Bryant picked sixth in Big South-OVC Football Association poll
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Bryant University football team was picked sixth in the Big South-OVC Football Association preseason poll, it was announced today as part of Media Day activities at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville. Bryant had seven players named to the preseason watch list that was also announced on Tuesday.
Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO), the Ohio Valley Conference co-champion in 2022 and FCS Playoff participant, received six of the 10 first-place votes and 96 points to claim the top spot in the first year of the Association. Gardner-Webb, last season's Big South Champion, finished second in the polling with 86 points and collected two first-place votes. UT Martin, co-champions of the OVC last year, was third with 85 points and earned one first-place vote. All three members have been ranked in at least one preseason poll ahead of the 2023 campaign, with SEMO ranked as high as No. 9 in two polls.
Tennessee Tech received the remaining first-place vote and was fourth in the voting with 58 points – just ahead of Tennessee State (57 points). Bryant was predicted sixth with 48 points, followed by Lindenwood in seventh place with 45 points. Eastern Illinois (eighth – 33 points), Charleston Southern (ninth – 30 points) and Robert Morris (10th – 12 points) round out the inaugural poll.
In lieu of a preseason all-conference team, the Big South-OVC Football Association announced its 64-member watch list for the upcoming season on Tuesday. The Black and Gold had seven players recognized; Zevi Eckhaus (Jr, QB), Landon Ruggieri (Sr, WR), Jihad Edmond (Sr, TE), Jamichael Watts (Sr, OL), Kenny Dyson Jr. (Gr, DL), Ethan Gettman (Sr, PK) and Anthony Frederick (Sr, RS).
Players to Watch Notes and Notables
- Big South Second Team selection in 2022 after throwing for 3,228 yards and 26 touchdowns.
- Set the Bryant single-season record with 3,393 yards of total offense.
- Posted six 300-yard passing games, including a school-record 450-yard performance at Gardner-Webb.
- Has thrown for 5,620 yards and 47 touchdowns in his first two seasons as Bryant's starting QB.
- Big South First Team selection in 2022 after catching 65 passes for 986 yards and six touchdowns.
- Set the Bryant single-season record for receptions and joined Bryant Hall-of-Famer Jordan Harris as the only players in school history with 60+ receptions and 900+ yards in the same season.
- Posted five 100-yard receiving games, including a 10-catch, 169-yard performance at Gardner-Webb.
- Big South Second Team selection in 2022 after posting 25 catches for 274 yards and five touchdowns. The five TDs were the most by a Bryant TE since John Lavin (5) in 2014.
- Led all Big South tight ends in touchdown receptions.
- Finished the year with 18 catches for 187 yards and three TDs over the final five games.
- Big South Second Team selection in 2022 after helping Bryant set a program record for total offense.
- Bryant has averaged 30+ ppg in each of Watts' two seasons on the offensive line.
- Big South First Team selection in 2022 after posting 29.0 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 11.5 TFLs.
- Finished 14th nationally in sacks per game.
- Collected at least one sack in seven of the 11 games last season. He enters 2023 with 16.5 career sacks.
Ethan Gettman (AthlonSports.com Preseason All-American)
- STATS FCS Third Team All-American, Big South First Team selection and the 2022 Fred Mitchell Award winner after leading the country in field goal percentage.
- Made a school-record 14 field goals, finishing 14-of-15.
- Hit multiple field goals on four occasions, including a school single-game record three against Charleston Southern.
Anthony Frederick (Blue Bloods Preseason All-American)
- STATS FCS Third Team All-American and Big South Special Teams Player of the Year after leading the country with 901 return yards and ranked fourth with 30.0 yards per return.
- Also caught 39 passes for a career-high 654 yards.
- Ranked 14th nationally with 141 all-purpose yards per game.
- Enters 2023 with 105 receptions, 1,621 receiving yards and 2,653 all-purpose yards, ranking in the top 10 in all three categories.
2023 Preseason Poll (first-place votes) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Points
1. Southeast Missouri State (6) 6 4 - - - - - - - - 96
2. Gardner-Webb (2) 2 3 4 1 - - - - - - 86
3. UT Martin (1) 1 3 6 - - - - - - - 85
4. Tennessee Tech (1) 1 - - 2 4 1 2 1 - - 58
5. Tennessee State - - - 3 3 2 2 - - - 57
6. Bryant - - - 3 1 2 1 1 2 - 48
7. Lindenwood - - - - 3 4 1 - 1 1 45
8. Eastern Illinois - - - - - 1 3 4 2 - 33
9. Charleston Southern - - - 1 - - 1 4 3 1 30
10. Robert Morris - - - - - - - - 2 8 12