HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana senior quarterback and reigning Walter Payton Award recipient Cole Kelley was named to the 2021 Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team on Tuesday.
Kelley, who will play his third and final season with the Lions this fall, is one of two Southland Conference student-athletes on the team, along with Nicholls senior offensive lineman P.J. Burkhalter. The entire preseason All-America squad is available at https://athlonsports.com/college-football/athlon-sports-2021-preseason-fcs-all-america-team.
Kelley took home the Payton Award – the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy – in May after a prolific showing in his first season as the starter in Hammond. In seven games, the Lafayette, Louisiana threw for 2,662 yards and accounted for 27 touchdowns (18 passing, seven rushing and two receiving). The Southland Conference and Louisiana Offensive Player of the Year threw for 300 or more yards in every game – including three performances of 400 or more yards.
Kelley is one of 16 All-Southland Conference performers returning for the Lions, who are ranked No. 15 in the preseason Athlon Sports FCS Top 25. The Southeastern offensive all-conference contingent includes a quartet of offensive linemen in Jalen Bell, Drew Jones, Ethan McMullan and Rendon Miles-Character, as well as top targets CJ Turner, Austin Mitchell and Damien Dawson.
SLU opens fall practice on Aug. 6 in preparation for the Sept. 4 season opener, which will see the Lions host North Alabama at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
2021 Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team
Offense
QB – Cole Kelley – Southeastern Louisiana – 6-7 – 260 – Sr.
RB – Julius Chestnut – Sacred Heart – 6-1 – 215 – Sr.
RB – Jah-Maine Martin – North Carolina A&T – 5-10 – 214 – Sr.
RB – Otis Weah – North Dakota – 5-9 – 195 – Jr.
WR – Avante Cox – Southern Illinois – 5-10 – 170 – Sr.
WR – Jakob Herres – VMI – 6-4 – 211 – Sr.
WR – Tyler Hudson – Central Arkansas – 6-2 – 195 – Jr.
TE – Ryan Miller – Furman – 6-2 – 221 – Sr.
OL – P.J. Burkhalter – Nicholls – 6-3 – 330 – Sr.
OL – Garrett Greenfield – South Dakota State – 6-6 – 295 – Jr.
OL – David Kroll – Delaware – 6-7 – 315 – Sr.
OL – Cordell Volson – North Dakota State – 6-7 – 310 – Sr.
OL – Ty Whitworth – Weber State – 6-4 – 300 – Sr.
Defense
DL – Jared Brinkman – Northern Iowa – 6-2 – 290 – Sr.
DL – Mike Greene – James Madison – 6-3 – 285 – Sr.
DL – Jahari Kay – Sam Houston – 6-2 – 255 – Sr.
DL – Jordan Lewis – Southern – 6-3 – 195 – Sr.
LB – Logan Backhaus – South Dakota State – 6-4 – 205 – Sr.
LB – Conner Mortensen – Weber State – 6-0 – 215 – Sr.
LB – Stone Snyder – VMI – 6-3 – 225 – Jr.
LB – Tre Walker – Idaho – 6-1 – 235 – Sr.
DB – Markquese Bell – Florida A&M – 6-3 – 205 – Jr.
DB – Chris Edmonds – Samford – 6-2 – 205 – Jr.
DB – Nicario Harper – Jacksonville State – 6-1 – 205 – Jr.
DB – Kordell Jackson – Austin Peay – 5-9 – 188 – Sr.
DB – Kedrick Whitehead – Delaware – 5-11 – 195 – Sr.
Special Teams
PK – Ethan Ratke – James Madison – 5-10 – 185 – Sr.
P – Daniel Whelan – UC Davis – 6-6 – 215 – Sr.
LS – Kyle Davis – James Madison – 5-11 – 210 – Sr.
KR – Christian Watson – North Dakota State – 6-4 – 200 – Sr.
PR – Jequez Ezzard – Sam Houston – 5-9 – 190 – Gr.
AP – Javon Williams Jr. – Southern Illinois – 6-2 – 245 – Jr.
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