Eight Presbyterian College football student-athletes have been named to Phil Steele's 2011 College Football Preview magazine Preseason All-Big South Team.
Blake Dowd (Columbia, S.C.) and Justin Bethel (Blythewood, S.C.) earned first team honors, while Michael Ruff (Whitmire, S.C.), Max Travis (Irmo, S.C.), Derren Evans (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Brian Davis (Charlotte, N.C.), CeeJay Harris (Long Beach, Calif.) and Patrick Morgano (Greenville, S.C.) garnered spots on the second team.
Dowd, a senior offensive lineman, started in 11 games last season and helped block for two, 1,000-yard career rushers in Trandon Dendy and Lance Byrd. Bethel, who is on the list for the third straight year, started in 10 games and was a member of the Big South Defensive All-Conference team last season. He was 15th in the league in tackles per game and became the career leader in blocked kicks in the Big South in 2010.
Ruff, a Redshirt-Junior wide receiver, registered almost 1,000 all-purpose yards last season. He caught 33 passes for 487 yards and had a team-leading six receiving touchdowns. He also had five 100-plus all-purpose yard games. Travis is a two-time selection and played and started in all 11 games in 2010, playing multiple positions on the line.
Evans, a member of the defensive line, recorded 19 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss, and had one pass break-up in the 11 games he started in. Davis, another Defensive lineman for the Blue Hose, accounted for 40 tackles on the year, which included 21 solos stops. He notched 7.5 tackles for a loss, including 5.5 sacks, which was second in the Big South. Harris, a senior linebacker, saw time in all 11 games in 2010 and recorded 75 stops in 2010. He posted 37 solo tackles including seven for a loss last season. His 6.8 tackles per game was tied for eighth in the league.
Morgano, a junior kicker, earned Big South Special Teams All-Conference honors in 2010, averaging 39.5 yards per punt. He led the Big South in punts, connecting on 68 of them. He tallied a career-long of 64 at VMI, which tied the mark for fifth longest in the league.
The Blue Hose open the 2011 season Saturday, Sept. 3, against Wofford. Kick-off is set for 1:30 p.m. at Bailey Memorial Stadium. For ticket information please call the ticket office at 864.833.8240.
