GREENVILLE, S.C. --- Furman is picked sixth in a poll of Southern Conference head football coaches, and five Paladins have earned preseason all-conference accolades, it was announced today at the league's annual football media day at Greenville's Hotel Hartness. 

Furman collected 36 points to sixth among the SoCon's nine schools, ahead of seventh place Wofford, eight place The Citadel, and VMI, which ranked ninth.

Reigning champion Mercer topped the poll with 60 points and six first place votes, followed by Chattanooga with 50 points and two first place votes, and Western Carolina with 49 points and one first place vote. East Tennessee State (43 points) and Samford (40 points) were ranked fourth and fifth in the poll.

Furman's five preseason All-SoCon selections include four first team picks — offensive tackle Eli Brasher, tight end Jackson Pryor, linebacker Ryan Earl, and placekicker Ian Williams.  Offensive guard Luke Petit garnered second team recognition.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players.

Brasher, a 6-foot-4, 288-pound redshirt junior from Black Mountain, N.C., made 10 starts at left tackle and logged 685 play participations a year ago.  He is among a group of four returning starters along Furman's offensive line.

Pryor fashioned a solid true freshman campaign a year ago, catching 16 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.  The 6-foot-5 Boone, N.C. product hauled in a six-yard touchdown pass in the final minute to beat The Citadel, 17-16, in Charleston, and was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team.

Earl, a 6-foot-2, 231-pound Peachtree City, Ga., native, tallied 49 tackles in 2024 and was selected to the SoCon All-Freshman Team.

Furman's most decorated returnee is Williams, a Charlotte, N.C., native and one of 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.  

A recent Sports Network Preseason All-America First Team selection, 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.

The 2025 Paladins are set to welcome back 40 letterman and 14 starters under head coach Clay Hendrix '86, who is entering his ninth season at the helm.  Furman's players report for preseason camp on Wednesday, July 30, and begin practice on Thursday, July 31.

2025 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes)     Total
1. Mercer (6)                        60
2. Chattanooga (2)              50
3. Western Carolina (1)      49
4. ETSU                               43
5. Samford                           40
6. Furman                            36
7. Wofford                            19
8. The Citadel                      17
9. VMI                                  10
 
 
2025 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Zock, So., DL, Mercer
 
First team offense
QB          Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
RB          Devontae Houston, ETSU
RB          Branson Adams, Western Carolina
OL          Mike Bartilucci, The Citadel
OL          Ashton Flinn, ETSU
OL          Eli Brasher, Furman
OL          Xavier Jennings, Mercer
OL          B J Ragland, Chattanooga
OL          Zach Watson, Western Carolina
TE          Jackson Pryor, Furman
WR         Hakeem Meggett, ETSU
WR         Adjatay Dabbs, Mercer
 
First team defense
DL          Nick Hunter, ETSU
DL          Andrew Zock, Mercer
DL          Conroy Cunningham, Samford
DL          Caleb Fisher, Western Carolina
LB           Je'Mazin Roberts, The Citadel
LB           Ryan Earl, Furman
LB           Hayward McQueen Jr., Western Carolina
DB          Cale Williams, The Citadel
DB          Kouri Crump, VMI
DB          Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina
DB          CJ Coombes, Wofford
 
First team specialists
PK          Ian Williams, Furman
P             James Platte, The Citadel
LS           Alex Applefield, Samford
RS          Brayden Smith, Mercer
 
Second team offense
QB          Quincy Crittendon, Samford
RB          Autavius Ison, Mercer
RB          CJ Miller, Mercer
OL          Johnathan Cline, ETSU
OL          Micah Sumpter, ETSU
OL          Luke Petit, Furman
OL          Tyler Murray, Mercer
OL          Aaron Sanez, Western Carolina
OL          Quincy Hughes, Wofford
TE          John McIntyre, Chattanooga
WR         Adonis McDaniel, Mercer
WR         Malik Knight, Western Carolina
WR         Isaiah Scott, Wofford
 
Second team defense
DL          Brenden LeBlanc, ETSU
DL          Micah Nelson, Western Carolina
DL          Brandon Maina, Wofford
DL          Marion Smokes, Wofford
LB           Ty Anderson, ETSU
LB           Jaden Mosley, Samford
LB           Blue Monroe, Western Carolina
DB          Donovan Watkins, Mercer
DB          Jeremiah Batiste, Chattanooga
DB          Samaurie Dukes, Western Carolina
DB          Maximus Pulley, Wofford
 
Second team specialists
PK          Ewan Johnson, ETSU
P             John McConnell, Mercer
LS           Jaiden Hamilton, Mercer
RS          Braylon Knauth, The Citadel
 
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or team.