ROCK HILL, SC – Lenoir-Rhyne College senior linebacker Tim Clarke, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, is one of a league-high 10 Bears football players named to the Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Football Team, as selected by the league’s eight Sports Information Directors.

In the preseason coaches poll, the Bears were picked to finish in eighth place.

Clarke led the SAC in tackles last season with 125 total stops. Other first-team selections for Lenoir-Rhyne include return specialist Christopher Winford, who also made the preseason team as a second team wide receiver; running back Andrew Tudor, who led the SAC in rushing average last year with 118.1 yards per game; tight end Matt Winters and placekicker Andrew Coln, who connected on 11 of 14 field goals.

Carson-Newman, the preseason favorite to win the conference championship, also had 10 preseason All-Conference picks, with only two first team selections - offensive linemen Cameron Atchley and Pat Egan.

Catawba, which has not finished lower than second in the conference standings for six consecutive years, also placed nine on the preseason squad. The Indians placed seven on the first team, including wide receivers Corey Ready and Rod Tenor and running back Mario Crowe on offense, and Kolby Fisher, Marcus Huntley and SaMario Houston on the defense.

Wingate, which had its best-ever finish last year with a second-place showing, returns a good crop and placed six on the preseason team, including four on first and second team offense. Offensive linemen Brandon Manshack anchors the first team offense, while linebacker Allen Smith and defensive back David Jones were named to the first team defense.

Presbyterian should be a tough team to pass on, as the Blue Hose placed six on the preseason team, including three defensive backs. Quasi Gary and Chad Burgess are first-team selections, while Darrell Doe was named to the second team.

Newberry put up some big offensive numbers last year, and many of their stars return, including first-team quarterback Josh Stepp, wide receiver Tymere Zimmerman and offensive linemen Zack Farr and Heath Benedict. Stepp led the conference in passing yardage with 2,829 yards in his first season with the Indians, the seventh-highest total in SAC history. Wide receiver Antwan Surratt was a second team choice at both wide receiver and return specialist.

Mars Hill College has five preseason All-Conference picks, including a pair of running backs in Antione Jones on the first team and George Washington on the second team. Defensive lineman Anrea Fevier and punter Chris Cromer were also first team picks.

Tusculum College also placed five on the preseason squad. The Pioneers had just one first team selection in defensive back Marcus Robinson. Linebackers Shawn Harris and Rodney Peebles were both named to the second team.