Sara Carpenter
Football
COMMERCE – Seven Texas A&M University-Commerce football players were named to preseason all-Southland Conference teams by Phil Steele magazine on Friday morning.
Offensively, wide receivers Paul Odidi (Mansfield – Timberview) and Jared Wilson (Mesa, Ariz.) are named to third team offense.
On the defensive side, defensive back Max Epps (Spring – Dekaney) is named to first team defense, defensive lineman Clifford Funderburk (North Forney) is named to second team defense, and defensive back Jaden Rios (Frisco – Lone Star) is named to third team defense.
Rounding out the special teams, Josiah Kennard (Manvel) earned first team honors and Mitchell McGarry (Gregory-Portland) was named to the second team.
Odidi and Wilson are newcomers to the Lions this season. Odidi comes to A&M-Commerce following a three-year career at SAGU/Nelson. He racked up 1,785 yards and 17 touchdowns in three seasons. Wilson arrived in Commerce after playing at Snow College, totaling 628 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 55 receptions in 12 games.
Epps, a preseason All-American by Stats Perform and was also named to the first team by the Southland this preseason, following a third team All-America campaign a year ago. Funderburk totaled 5.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, 21 tackles, five quarterback hurries, and three forced fumbles last season. Rios was also named to second team defense by the Southland this preseason.
Kennard has appeared in 18 games over the last two season, long snapping for both the punting and field goal units. McGarry was named to the second team by the Southland this preseason as well.
The full Phil Steele Preseason FCS teams can be found HERE.
Single game and season tickets are on sale and can be found at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.
PHIL STEELE SOUTHLAND 2024 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
2024 SOUTHLAND PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: QB Zach Calzada, UIW, Sr.
2024 SOUTHLAND PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: LB Micah Davey, McNeese, Jr.
| OFFENSE | |||
| 1st TEAM | 2nd TEAM | 3rd TEAM | |
| QB | Zach Calzada, UIW, Sr. | Pat McQuiade, Nicholls, Jr. | Robert Coleman, Lamar, Sr. |
| RB | Collin Guggenheim, Nicholls, Sr. | Khalan Griffin, Lamar, Sr. | Jerrell Wimbley, Stephen F. Austin, Jr. |
| RB | Jaylon Spears, Nicholls, Jr. | Harlan Dixon, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr. | Champ Dozier, Houston Christian, Fr. |
| WR | Darius Lewis, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr. | Quincy Brown, Nicholls, Jr. | Jared Wilson, A&M-Commerce, Sr. |
| WR | Andre Dennis, Lamar, Jr. | Sevonne Rhea, Lamar, Sr. | Anthony Stell, UIW, Sr. |
| WR | Kylon Harris, Stephen F. Austin, Jr. | Mason Pierce, UIW, Sr. | Paul Odidi, A&M-Commerce, Sr. |
| TE/HB | Lee Negrotto, Nicholls, Sr. | Ivan Drobocky, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr. | Devyn Gibbs, Lamar, Jr. |
| OL | Cole Leclair, McNeese, Sr. | Brockhim Wicks, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr. | Robbie Pizzolato, Nicholls, Soph. |
| OL | Evan Roussel, Nicholls, Sr. | Jevale Roberson, Lamar, Sr. | Reggie Brooks, Lamar, Jr. |
| OL | Elias Ripley, Lamar, Sr. | Mason Williams, UIW, Sr. | Rasheed Jackson, UIW, Soph. |
| OL | Jhy Orgeron, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr. | Dylan Dauzart, McNeese, Sr. | DeAndre' Keller, Nicholls, Jr. |
| OL | Nolan Hay, Incarnate Word, Jr. | Reed Lambert, Nicholls, Sr. | Hayes Creel, McNeese, Soph. |
| DEFENSE | |||
| 1st TEAM | 2nd TEAM | 3rd TEAM | |
| DL | Edward Bobino III, Stephen F. Austin, Jr. | Rasheed Lovelace, Nicholls, Soph. | Aaron Austin, Stephen F. Austin, Soph. |
| DL | Joe Mason, Nicholls, Sr. | Clifford Funderburk, A&M-Commerce, Sr. | John Mathis, UIW, Jr. |
| DL | Caleb Williams, Lamar, Sr. | Chase Carter, UIW, Soph. | Jaymond Jackson, Lamar, Sr. |
| DL | Kershawn Fisher, Nicholls, Sr. | Zae Smith, Houston Christian, Jr. | Marcus Brown, UIW, Sr. |
| LB | Micah Davey, McNeese, Jr. | Eli Ennis, Nicholls, Jr. | Tristan Driggers, McNeese, Sr. |
| LB | Tylan Foster, UIW, Sr. | Quinton Sharkey, Nicholls, Sr. | Mister Williams, UIW, Jr. |
| LB | Hayden Shaheen, Nicholls, Soph. | Donte' Daniels, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr. | Jalen Freeman, Lamar, Sr. |
| LB | Jermaine Brown, Stephen F. Austin, Sr. | Marques White, McNeese, Sr. | Declan Williams, UIW, Jr. |
| DB | Tyler Morton, Nicholls, Sr. | Jeremiah Walker, Stephen F. Austin, Sr. | Mason Chambers, UIW, Sr. |
| DB | Max Epps, A&M-Commerce, Sr. | Ramond Stevens, Lamar, Sr. | Bruce Harmon, Stephen F. Austin, Sr. |
| DB | Kendarius Smith, Nicholls, Sr. | Devion Hargrove, Houston Christian, Jr. | Levi Wyatt, McNeese, Jr. |
| DB | Ronald Wilson, UIW, Sr. | Kristian Pugh, Lamar, Jr. | Jaden Rios, A&M-Commerce, Jr. |
| SPECIAL TEAMS | |||
| 1st TEAM | 2nd TEAM | 3rd TEAM | |
| K | Chris Campos, Stephen F. Austin, Sr. | Dillon Fedor, Houston Christian, Sr. | Chris Esqueda, Lamar, Sr. |
| P | Kylan Dupre, Nicholls, Jr. | Mitchell McGarry, A&M-Commerce, Sr. | Finn Lappin, McNeese, Fr. |
| KR | Dekalon Taylor, UIW, Jr. | Darius Lewis, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr. | Jaylon Spears, Nicholls, Jr. |
| PR | Darius Lewis, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr. | Dekalon Taylor, UIW, Jr. | Kyndon Fuselier, Lamar, Jr. |
| AP | Jaylon Spears, Nicholls, Jr. | Dekalon Taylor, UIW, Jr. | Darius Lewis, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr. |
| LS | Josiah Kennard, A&M-Commerce, Jr. | Lane Gilchrest, Lamar, Sr. | Kyle Wittenrich, Houston Christian, Sr. |
-TAMUC-
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Players Mentioned
-
Max Epps
- DB
- 5' 11"
- Redshirt Senior
-
Clifford Funderburk
- DL
- 6' 3"
- Redshirt Senior
-
Josiah Kennard
- LS
- 6' 1"
- Redshirt Junior
-
Mitchell McGarry
- P
- 6' 4"
- Redshirt Senior
-
Paul Odidi
- WR
- 6' 5"
- Redshirt Senior
-
Jaden Rios
- DB
- 6' 0"
- Redshirt Junior
-
Jared Wilson
- WR
- 6' 2"
- Redshirt Senior
Players Mentioned
-
Max Epps
- 5' 11"
- Redshirt Senior
- DB
-
Clifford Funderburk
- 6' 3"
- Redshirt Senior
- DL
-
Josiah Kennard
- 6' 1"
- Redshirt Junior
- LS
-
Mitchell McGarry
- 6' 4"
- Redshirt Senior
- P
-
Paul Odidi
- 6' 5"
- Redshirt Senior
- WR
-
Jaden Rios
- 6' 0"
- Redshirt Junior
- DB
-
Jared Wilson
- 6' 2"
- Redshirt Senior
- WR
