Gamecocks No. 4 in Athlon's FCS Preseason Top 25
5/29/2015 11:31:00 AM | Football
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State football team is ranked No. 4 in the Athlon FCS Preseason Top 25, which was released this week.
The No. 4 ranking is the highest preseason ranking JSU has received at the Division I level and another Top 10 preseason pick for the defending Ohio Valley Conference Champions. The Gamecocks were picked seventh in the Sporting News' FCS Preseason Poll earlier this month.
The Gamecocks, who ran through the OVC with a perfect 8-0 record and posted a 10-2 overall mark in 2014, are just behind No. 3 Sam Houston State, While North Dakota State ia No. 1 and Illinois State No. 2 in the poll. The Gamecocks and No. 8 Chattanooga will open the season in Chattanooga on Sept. 5.
Season tickets, as well as tickets to JSU's second game of the year at Auburn on Sept. 12, are on sale in the JSU Athletics Ticket Office and online at www.JSUGamecockSports.com. To order by phone, call (256) 782-8499.
The Gamecocks finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in the nation and earned a bye to the second round of the FCS Playoffs. The No. 2 ranking tied the 2010 team for the highest in the school's Division I history. The No. 7 ranking by the Sporting News is the second highest preseason ranking JSU has received at the FCS level, behind only last year's No. 6 ranking in The Sporting News Preseason Poll.
The Gamecocks lost leading rusher DaMarcus James but return seven starters on an offense that produced a school-record 510.8 yards per game, including quarterback Eli Jenkins (1,870 yards and 12 touchdowns passing, 813 and six touchdowns rushing) and wide receiver Josh Barge (56 catches for 919 yards and four touchdowns). Also back on offense are running backs Troymaine Pope (715 yards, six touchdowns) and Miles Jones (652, seven touchdowns).
JSU also returns nine starters on defense, including tackle Devaunte Sigler, OVC defensive player of the year, and All-American cornerback Jermaine Hough.
The Gamecocks will host five games in Burgess-Snow Field this fall, starting with their home and Ohio Valley Conference opener against Tennessee State on Sept. 19. They will host Mississippi Valley State on Oct. 3 before getting back to OVC play. JSU will finish the season with three of its last four games at home, Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 31, Southeast Missouri on Nov. 14 and Murray State on Nov. 21.
JSU is one of three OVC teams in the Athlon Poll, with Eastern Illinois ranked No. 15 and Eastern Kentucky No. 21. Athlon's rankings are compiled by Craig Haley of The Sports Network.
Athlon FCS Preseason Top 25
1. North Dakota State
2. Illinois State
3. Sam Houston State
4. Jacksonville State
5. Villanova
6. Eastern Washington
7. Coastal Carolina
8. Chattanooga
9. New Hampshire
10. Youngstown State
11. Northern Iowa
12. Liberty
13. Montana State
14. James Madison
15. Eastern Illinois
16. McNeese State
17. Montana
18. Idaho State
19. South Dakota State
20. Richmond
21. Eastern Kentucky
22. Harvard
23. Western Carolina
14. Cal Poly
25. Indiana State
The No. 4 ranking is the highest preseason ranking JSU has received at the Division I level and another Top 10 preseason pick for the defending Ohio Valley Conference Champions. The Gamecocks were picked seventh in the Sporting News' FCS Preseason Poll earlier this month.
The Gamecocks, who ran through the OVC with a perfect 8-0 record and posted a 10-2 overall mark in 2014, are just behind No. 3 Sam Houston State, While North Dakota State ia No. 1 and Illinois State No. 2 in the poll. The Gamecocks and No. 8 Chattanooga will open the season in Chattanooga on Sept. 5.
Season tickets, as well as tickets to JSU's second game of the year at Auburn on Sept. 12, are on sale in the JSU Athletics Ticket Office and online at www.JSUGamecockSports.com. To order by phone, call (256) 782-8499.
The Gamecocks finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in the nation and earned a bye to the second round of the FCS Playoffs. The No. 2 ranking tied the 2010 team for the highest in the school's Division I history. The No. 7 ranking by the Sporting News is the second highest preseason ranking JSU has received at the FCS level, behind only last year's No. 6 ranking in The Sporting News Preseason Poll.
The Gamecocks lost leading rusher DaMarcus James but return seven starters on an offense that produced a school-record 510.8 yards per game, including quarterback Eli Jenkins (1,870 yards and 12 touchdowns passing, 813 and six touchdowns rushing) and wide receiver Josh Barge (56 catches for 919 yards and four touchdowns). Also back on offense are running backs Troymaine Pope (715 yards, six touchdowns) and Miles Jones (652, seven touchdowns).
JSU also returns nine starters on defense, including tackle Devaunte Sigler, OVC defensive player of the year, and All-American cornerback Jermaine Hough.
The Gamecocks will host five games in Burgess-Snow Field this fall, starting with their home and Ohio Valley Conference opener against Tennessee State on Sept. 19. They will host Mississippi Valley State on Oct. 3 before getting back to OVC play. JSU will finish the season with three of its last four games at home, Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 31, Southeast Missouri on Nov. 14 and Murray State on Nov. 21.
JSU is one of three OVC teams in the Athlon Poll, with Eastern Illinois ranked No. 15 and Eastern Kentucky No. 21. Athlon's rankings are compiled by Craig Haley of The Sports Network.
Athlon FCS Preseason Top 25
1. North Dakota State
2. Illinois State
3. Sam Houston State
4. Jacksonville State
5. Villanova
6. Eastern Washington
7. Coastal Carolina
8. Chattanooga
9. New Hampshire
10. Youngstown State
11. Northern Iowa
12. Liberty
13. Montana State
14. James Madison
15. Eastern Illinois
16. McNeese State
17. Montana
18. Idaho State
19. South Dakota State
20. Richmond
21. Eastern Kentucky
22. Harvard
23. Western Carolina
14. Cal Poly
25. Indiana State
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