Three Eagles Named Football Preseason All-SoCon
7/27/2009 9:46:00 PM | Football
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Georgia Southern Football received one first-place vote and is picked to finish fifth in the Southern Conference according to the 2009 coaches preseason poll. In addition, three Eagles were selected preseason All-SoCon. The league office announced the preseason information on Monday (July 27).
Sophomore kicker Adrian Mora (Dalton/Dalton) was a First Team preseason selection for the Eagles. Senior offensive lineman Cole Fountain (Cartersville/Woodland) and sophomore linebacker Dion Dubose (Dacula/Norcross) were named preseason Second Team.
A Second Team All-SoCon and All-Freshman pick last year, Mora was also selected preseason First Team by Phil Steele's Football Preview. He started the final eight games for the Eagles in 2008 and would lead the team in scoring with 61 points. As a redshirt-freshman, Mora kicked a field goal in every game played finishing 10-of-12 on the year with a long of 42 yards in the regular season finale at Furman. He also converted 31-of-31 extra points. In conference-only games, Mora ranked fifth in points, second in field goals, tied for first in extra point conversion percentage and led the league in field goal percentage.
Fountain will help anchor the offensive line, entering fall camp as a starter at right tackle. The fifth-year senior started in all 11 games last year, helping the offense rank 20th nationally in passing offense (247 ypg) and scoring offense (31.8 ppg).
Dubose took over the starting middle linebacker position last year and in the finale at Furman recorded a season-high 10 tackles and two sacks. He earned the SoCon 'Defensive Player of the Week' award for his performance. Also named to the SoCon All-Freshman team, Dubose recorded 32 tackles including four for a loss last year.
The Eagles return 40 letterwinners and 17 starters off last year's 6-5 team. Georgia Southern went 4-4 in the league, winning all four of its SoCon road games. Three of the four losses were by a combined four points.
Appalachian State received eight first-place votes and is picked to repeat as champions totaling 64 points. Wofford (53) edged Elon (51) for second place. The Eagles received the remaining first-place vote and totaled 39 points, one behind Furman for fourth place.
The Citadel and Samford tied for sixth place with 26 points. Western Carolina (15) and Chattanooga (10) rounded out the poll.
Georgia Southern kicks off the 2009 campaign on Saturday, September 5th at Paulson Stadium against Albany (N.Y.). Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 800-GSU-WINS.
