina
• Defensive Player of the Year: Marlon Taylor, SR, DL, Chattanooga

First-Team Offense

• QB – Cole Gonzales, JR, Western Carolina
• RB – Hunter Rice, SR, VMI
• RB – Ryan Ingram, SR, Wofford
• OL – Luke Smith, GR, ETSU
• OL – Luke Petit, R-JR, Furman
• OL – Xavier Jennings, GR, Mercer
• OL – Reid Williams, JR, Chattanooga
• OL – Tyriq Poindexter, SR, VMI
• OL – Blake Whitmore, R-SR, Western Carolina
• TE – Jordan Davis, SR, Wofford
• WR – Javin Whatley, JR, Chattanooga
• WR – AJ Colombo, JR, Western Carolina

First-Team Defense

• DL – Xavier Stephens, SR, Furman
• DL – Marlon Taylor, SR, Chattanooga
• DL – Dorien Starnes, SR, VMI
• DL – Brandon Maina, SR, Wofford
• LB – Ken Standley, GR, Mercer
• LB – Noah Martin, SR, Samford
• LB – David Powers, SR, Wofford
• DB – Chris Hope, SR, ETSU
• DB – Myles Redding, SR, Mercer
• DB – Jordan Walker, JR, Chattanooga
• DB – Maximus Pulley, JR, Wofford

First-Team Specialists

• PK – Ian Williams, R-SR, Furman
• P – Nate Brackett, R-JR, ETSU
• LS – Colby Cross, R-SR, Western Carolina
• RS – Colton Hinton, SO, Furman

Second-Team Offense

• QB – Chase Artopoeus, SR, Chattanooga
• RB – Grant Robinson, R-JR, Furman
• RB – Branson Adams, JR, Western Carolina
• OL – Riley Adcock, GR, Mercer
• OL – Chris Noble, GR, Samford
• OL – Dave Monnot III, SR, Chattanooga
• OL – Derek Simmons, SR, Western Carolina
• OL – Anthony Garcia, SR, Wofford
• OL – Quincy Hughes, JR, Wofford
• TE – Jay Gibson, SR, Chattanooga
• WR – Joshua Harris, JR, Furman
• WR – Sam Phillips, JR, Chattanooga

Second-Team Defense

• DL – Brayden Manley, SO, Mercer
• DL – Jordan Swain, GR, Mercer
• DL – Quay Wiggles, SR, Chattanooga
• DL – Curtis Fann Jr., R-SR, Western Carolina
• LB – Luke Clark, 5th, Furman
• LB – Evan DiMaggio, R-SR, Furman
• LB – Eric Rankin, SR, VMI
• DB – Josh Battle Jr., SR, Chattanooga
• DB – Samaurie Dukes, JR, Western Carolina
• DB – Ed Jones IV, SR, Western Carolina
• DB – CJ Williams, SR, Western Carolina

Second-Team Specialists

• PK – Bridger Jones, JR, Woffrd
• P – James Platte, JR, The Citadel
• LS – Tommy DiLiegro, SO, Wofford
• RS – Ivan Thorpe, JR, VMI

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