FURMAN PLACES SIX ON SOCON
PRE-SEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Six Furman Paladins, including five offensive performers, have been named to the coaches' pre-season All-Southern Conference squad, it was announced today at the league's football rouser.
Defending national champion Georgia Southern and Appalachian State also placed six performers on the pre-season all-conference team, and East Tennessee State had three selections.
Among Furman's nominees were tackle Josh Moore, tight end Trent Sansbury, offensive guard Marty Priore, center Chris Stewart, and running back Louis Ivory. Linebacker Will Bouton of Greenville was Furman's lone pre-season all-conference selection on defense. Moore, Sansbury, and Bouton were earlier named to the Sports Network NCAA I-AA Pre-Season All-America squad.
Moore, Sansbury, Ivory, and Bouton garnered first team All-Southern Conference honors a year ago after helping pace Furman to a 9-3 record, Southern Conference championship, and invitation to the NCAA I-AA playoffs. Included in the Paladins' 1999 campaign was a 28-3 win over North Carolina.
Headlining the preseason all-SoCon team is Georgia Southern running back Adrian Peterson who is the defending Walter Payton Award recipient. Peterson has rushed for over 5,000 yards in his first two years with the Eagles and will threaten the SoCon's all-time rushing record this fall as a junior.
The complete listing of the 2000 Southern Conference Coaches preseason all-league team follows:
Offense
| Pos. |
Player
|
| WR | Cos DeMatteo, Chattanooga |
| WR | Chris Johnson, Georgia Southern |
| TE | TRENT SANSBURY, FURMAN |
| OT | JOSH MOORE, FURMAN |
| OT | Billy Young, Appalachian State |
| OG | Bryan Metts, Appalachian State |
| OG | MARTY PRIORE, FURMAN |
| C | CHRIS STEWART, FURMAN |
| QB | Chris Sanders, Chattanooga |
| RB | Adrian Peterson, Georgia Southern |
| RB | LOUIS IVORY, FURMAN |
| PK | Josh Jones, Western Carolina |
Defense
| Pos. |
Player
|
| DL | Mario Richardson, The Citadel |
| DL | Freddy Pexqueira, Georgia Southern |
| DL | Jimmy Freeman, Appalachian State |
| DL | Jamie Lovern, Appalachian State |
| LB | Rahim El Amin, East Tennessee State |
| LB | Jason Neese, Georgia Southern |
| LB | WILL BOUTON, FURMAN |
| DB | Denario Smalls, East Tennessee State |
| DB | Ryan Hadden, Georgia Southern |
| DB | Remi Awolowo, Appalachian State |
| DB | Corey Hall, Appalachian State |
| P | Scott Shelton, Georgia Southern |
| RET | Terrance Sims, East Tennessee State |