Three players tabbed for All-SLC preseason team

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  Max Epps

  Max Epps
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  Mitchell McGarry

  Mitchell McGarry
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  Jaden Rios

  Jaden Rios

Lions picked eighth in preseason poll

SAN ANTONIO— Three Texas A&M University-Commerce football players have been named to preseason all-Southland Conference teams, while the Lion football team was picked to finish eighth in the new-look Southland in 2024 as part of the Southland Football Opening Drive.

Max Epps, a returning First-Team All-Conference defensive back, was named to First-Team All-Conference in the preseason, while punter Mitchell McGarry and defensive back Jaden Rios were named to the Second-Team.

Epps is also the program's and the athletic department's first All-American in the Division I era, being named to third team All-America by the Associated Press last season. He finished the regular season as the FCS leader in return yards and recorded four interceptions, which is tied for 10th in the country.

He was named Stats FCS National Player of the Week and Conference Player of the Week after the game at Old Dominion, and totaled 48 tackles as well as three breakups on the season.

McGarry recorded 62 punts for 2,453 yards on an average of 39.56 yards per punt average last season. He totaled three touchbacks, 20 punts inside the 20, eight punts of 50 yards or more, and the longest punt of the season was 58 yards. Additionally, McGarry averaged 46.6 yards per punt in five punts against Nicholls.

Rios totaled 23 tackles, one tackle for loss, three pass deflections, one forced fumble in 2023 as well as an 86-yard interception returned for touchdown at Houston Christian. He also forced a fumble at Old Dominion.

The league's preseason poll was also released as part of the Opening Drive on Monday, defending SLC champion Nicholls was picked to repeat, while UIW was picked second.

The Lions received 37 points to be ranked eighth, 12 points ahead of Northwestern State. Houston Christian is ranked seventh with 41 points.

The preseason all-conference teams are voted on by the conference's head coaches, who cannot vote for their own players, while the preseason poll has been voted the head coaches and sports information directors, who also cannot vote for their own teams.

The Lions begin the 2024 season on the road at San Diego State on Aug. 31, the first game of a six-game home schedule is on Sept. 14 against Grambling, and conference play begins on Oct. 5 at Southeastern.

Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at LionAthletics. com/Tickets.

2024 SOUTHLAND FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL

1. Nicholls

2. Incarnate Word

3. Southeastern

4. Lamar

5. Stephen F. Austin

6. McNeese

7. Houston Christian

8. A&M-Commerce

9. Northwestern State