July 27, 2009

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State University was picked seventh in the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll, released by the conference office Monday.

Southeast and Austin Peay tied for seventh with 33 points in the overall voting by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

Two-time defending champion Eastern Kentucky was tabbed this year's favorite. The Colonels, one of five teams to garner at least one first-place vote, tallied 105 points and 10 first-place nods.

UT Martin (92 pts., 4 first-place votes) was second, while Eastern Illinois (89 pts., 2 first-place votes), Tennessee State (74 pts., 1 first-place vote), Murray State (61 pts., 1 first-place vote) and Tennessee Tech (35 pts.) were third, fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

P Doug Spada and WR Walter Peoples earned preseason all-conference honors for Southeast.

A native of Shelby, N.C., Spada garnered All-American accolades in each of the last two seasons. He ranked third in the nation and led the OVC with a 44.7 yards per punt average in 2008. Spada also had 15 punts of 50 or more yards a year ago.

Peoples, who hails from Glendale, Ariz., is approaching 1,000 receiving yards in his Southeast career. He caught 76 passes for 903 yards and six touchdowns as the league leader in receiving yards last season. Peoples currently stands with 972 career receiving yards.

UT Martin QB Cade Thompson was named the OVC's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Murray State DE Austen Lane was tabbed this year's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Southeast kicks off its 2009 season at home against Quincy on Sept. 3.

2009 OVC Predicted Order of Finish (first-place votes)
1. Eastern Kentucky (10) 105
2. UT Martin (4) 92
3. Eastern Illinois (2) 89
4. Tennessee State (1) 74
5. Murray State (1) 61
6. Tennessee Tech 35
7. Austin Peay 33
Southeast Missouri 33

Note: Jacksonville State is not eligible for the OVC Championship (NCAA APR penalties) and therefore is not ranked in the preseason poll.

2009 Preseason All-OVC Football Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Cade Thompson (QB), UT Martin
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Austen Lane (DE), Murray State

OFFENSE
QB - Cade Thompson, UT Martin*
RB - Brandyn Young, UT Martin**
RB - C.J. Walker, Eastern Kentucky
WR - Mike Hicks, UT Martin*
WR - Derrick Townsel, Murray State**
WR - Walter Peoples, Southeast Missouri**
TE - DeAngelo Nelson, Murray State**
C - Reggie Wade, Jacksonville State
OG - Chaz Millard, Eastern Illinois*
OG - Eric Ornella, Murray State
OT - Derek Hardman, Eastern Kentucky*
OT - Joe Gibbs, UT Martin**

DEFENSE
DL - Austen Lane, Murray State*
DL - Brandt Thomas, Jacksonville State**
DL - Chris Hall, Eastern Kentucky
DL - Charlie Seivers, Tennessee Tech
LB - Alexander Henderson, Jacksonville State*
LB - Daniel Becker, Austin Peay**
LB - Josh Bey, UT Martin**
DB - Kevis Buckley, Austin Peay*
DB - Carnell Clark, Jacksonville State*
DB - Eugene Clifford, Tennessee State**
DB - Taylor Lanigan, Murray State

SPECIALISTS
K - Kienan Cullen, Murray State
P - Doug Spada, Southeast Missouri*
RS - Terrence Holt, Austin Peay*

* - 1st team All-OVC team in 2008 ** - 2nd team All-OVC team in 2008

Official OVC Preseason All-Conference Release