The ETSU football team is starting the season with confidence as they have been picked to place third in this year’s Southern Conference, just behind Mercer at No.1 and Tennessee Tech at No.2. However, this team did receive 61 points and one first-place vote. The Buccaneers also had a conference-high of nine players selected for the Preseason All-SoCon Team.
On the All-SoCon first-team offense, ETSU players include running back Jason Albritton, offensive lineman Will McCraw, tight end Charlie Browder, and kicker Ewan Johnson. On the defensive side of things, the first team includes defensive lineman Brednen LeBlanc and defensive back Mike Jenkins, while the second team includes linebacker Dre Delinois, defensive back Jivon Oggs, and long snapper Brock Winstead.
Statistics from the team’s last season are a clear indicator of what can be expected in the upcoming season. The Bucs averaged 32.5 points and 442.3 total yards per game, with the scoring defense allowing 22.8 points per game and 26 recorded team sacks. Jake McNamara is a returning player who managed to gain 1,283 passing yards last season, along with Suderian Harrison, who received over 652 yards for the team.
However, among the returning members, the ETSU team has also welcomed 37 new faces to replace the 25 graduates. They have recruited players from high schools and junior colleges, and have a heavy influx of transfers. This causes only ten players to return from last year’s two-deep rotation. Amongst these newbys includes Jadyn Davis, a quarterback transfer formerly pledged to Michigan, and Mason Mims, yet another quarterback hailing from Louisville, creating a battle of the quarterbacks.
Come see if these new additions will strengthen the team as they face off against Campbell on Aug. 29 at 5:30 p.m. at William B Greene Jr. Stadium, or watch the game broadcast on ESPN+.
