ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Furman has been picked third in a football preseason poll of Southern Conference media, and five Paladins garnered preseason all-conference honors in balloting by league head coaches, it was announced today at the SoCon's annual media day at Asheville's Biltmore.

Furman was part of a three-way tie for third in the poll, with East Tennessee State and Samford also earning 181 points.  The Paladins collected one first place vote in the poll of 30 media.  Chattanooga topped the poll with 248 points and 18 first place votes, and defending champion VMI placed second with 217 points and six first place votes.

The Paladins were picked fifth in the coaches' poll.  Chattanooga made it a consensus first place choice by earning the coaches' top spot, followed by Samford, VMI, and East Tennessee State.

Five Paladins were named to the preseason all-conference team selected by vote of the head coaches.

Earning a first team all-conference tab was fifth year running back Devin Wynn.

Named to the second team were redshirt junior offensive tackle Anderson Tomlin, fifth year defensive lineman Parker Stokes, and redshirt junior cornerback Travis Blackshear. Timmy Bleekrode, a redshirt junior, landed second team honors as both a punter and placekicker.

A two-time All-Southern Conference selection at tailback, Wynn has registered playing time in 42 games and made 24 starts as a Paladin, rushing for 2,468 yards and 25 touchdowns.  In 2019 he averaged a league leading 6.6 yards per carry among running backs while totaling 1,182 rushing yards and 14 scores, highlighted by a career best 217-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 58-14 road win over Samford.  The Greensboro, Ga., product and health sciences major heads into the 2021 season ranked ninth in Furman history in rushing and 10th in rushing touchdowns (25).

Tomlin, a native of Birmingham, Ala., collected first team All-SoCon honors after posting five starts at left tackle and logging 361 play participations this past spring.

A Wrens, Ga., product and veteran of 42 games, Stokes has totaled 82 tackles and 15.5 tackles for-loss in his career.

Blackshear, from Savannah, Ga., made starts in six of Furman's seven games in the spring and was credited with 21 tackles, interception, and four pass deflections.

Bleekrode is coming off a spring campaign that saw him garner second team all-conference honors as a punter after averaging 43.6 yards on 36 attempts — nearly two full yards per punt higher than first team selection Matthew Campbell of The Citadel.  The Atlanta, Ga., product also converted 6-of-7 field goal attempts, including a 47-yarder in a 17-13 road victory over ETSU.

The Paladins open preseason practice on Aug. 6.

Click here for Furman's complete 2021 football schedule.

Fans may purchase Furman football season tickets online here, calling the Furman Ticket Office (864) 294-3099, or by emailing tickets@furman.edu to begin the purchasing process and receive more information. Single game tickets for all five home games will be available for purchase online here beginning Monday, August 2, at 10 a.m.

2021 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes)    Total
1. Chattanooga (4)    59
2. Samford (2)    52
3. VMI (2)    50
4. ETSU (1)    49
5. FURMAN    34
6. Mercer    29
7. The Citadel    22
8. Wofford    21
9. Western Carolina    8
 
2021 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams

Offensive Player of the Year: Liam Welch, QB, Gr., Samford
Defensive Player of the Year: Stone Snyder, LB, Jr., VMI
 
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB    Liam Welch, Gr., Samford
RB    Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU
RB    Devin Wynn, 5th, Furman
RB    Ailym Ford, So., Chattanooga
OL    Tre'mond Shorts, R-Jr., ETSU
OL    Gavin Orr, Jr., Samford
OL    Cole Strange, Sr., Chattanooga
OL    Marshall Gill, Sr., VMI
OL    Tyler Smith, R-So., Western Carolina
OL    Zak Kurz, Sr., Wofford
TE    Nate Adkins, Jr., ETSU
WR    Ty King, R-So., Samford
WR    Jakob Herres, Sr., VMI

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL    Solomon Zubairu, So., Mercer
DL    Armond Lloyd, R-Sr., Samford
DL    Devonnsha Maxwell, Jr., Chattanooga
DL    Michael Mason, Jr., Wofford
LB    Willie Eubanks III, Sr., The Citadel
LB    Jared Folks, Gr., ETSU
LB    Stone Snyder, Jr., VMI
DB    Tyree Robinson, Sr., ETSU
DB    Chris Edmonds, So., Samford
DB    Brandon Dowdell, Sr., Chattanooga
DB    Ethan Caselberry, Sr., VMI
 
FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
PK    Tyler Keltner, So., ETSU
P    Matthew Campbell, Jr., The Citadel
RS    Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford
 
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB    Seth Morgan, R-So., VMI
RB    Brandon Marshall, Fr., Mercer
RB    Nathan Walker, Sr., Wofford
OL    Haden Haas, R-Sr., The Citadel
OL    Tavon Matthews, So., ETSU
OL    Anderson Tomlin, R-Jr., Furman
OL    McClendon Curtis, Jr., Chattanooga
OL    Harrison Moon, Sr., Chattanooga
OL    Al Hogan, Jr., Wofford
TE    Michael Vice, So., Samford
WR    AJ Toney, So., Samford
WR    Reggie Henderson, Sr., Chattanooga
 
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL    Parker Stokes, 5th, Furman
DL    Chris Hill, Fr., Mercer
DL    Jay Person, So., Chattanooga
DL    Warren Dabney, Sr., VMI
LB    Anthony Britton Jr., So., The Citadel
LB    Donovan Manuel, R-So., ETSU
LB    Isaac Dowling, Fr., Mercer
LB    Trimarcus Cheeks, So., Samford    
DB    Alijah Huzzie, R-Fr., ETSU
DB    Travis Blackshear, R-Jr., Furman
DB    Lance Wise, So., Mercer
DB    Jerrell Lawson, Sr., Chattanooga
 
SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
PK    Timmy Bleekrode, R-So., Furman
P    Timmy Bleekrode, R-So., Furman
RS    Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU
 
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or team.

2021 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
Team (1st-place votes)    Total
1. Chattanooga (18)    248
2. VMI (6)    217
t3. ETSU (3)    181
t3. FURMAN (1)    181
t3. Samford (2)    181
6. Mercer    123
7. Wofford    108
8. The Citadel    79
9. Western Carolina    32