SALISBURY, N.C. --- Tusculum College had 11 players named to the 2008 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Football Team, which was announced at the league's annual Football Media on Friday. The Pioneers 11 selections were the second most in the conference.

Tusculum had five All-SAC First Team honorees including Ryan Tallent, Gareth Rowlands, Justin Scott, Jarvis Littlejohn and Jeremy Thompson. Six were tabbed to the Second Team, including Corey Russell, Jarrell NeSmith, Drew Noe, Rynel Butler, Brandon Kelley and John Gregory.

Carson-Newman College led the SAC with 14 players named to the Preseason All-Conference team, including 11 first-team choices. Tusculum was second, followed by Catawba College (10) and Newberry College (7). Mars Hill College and Wingate University were tied for fifth with six selections each, while Lenoir-Rhyne College (3) and Brevard College (1) rounded out the list of honorees.

Tallent, a 5-10, 200-pound junior wideout from Maryville, Tenn., led the conference in receptions per game (5.9 rpg). Along with his 59 catches, Tallent was second in the SAC in receiving yards per game (69.6 ypg - 696 yds.) as he accounted for six touchdown grabs which were tied for third most in a TC season. The 2007 All-SAC First Team standout also led the team in all-purpose yardage with 1083 yards, the fifth most in school history. Tallent led Tusculum in both kickoff return (19.6 ypr) and punt return average (9.3 ypr).

Littlejohn, a 5-11, 240-pound senior linebacker from Gaffney, S.C., led the Pioneers with 85 tackles in 2007, which were fourth in the league. The 2007 All-SAC Second Team selection tallied 11 tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks, recovered two fumbles, while forcing another pair. In last year's home finale, Littlejohn recorded a career-best 17 tackles against Mars Hill, earning him both SAC and National Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

Scott, a 6-3, 235-pound senior linebacker from Jamestown, S.C., was second on the team with 78 stops, tying him for eighth in the SAC. He also finished seventh in the conference in tackles for loss (14) and tied for second with his four fumble recoveries. Scott finished third in the league with a pair of forced fumbles, while also seeing playing time in the offensive backfield on short-yardage situations, where he scored a touchdown.

Thompson, who was named last year's team most valuable player, will anchor the Tusculum defensive backfield. The 6-0, 200-pound senior from Rome, Ga., recorded 55 tackles, including eight for loss, two sacks and a team-best three interceptions (T4th in SAC). The 2007 All-SAC First Team honoree returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, while also finishing with nine passes defended (8th in SAC).

Rowlands, a sophomore placekicker from Great Britain, rounds out the All-SAC First Team picks for the Pioneers. Rowlands took over the TC kicking duties midway through the 2007 campaign as he posted 15 points, including six extra points and three field goals.