SPORTS
Nine ‘Cats Land on Preseason All-Pioneer League Squad
The 2019 Davidson Wildcat Football Team.
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Nine Wildcats were named to the Phil Steele Preseason Pioneer Football League All-Conference Team, announced Thursday.
Five ‘Cats made the first team including four on offense – running back’s Wesley Dugger and William Wicks, full back Jorell Story and offensive lineman Ethan Steinbacher. Defensive tackle Bryce Perry-Martin was the lone Davidson defender to earn first team recognition.
The remaining four players made the second unit including Wicks again at wide receiver and linebacker Tony Collins, cornerback Rayshawn McCall and safety Dreylan Hines.
The team is chosen by prominent football contributor, Phil Steele, and staff members of DraftScouts.com.
Dugger, Wicks and Story, with the help of Steinbacher and the offensive line, look for a repeat of the nation’s best rushing attack in 2019. Led by Dugger’s 1,241 yards, the ‘Cats averaged an FCS-best 428.5 yards per game on the ground last season.
Perry-Martin, also a Preseason All-PFL first teamer, led the league in tackles for loss last season with 15.0 and made 58 total stops.
Wicks speed makes him a threat both running the ball and over the top as the senior slot receiver averaged 122.8 all-purpose yards and 14 total scores in 2018. Story adds a between the tackle, hard-nosed running style to head coach Scott Abell‘s impressive stable of backs. The Dallas, Ga., native bulled his way to 13 touchdowns last season on 77 carries.
Collins posted 71 tackles in 2018, while McCall and Hines led the secondary. Hines was named the league’s Co-Defensive Freshman Player of the Year and was selected to the HERO Sports Defensive All-Freshman Team while leading the team with four interceptions. McCall picked off three passes and made 46 tackles, 34 of them solo stops.
Davidson opens the season at home on Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. against Georgetown. The ‘Cats recently launched the “Pack Richardson” campaign, led by the generosity of Stephen B. Smith ’66, Wildcat fans can follow this link to claim up to six complimentary tickets to the clash with the Hoyas.