July 31, 2001
FURMAN PLACES 13 ON PRESEASON
ALL-SOUTHERN CONFERENCE TEAMS
GREENVILLE -- Paced by a pair of senior All-America performers in tailback Louis Ivory and linebacker Will Bouton, the Furman Paladins placed 13 players on the 2001 Coaches Preseason All-Southern Conference team, which was released today at the league's annual football rouser in Greenville.
Ivory, who captured the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in NCAA I-AA football after rushing for a nation leading 2,079 yards and 16 touchdowns a year ago, headlined a contingent of six Paladin offensive players selected to first and second teams. Bouton, meanwhile, topped a group of seven Furman defensive standouts named to the two squads. A year ago he tallied a team high 134 tackles, including 14 tackles-for-loss, on the way to earning league defensive player-of-the-year honors.
Joining Ivory on the preseason all-conference offensive first team were tight end Trent Sansbury, tackle Donnie Littlejohn, guard Trevor Kruger, and center Chris Stewart. Marty Priore was named to the second team unit at guard.
Tackle LeBryan Sperling was named to the all-conference first team defense along with Bouton, and selected to the second team defense were nose guard Ryan Spencer, linebacker John Thrift, cornerback Richie Jackson, strong safety Shelvis Smith, and free safety Josh Cooper.
Furman's 13 preseason all-conference selections paced led all league schools. Appalachian State had 10 selections, and defending conference and national champion Georgia Southern placed eight players on the two teams.
Furman, which posted a 9-3 record and No. 10 final national ranking a year ago, returns 19 starters this fall and opens its 2001 season on Sept. 1 at Wyoming.
2001 Coaches Preseason All-Southern Conference (Furman Selections)
First Team Offense
TE Trent Sansbury (6-2, 238, Sr.)
OT Donnie Littlejohn (6-3, 272, Sr.)
OG Trevor Kruger (6-2, 281, Jr.)
C Chris Stewart (6-0, 280, Sr.)
TB Louis Ivory (5-9, 200, Sr.)
First Team Defense
DL LeBryan Sperling (6-3, 284, Jr.)
LB Will Bouton (6-2, 233, Sr.)
Second Team Offense
OG Marty Priore (6-1, 288, Sr.)
Second Team Defense
NG Ryan Spencer (6-2, 265, Sr.)
LB John Thrift (6-0, 220, Sr.)
CB Richie Jackson (6-0, 190, Sr.)
SS Shelvis Smith (6-0, 207, Sr.)
FS Josh Cooper (5-11, 190, Sr.)