2024 UAC Preseason All-Conference and Coaches' Poll Announced

August 6, 2024 by uacfootball.com

ARLINGTON, Texas - United Athletic Conference (UAC) Football kicked off its second season of competition with the announcement of its Preseason All-Conference team and Coaches' Poll with Tarleton State running back Kayvon Britten (Offensive Player of the Year) and North Alabama defensive back Edwin White Schultz (Defensive Player of the Year) collecting the superlative honors and Central Arkansas garnering the top spot in the poll as voted on by the head coaches.

Britten, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, was a First Team All-UAC selection last season after finishing with 1,150 rushing yards and a league high 16 rushing touchdowns. He was tabbed an FCS All-American by both Phil Steele (4th Team) and FCS Football Central (3rd Team) after scoring in 10 of the Texans' 11 games in 2023 and averaging 104.6 rushing yards per game. Britten posted a pair of three touchdown game performances and ended the season with 100+ rushing yards in four of the squad's final five games including a season-high 187 yard performance against EKU.

A redshirt junior defensive back from Mobile, Ala., White Schultz garnered First Team All-UAC honors as UNA's defensive leader a year ago finishing with 87 tackles, including 49 solo tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. He also collected three pass-breakups, one hurry, a forced fumble and one recovery. White Schultz exploded onto the scene in 2023 tallying 14 tackles, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss in his Week 0 debut for the Lions. He wrapped up the season with four double-digit tackle performances and boasted seven games with at least one tackle for loss or assist.

A total of 27 players were chosen for the All-Conference squad led by six selections from Central Arkansas while Abilene Christian and Tarleton State followed closely with five picks each. EKU tallied four honorees and the trio of Austin Peay, North Alabama and Southern Utah all earned a pair of choices along with one distinction for Utah Tech to round out the preseason honors.

In the Coaches' Poll, UCA collected five first place votes and a total of 77 points as the preseason choice to claim the UAC crown. The Bears were 7-4 a year ago including a 4-2 mark in league play. Tarleton State (8-3, 4-2 UAC) tallied three first place votes and 74 points to sit in second while Southern Utah (6-5, 4-2 UAC) secured 54 points for the third spot in the rankings.

EKU (5-6, 4-2 UAC) was picked to finish fourth with a total of 53 points with defending UAC Champion Austin Peay (9-3, 6-0 UAC) in fifth-place netting 46 points including one first place nod. Abilene Christian (5-6, 3-3 UAC) secured sixth-place in the listing with 43 points followed by North Alabama (3-8, 1-5 UAC), Utah Tech (2-9, 1-5 UAC) and league newcomer West Georgia.

UAC Football has a pair of squads participating in Week 0 games as North Alabama is set to battle Southeast Missouri in the FCS Kickoff Classic in Montgomery, Ala., while Tarleton State hosts rival McNeese State. Head-to-head UAC competition kicks off Sept. 7 when newcomer West Georgia visits Abilene Christian.

2024 PRESEASON UAC COACHES POLL
1. Central Arkansas (5 first-place votes) -- 77 points
2. Tarleton State (3 first-place votes) -- 74 points
3. Southern Utah -- 54 points
4. EKU -- 53 points
5. Austin Peay (1 first-place vote) -- 46 points
6. Abilene Christian -- 43 points
7. North Alabama  -- 26 points
8. Utah Tech -- 19 points
9. West Georgia -- 13 points

2024 UAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Kayvon Britten (Tarleton State)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Edwin White Schultz (North Alabama)

OFFENSE
QB - Will McElvain (Central Arkansas)*
RB - ShunDerrick Powell (Central Arkansas)*
RB - Kayvon Britten (Tarleton State)*
WR - Takairee Kenebrew (North Alabama)*
WR - Darius Cooper (Tarleton State)*
TE - Hunter Brown (EKU)
OL - Alan Hatten (Abilene Christian)
OL - Chandler Kirton (Austin Peay)
OL - Will Diggins (Central Arkansas)
OL - Payton Collins (EKU)
C - Tuli Teuhema (Tarleton State)

DEFENSE
DL - Hosea Knifely, Jr. (Austin Peay)
DL - David Walker (Central Arkansas)*
DL - Rylen Sua-Filo (Southern Utah)
DL - Brandon Tolvert (Tarleton State)
LB - Cirby Coheley (Abilene Christian)
LB - Darius Moore (Abilene Christian)
LB - Demetrias Charles (Central Arkansas)
LB - Kohner Cullimore (Southern Utah)
DB - Elijah Moffett (Abilene Christian)
DB - TaMuarion Wilson (Central Arkansas)
DB - Mike Smith, Jr. (EKU)
DB - Edwin White Schultz (North Alabama)

SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Patrick Nations (EKU)
P - Grant Nickel (Abilene Christian)
RS - Deangelo Rosemond (Tarleton State)*
LS - Ryan Kean (Utah Tech)

* - Denotes unanimous selection
NOTE: Due to voting ties, a 12-member Defensive Team was selected