The UAPB Golden Lions, defending Southwestern Athletic Conference football champions, and the UCA Bears, the defending Southland Conference champions, both open the 2013 football season ranked in The Sporting News Preseason FCS Top 25 poll.
The publication made the announcement in its annual college football preview magazine on newsstands now. The UCA Bears start ranked No. 11 and the UAPB Golden Lions begin the season No. 16.
Black College Sports Page writer, Lut Williams, contributed to the SWAC preview inside The Sporting News saying this about the UAPB Golden Lions: “In quarterback Benjamin Anderson, running back Justin Billings, wide receiver Ladarius Eckwood and tight end Dezmond Beverly, Golden Lions coach Monte Coleman returns All-SWAC players at every skill position. Add all-conference selections in defensive back Ryan Shaw, linebacker Jer-ryan Harris and kicker Tyler Strickland, and it’s easy to see why the Golden Lions are the division favorites.”
Last year, the Golden Lions claimed a West Division title on their way to a 10-2 record, the most wins in the program’s history.
The UAPB Golden Lions also captured the HSRN Conway Cup and the network’s National Championship title. The Golden Lions were also named Black College National Champions by the American Sports Wire and were voted by the coaches poll as the BoxtoRow National Champions.
For the 2013 preseason, Anderson was named SWAC Offensive Player of the Year landing first team preseason honors with teammates Billings, Eckwood, Beverly, Harris, Shaw, Kenny Eagle (OL), Damien Lee (OL), and DeMarcus Berry (DL).
With 11 players making preseason selections, nine were named to the first team with Keathric Brown (OL) and Xavier Lofton (LB).
The Sporting News Preseason FCS Top 25 Poll
1. North Dakota State
2. Georgia Southern
3. Montana State
4. Eastern Washington
5. Appalachian State
6. Sam Houston State
7. Villanova
8. South Dakota State
9. Illinois State
10. Old Dominion
11. Central Arkansas
12. Northern Iowa
13. Towson
14. Montana
15. Richmond
16. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
17. Northern Arizona
18. Stony Brook
19. Eastern Illinois
20. Chattanooga
21. Cal Poly
22. New Hampshire
23. Colgate
24. Sacramento State
25. Bethune-Cookman
The Sporting News FCS Preseason All-America Team
Offense
- QB Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion
- RB Zach Zenner, South Dakota State
- RB Timothy Flanders, Sam Houston State
- OL Garrett, Frye, Georgia Southern
- OL Terrence Hackney, Bethune-Cookman
- OL Billy Turner, North Dakota State
- OL Chris Elkins, Youngstown State
- OL Dakota Dozier, Furman
- TE A.C. Leonard, Tennessee State
- WR Erik Lora, Eastern Illinois
- WR Sean Price, Appalachian State
Defense
- DL Davis Tull, Chattanooga
- DL Colton Underwood, Illinois State
- DL Jonathan Woodard, Central Arkansas
- LB Jordan Tripp, Montana
- LB Grant Olson, North Dakota State
- LB Stephon Robertson, James Madison
- DB Marcus Williams, North Dakota State
- DB Jaquiski Tartt, Samford
- DB Steve Goldbolt III, Tennessee State
- DB T.J. Lee, Eastern Washington
Special Teams
- K Colton Cook, Southern Utah
- P Bobby Wenzig, Alabama St
- RS Walter Powell, Murray St
The Sporting News – SWAC Predicted Order of Finish
East
1. Jackson
2. Alabama State
3. Mississippi Valley State
4. Alabama A&M
5. Alcorn State
West
1. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
2. Southern
3. Prairie View A&M
4. Grambling State
5. Texas Southern
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