Standout defensive back Darion Bolden was one of five Lindenwood Lions named on the Big South-OVC Football preseason watch list. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer
NASHVILLE, TN — Ahead of its inaugural season, the Big South-OVC Football Association revealed its Preseason Watch List entering the 2023 season today as part of Media Day activities at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.
The Watch List is comprised of top returnees by position, most of which are returning All-Conference and All-America honorees, plus 2023 Preseason All-Americans.
Five Lindenwood University players were named to the list, led by returning senior defensive back Darion Bolden.
Last year, Bolden was a first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference selection, after compiling 42 tackles, with 13 pass breakups and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a school-record 99-yard touchdown. Bolden was also named OVC Defensive Player of the Week once and was nominated for the award three different times.
Another Lindenwood defensive standout was also named to the watch list in sophomore defensive lineman Kobe McClendon. Last year, McClendon was a second-team All-OVC choice after ranking second on the team with 7.0 tackles for loss, three quarterback sacks, and five quarterback hurries during the year.
Lindenwood kicker Logan Seibert was also selected second-team All-OVC last season. The junior posted 77 total points by knocking home 44 of 47 extra-point attempts and 11 of 14 field goals.
The lone Lindenwood offensive players to make the watch list were junior offensive linemen Ethan Johnson and Gareth Warren. Both players were second-team All-OVC selections last year.
The Lions will begin 2023 summer training camp on Thursday, August 3, with four full weeks of practice to get set for the season opener on Thursday, August 31, against Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
2023 BIG SOUTH-OVC FOOTBALL PRESEASON WATCH LIST
QUARTERBACK (3)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Zevi Eckhaus, Bryant, Jr. — 2022 2nd Team All-Big South, Sophomore All-America
Draylen Ellis, Tennessee State, Sr. — 2021 2nd Team All-OVC; 2020 OVC Fr. of the Year
Paxton DeLaurent, Southeast Missouri, Jr. — 2022 OVC All-Newcomer Team
RUNNING BACK (5)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Juwon Farri, Eastern Illinois, Sr. — 2021 Big South Off. Player of the Year; 3x All-Conf.
Sam Franklin, UT Martin, R-So. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC; OVC Freshman of the Year
Narii Gaither, Gardner-Webb, R-Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-Big South; 3x All-Conference
Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri, Gr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC; 2x All-America; Payton Finalist
JD Moore, Charleston Southern, R-Jr. — 2022 2nd Team All-Big South
WIDE RECEIVER (5)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Ryan Flournoy, Southeast Missouri, Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC
Brennan McGuire, Gardner-Webb, Gr. — 2022 2nd Team All-Great Midwest
Landon Ruggieri, Bryant, Jr. — 2022 1st Team All-Big South
DeVonte Tanksley, UT Martin, R-Jr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Justin Thomas, Eastern Illinois, Gr. — 4x All-MIAA; D3 All-America
TIGHT END (2)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Jihad Edmond, Bryant, Sr. — 2022 2nd Team All-Big South
DJ Nelson, UT Martin, R-So. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Zack Gieg, Southeast Missouri, Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC; Rimington Award Winner
Nathan Hodnett, Tennessee Tech, Jr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Ethan Johnson, Lindenwood, Jr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Lamar Morgan, UT Martin, Sr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC, 2x All-Conference
Gavin Olson, UT Martin, Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC, All-American, 2x All-Conference
Chad Strickland, Eastern Illinois, Sr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC; 2019 Freshman All-America
Gabe Thompson, Gardner-Webb, R-Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-Big South, 2x All-Conference
Gareth Warren, Lindenwood, Jr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Jamichael Watts, Bryant, Sr. — 2022 2nd Team All-Big South
DEFENSIVE LINE (7)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Terrell Allen, Tennessee State, Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC, 2x All-Conference
Kail Dava, Tennessee Tech, Gr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Daylan Dotson, UT Martin, R-Jr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC
Kenny Dyson, Bryant, Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-Big South
Ty French, Gardner-Webb, Sr. — 2022 Big South Def. Player of the Year; 3x All-Conf.
Steven Lewis, Southeast Missouri, Sr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Kobe McClendon, Lindenwood, So. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC; Freshman All-America
LINEBACKER (10)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Ty Anderson, Gardner-Webb, So. — 2022 Big South Def. Freshman of the Year
Keandre Booker, Southeast Missouri, Sr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Joe Casale, Robert Morris, R-Sr. — 2022 2nd Team All-Big South
James Green, Tennessee State, Gr. — 2021 2nd Team All-OVC
Jacquez McGowan, Tennessee Tech, So. — 2022 OVC All-Newcomer Team
William McRainey, Gardner-Webb, Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-Big South, 2x All-Conference
Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri, Jr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC, All-America
K’Vaughan Pope, Tennessee State, Gr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Jamar Shegog, Robert Morris, R-Sr. — 2021 2nd Team All-Big South
Elijawah Tolbert, Eastern Illinois, Jr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC
DEFENSIVE BACK (11)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Darion Bolden, Lindenwood, Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC
Jamari Brown, Gardner-Webb, Gr. — 2022 1st Team All-Big South
Nick Coates, Eastern Illinois, Jr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Russell Dandy, Eastern Illinois, 5th — 2021 OVC All-Newcomer Team
Josh Green, Tennessee State, Sr. — 2019 Freshman All-American, OVC All-Newcomer
Jamel Johnson, Charleston Southern, So. — 2022 2nd Team All-Big South, Freshman All-America
Lawrence Johnson, Southeast Missouri, Gr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC; All-America
Ty Leonard, Southeast Missouri, Sr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Raequan Ousley, Gardner-Webb, Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-Big South
Bryce Phillips, Tennessee State, So. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
AJ Thomas, Gardner-Webb, Gr. — 2-time All-Big South
PLACEKICKER (4)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Stone Galloway, Eastern Illinois, Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC
Ethan Gettman, Bryant, Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-Big South; All-America, Mitchell Award Winner
Ian Sauter, Gardner-Webb, Gr. — 2022 2nd Team All-Mid South Conference
Logan Seibert, Lindenwood, Jr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
PUNTERS (2)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Nick Bigelow, Tennessee Tech, Jr. — 39.5 AVG, 21 FC, 14 I20, 3 50+
George Souders III, Robert Morris, Gr. — 38.7 AVG, 38 FC, 22 I20, 7 50+
KICKOFF RETURN/PUNT RETURN SPECIALISTS (4)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Mark Aitken, Eastern Illinois, Jr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Anthony Frederick, Bryant, Sr. — 2022 Big South Special Teams Player of the Year
Dalyn McDonald, Southeast Missouri, Sr. — 2022 1st Team All-OVC
Cooper Willman, Eastern Illinois, Jr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
LONG SNAPPER (2)
NAME, SCHOOL, YR — NOTES
Jack Valente, Eastern Illinois, Jr. — 2022 2nd Team All-OVC
Jamie Wilson, Gardner-Webb, R-So. — 2022 2nd Team All-Big South; Freshman All-America