LAKE CHARLES, LA -- Offensive lineman Hunter Schmidt and defensive end Chris Brown are first team selections and running back Chris Poullard and linebacker Luke McCall have been named to the second team for Sam Houston State on the 2009 preseason All-Southland Conference team.

Each of the eight Southland universities garnered at least three selections to the two preseason all-conference teams. Central Arkansas led all teams with 15 honorees, including a league-best eight on the first team, while no other team had more than McNeese State's and Northwestern State's nine preseason all-conference picks. Texas State netted seven players to either the first or second team, while Stephen F. Austin had five, Nicholls and Sam Houston State had four apiece and Southeastern had three.

Schmidt, a senior from Alvin, is a two-time All-Southland Conference offensive guard . He was selected Southland second team in 2008 and honorable mention in 2007. Schmidt has started all 32 games during his Bearkat career, opening holes for consecutive 1,000-yard rushers D. D. Terry (2006) and Chris Poullard (2007) and blocking for all-time SHSU passing and total offense leader Rhett Bomar.

Brown, senior from Texarkana, TX, is a two-time All-Southland first team defensive end. He was named to the College Sports News All-America squad in 2008 and Sports Network honorable mention All-America in 2007. Brown finished No. 3 in QB sacks (9) and No. 4 in tackles for losses (11) in the Southland in 2008. He ranks No. 14 all-time at SHSU with 14 career sacks.

McCall, a senior from Corpus Christi, is a three-year starter who has totaled 171 tackles at linebacker. He has started 24 games in his Bearkat career, ranking seventh on the team in tackles (39) as a junior and third as a sophomore (72).

Poullard, a junior from Killeen, was a second team All-Southland selection in 2007 who is returning to the backfield after red-shirting in 2008. He became the seventh running back in Sam Houston history to gain more than 1,000 yards in a single season as a sophomore, carrying 209 times for 1,038 yards and 13 touchdowns.

2009 Preseason All-Southland Conference Football Teams

First Team Offense
Pos Name University Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
QB Derrick Fourroux McNeese State 6-1 200 Sr. Erath, La.
RB Toddrick Pendland McNeese State 5-10 175 Sr. Newton, Texas
RB Karrington Bush Texas State 5-10 182 Jr. Whitewright, Texas
FB Nick Cowger Central Arkansas 6-1 236 Sr. Vilonia, Ark.
WR Duane Brooks Stephen F. Austin 6-0 185 Sr. Irving, Texas
WR Simmie Yarborough Southeastern La. 6-1 190 So. Brookhaven, Miss.
TE Wes Mangan McNeese State 6-4 245 Sr. Brenham, Texas
OL Lane Freiwald Central Arkansas 6-7 318 Sr. Little Rock, Ark.
OL D.J. Hall Texas State 6-2 280 So. Palestine, Texas
OL Hunter Schmidt Sam Houston State 6-3 304 Sr. Alvin, Texas
OL Casey Richter McNeese State 6-6 300 Sr. Praireville, La.
OL Will Merritt Central Arkansas 6-5 292 Sr. Sterlington, La.
PK Jeff Turner Southeastern La. 5-10 170 Sr. Houston, Texas

First Team Defense
Pos Name University Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
DL Larry Hart Central Arkansas 6-1 255 Sr. Madison, Miss.
DL Tim Knicky Stephen F. Austin 6-4 235 Sr. Cedar Park, Texas
DL Chris Brown Sam Houston State 6-2 220 Sr. Texarkana, Texas
DL Taylor Scott Central Arkansas 6-4 264 Sr. Little Rock, Ark.
LB Jabara Williams Stephen F. Austin 6-3 205 Jr. Garrison, Texas
LB James Lancaster Central Arkansas 6-0 224 Sr. Cordova, Tenn.
DB Tommy Connors Southeastern La. 6-1 205 Sr. Marrero, La.
DB Pieri Feazell Central Arkansas 5-11 206 Sr. Mount Olive, Miss.
DB Wesley Eckles Northwestern State 6-0 185 Sr. Mansfield, La.
DB Anthony Gambles Central Arkansas 5-9 174 Sr. Byhalia, Miss.
DB Derrick Boyd Central Arkansas 6-0 208 Sr. West Point, Miss.
P Patrick Dolan Nicholls 6-1 180 Jr. Mobile, Ala.
RS Karrington Bush Texas State 5-10 182 Jr. Whitewright, Texas

Second Team Offense
Pos Name University Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
QB Bradley George Texas State 6-6 225 Sr. New Braunfels, Texas

RB Brent Grimes Central Arkansas 5-9 194 Sr. Baton Rouge, La.
RB Chris Poullard Sam Houston State 5-10 205 Jr. Killeen, Texas
FB Brandon Broussard McNeese State 6-2 245 Sr. Deridder, La.
WR Contravious Parks Stephen F. Austin 5-10 185 Sr. Killeen, Texas
WR* Willie Landers Central Arkansas 6-2 204 Jr. El Dorado, Ark.
WR* Immanuel Friddle McNeese State 6-3 215 Sr. Iowa, La.
TE Gordon Freeman Northwestern State 6-2 255 Sr. Longview, Texas
OL Calvin Gore Texas State 6-5 305 Sr. Canyon Lake, Texas
OL Marcus Washington Northwestern State 6-3 295 Sr. Alexandria, La.
OL Alex Luna Texas State 6-3 295 Sr. Houston, Texas
OL Casey Thurber Central Arkansas 5-11 278 Sr. Tulsa, Okla.
OL Michael Booker Northwestern State 6-3 320 Jr. Paris, Texas
PK Ross Schexnayder Nicholls 5-11 185 Sr. Houma, La.

Second Team Defense
Pos Name University Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
DL Zac Reddix Nicholls 6-2 215 Sr. Prairieville, La.
DL Ledell Love Northwestern State 6-1 240 Jr. Dallas, Texas
DL Albert Smith Northwestern State 6-0 301 Sr. Matthews, La.
DL Terrance Freeman McNeese State 6-4 235 Jr. Newton, Texas
LB Deron Minor McNeese State 6-2 235 Sr. Beaumont, Texas
LB* Blake Delcambre Northwestern State 6-1 235 Sr. New Iberia, La.
LB* Luke McCall Sam Houston State 6-0 227 Sr. Corpus Christi, Texas
LB* Marcus Clark Texas State 5-10 215 Jr. Fort Worth, Texas
DB Gary Riggs Northwestern State 6-3 220 Sr. Jennings, La.
DB Henry Minor Central Arkansas 5-10 176 Jr. Baton Rouge, La.
DB Kasey Brown Northwestern State 5-9 170 Sr. Shreveport, La.

DB Darrell Jenkins McNeese State 5-11 205 So. Newton, Texas
DB Dominique Daniels Nicholls 6-2 190 Sr. Gibsonton, Fla.
P Jonathan Beard Central Arkansas 5-10 165 Sr. Weir, Miss.
RS* T.J. Adams Central Arkansas 6-1 192 So. Beckville, Texas
RS* Contrevious Parks Stephen F. Austin 5-10 185 Sr. Killeen, Texas