WAC Coaches Select Sam Houston, Schmid, Kay as Preseason Favorites

[ursus arctos horribilis]

DENVER – With college football returning to the Western Athletic Conference for the first time since 2012, defending national champion Sam Houston is the favorite to win the 2021 WAC title while Bearkats quarterback Eric Schmid and defensive lineman Jahari Kay were selected WAC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, in a vote of the league’s six head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.

Schmid led the Preseason All-WAC Offense and is joined by teammates Ramon Jefferson, Jequez Ezzard, Isaac Schley, Eleasah Anderson, Prince Pines and Colby Thomas. Stephen F. Austin was represented by Xavier Gipson and Zach Ingram while Tarleton earned honors from Tariq Bitson and Zachary Perry. Dixie State running back Quali Conley earned the final offensive spot.

On defense, Kay was joined by teammates Trace Mascorro, Joseph Wallace, Quentin Brown, Trevor Williams, Zyon McCollum and Jaylen Thomas. SFA’s Brandon Thompson Jr. and Brevin Randle were recognized, as was Tarleton duo Ronnell Wilson and Devin Hafford. Lamar’s Anthony Ruffin represented the Cardinals in the preseason awards.

On special teams, Sam Houston kicker Seth Morgan and punter Matt McRobert were recognized and Ezzard earned the spot reserved for kick returner.

Sam Houston earned all five possible first place votes to earn 20 points. Stephen F. Austin earned the final first place votes and 16 points to earn second place. Tarleton is picked third with 11 points, followed by Lamar and Abilene Christian. Dixie State, who will be eligible for all individual awards, will not be playing a full WAC schedule due to previous non-conference game contracts.

The 2021 season begins on Sep. 2 with preseason favorite Sam Houston traveling to Northern Arizona.

2021 Preseason Football Coaches Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1 Sam Houston (5) 20
2. Stephen F. Austin (1) 16
3. Tarleton 11
4. Lamar 8
5. Abilene Christian 6

2021 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Eric Schmid, Jr., QB, Sam Houston
2021 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jahari Kay, Sr., DL, Sam Houston

2021 Preseason All-WAC Offense
QB - Eric Schmid, Jr., Sam Houston
RB - Quali Conley, Fr., Dixie State
RB - Ramon Jefferson, Jr., Sam Houston
WR - Tariq Bitson, Gr., Tarleton
WR - Jequez Ezzard, Gr., Sam Houston
WR - Xavier Gipson, So., Stephen F. Austin
TE - Isaac Schley, Gr., Sam Houston
OL - Eleasah Anderson, Jr., Sam Houston
OL - Zach Ingram, Sr., Stephen F. Austin
OL - Zachary Perry, Sr., Tarleton
OL - Prince Pines, So., Sam Houston
OL - Colby Thomas, Sr., Sam Houston

2021 Preseason All-WAC Defense
DL - Jahari Kay, Sr., Sam Houston
DL - Trace Mascorro, Sr., Sam Houston
DL - Brandon Thompson Jr., Jr., Stephen F. Austin
DL - Joseph Wallace, Sr., Sam Houston
LB - Quentin Brown, Jr., Sam Houston
LB - Brevin Randle, So., Stephen F. Austin
LB - Trevor Williams, Jr., Sam Houston
LB - Ronnell Wilson, Sr., Tarleton
DB - Devin Hafford, Sr., Tarleton
DB - Zyon McCollum, Sr., Sam Houston
DB - Anthony Ruffin, Jr., Lamar
DB - Jaylen Thomas, Sr., Sam Houston

2021 Preseason All-WAC Special Teams
K - Seth Morgan, Fr., Sam Houston
P - Matt McRobert, Sr., Sam Houston
KR - Jequez Ezzard, Gr., Sam Houston

- WAC -

[BEAR]

So will there be:

A WAC conference title and An ASUN conference title and An AQ7 conference title?

How many conference championships will those two conferences have?

[Daytripper]

The fact that a D-II transitioning team polls higher than existing FCS members ACU and Lamar tells you all you need to know. They need to step it up.

- - - Updated - - -


So will there be:

A WAC conference title and An ASUN conference title and An AQ7 conference title?

How many conference championships will those two conferences have?

As many as our minds can imagine...

[Puddin Tane]

The fact that a D-II transitioning team polls higher than existing FCS members ACU and Lamar tells you all you need to know. They need to step it up.


well, seeing how we had 50+ freshmen playing in the spring, we are returning almost evert starter! (But i guess with the covid exemptions, most every team has a bunch of starters returning ?).

Anywho, we will not lose to Tarelton. No way, no how. Aint gonna happen.

[Daytripper]

well, seeing how we had 50+ freshmen playing in the spring, we are returning almost evert starter! (But i guess with the covid exemptions, most every team has a bunch of starters returning ?).

Anywho, we will not lose to Tarelton. No way, no how. Aint gonna happen.

Be careful about that prediction. They were 5-3 in the spring and beat New Mexico State.

[ursus arctos horribilis]

The fact that a D-II transitioning team polls higher than existing FCS members ACU and Lamar tells you all you need to know. They need to step it up.


well, seeing how we had 50+ freshmen playing in the spring, we are returning almost evert starter! (But i guess with the covid exemptions, most every team has a bunch of starters returning ?).

Anywho, we will not lose to Tarelton. No way, no how. Aint gonna happen.

Guys, when you **** up a quote...fix it. Don't just keep quoting a screwed up post over and over please.

What normally happens is you hit the backspace one too many times and deleted a "]" so add it back in and move along. Sometimes the first guy that starts the chain of ****ed up posts just completely deletes the entire "[/QUOTE]" at the end. Add it back in. But even easier just delete it or don't quote it at all.

[katss07]

Be careful about that prediction. They were 5-3 in the spring and beat New Mexico State.
Not going to put any weight into that NMSU game, they’re basically a D2 quality program. I don’t think they’d finish top 3 in the SLC or WAC. Not to mention Tarleton dropping a game to East Central of all teams. I’m confident Tarleton has the facilities, history and support to grow a good program in the WAC, and I’m sure the conference will improve as they do. But Todd Whitten stinks. They’ll lose to Lamar

[Nickels]

Good luck with that Ursus. The average age of SLC/Texas WACer fans has to be over 70 years old. The fact that they connected to the wifi, made it to this site and found the quote button is more than one should ask.

Tooks us over a decade to get most of ours to stop cheering while on offense.

[Daytripper]

Good luck with that Ursus. The average age of SLC/Texas WACer fans has to be over 70 years old. The fact that they connected to the wifi, made it to this site and found the quote button is more than one should ask.

Tooks us over a decade to get most of ours to stop cheering while on offense.

https://media.giphy.com/media/l0IyajjbNiRvCr7RC/giphy.gif

[Katfan]

Good luck with that Ursus. The average age of SLC/Texas WACer fans has to be over 70 years old. The fact that they connected to the wifi, made it to this site and found the quote button is more than one should ask.

Tooks us over a decade to get most of ours to stop cheering while on offense.
We’ve waited along time. But most of us are in our 60s.

[McCowboys]

Good luck with that Ursus. The average age of SLC/Texas WACer fans has to be over 70 years old. The fact that they connected to the wifi, made it to this site and found the quote button is more than one should ask.

Tooks us over a decade to get most of ours to stop cheering while on offense.

xbeerchugx

[ursus arctos horribilis]

Good luck with that Ursus. The average age of SLC/Texas WACer fans has to be over 70 years old. The fact that they connected to the wifi, made it to this site and found the quote button is more than one should ask.

Tooks us over a decade to get most of ours to stop cheering while on offense.

xlolx

Dude, that last line rings true for me too but I think at UM it goes the other direction...it's the youth that can't figure out how to STFU when we are offense and trust me this is a fairly recent thing.

[Puddin Tane]

Dayum. We only have 53 players on the roster. They dont have the 30 incoming freshman on it, but still...yikes

what? Not everybodys dream is playing the run and snooze offense?