x
Breaking News
More () »

Bears place seven on preseason All-SLC team

The University of Central Arkansas has seven players named to the 2019 Southland Conference Football Preseason All-Conference teams on Wednesday.
UCA Bears picked 3rd in the preseason Southland Conference coaches poll

The University of Central Arkansas has seven players named to the 2019 Southland Conference Football Preseason All-Conference teams on Wednesday.

The seven selections was the second-most in the league. UCA had four first-team selections and three more on the second team.

Senior running back Carlos Blackman, senior offensive lineman Hunter Watts, senior defensive end Chris Terrell and senior safety Juan Jackson were the first-team choices. Named to the second team were junior center Toby Sanderson and a pair of junior defensive backs, Jackie Harvell and Robert Rochell.

Blackman (6-1, 228), from Gosnell, Ark., was a first-team All-SLC pick last fall after rushing for 786 yards and nine touchdowns for the Bears. Blackman has totaled 2,172 career rushing yards at UCA and has scored 23 career touchdowns. His rushing total is 12th in UCA history.

Watts (6-8, 320), from John Marshall High School in San Antonio, Texas, is a two-year starter at offensive tackle and was named first-team All-SLC last fall after starting all 11 games and helping the Bears average 30.5 points and 407 yards per game.

Terrell (6-3, 270), from J.M. Tate High School in Pensacola, Fla., is  a two-time All-SLC selection after leading the Bears with 16.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks a year ago. Terrell is now sixth in UCA history in tackles for loss (46.5) and tied for fifth in sacks (21).

Jackson (5-11, 190), from Gardendale (Ala.) High School, was UCA's leading tackler in 2018 with 91 total tackles, including 67 solo tackles. Jackson forced five fumbles and had an interception and had four games with double-figure tackles, including a career-high 16 versus Tulsa. 

Sanderson (6-2, 300), from Edmond (Okla.) North High School, will be UCA's starting center for the second consecutive season after starting all 11 games in 2018 for the No. 4 scoring offense in the conference.

Harvell (6-0, 210), from Gurdon (Ark.) High School, finished the 2018 season as the Bears' second-leading tackler with 69 stops, including 54 unassisted tackles. Harvell recorded 11 tackles for loss (second on the team) and 4 sacks. He also had two interceptions, forced two fumbles and recovered two more.

Rochell (6-2, 176), from Fair Park High School in Shreveport, La., led the Bears with four interceptions last season. He had a pair of interceptions in the season finale against Abilene Christian. 

UCA head coach Nathan Brown will take Jackson and redshirt sophomore quarterback Breylin Smith to the 2019 SLC Media Day activities next Thursday in Houston, Texas. The Bears open the 2019 season on Thursday, Aug. 29 at Western Kentucky. The home opener, which also happens to be the SLC opener, is set for Saturday, Sept. 14 vs. Abilene Christian at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.

Before You Leave, Check This Out