GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman placekicker/punter Ian Williams and offensive guard Luke Petit have been named Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-Americans, it was announced today.

Williams, a graduate student and two-time All-Southern Conference performer, garnered first team honors, while Petit, a redshirt senior offensive guard and 2024 all-conference honoree, was named to the third team.

The two Paladins are among 14 returning starters for Furman, which kicks off its 2025 season on Aug. 30 versus William & Mary in Greenville.

A Charlotte, N.C., native and three-year Paladin letterman, Williams is arguably the FCS's most effective three-way specialist, excelling in placements, kickoffs, and punting.  A year ago he connected on 14-of-20 field goal attempts, 24-of-25 PATs, and registered 43 touchbacks of 49 kickoffs.  In addition he averaged 40.6 yards on 60 punts.

Williams set a new Furman record with a SoCon season best 57-yard field goal in a 48-7 win over Stetson and matched it with another 57-yarder in the season finale versus Mercer.  His 64.0 kickoff yards average in 2024 led the league and 87.8 touchback kickoff percentage easily paced the SoCon, with the second highest percentage at 48.2 percent.  Only five of his kickoffs last fall were returned and for only a12.0 average — the lowest (best) in the FCS.  

Williams has connected on 42-of-56 field goals and has had only one kickoff go out-of-bounds in 207 kicks over his Furman tenure.

Petit, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound product of Akron, Ohio, completed his return to action in 2024 after sustaining a season ending knee injury in the sixth game of the 2023 season versus Samford.  He earned starts in all 11 games, including six at left guard, four at center, and one at left tackle, and logged a unit high 735 plays.

He is among four returning starters along Furman's offensive front this fall.

Complete Stats Perform Release, All-America Teams

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