By: by Jake Dorow
MEDIA DAY PHOTO GALLERY
CHARLOTTE, N.C. --Â Coming off a record-breaking second season in 2016, Kennesaw State has been voted by the coaches and media as the preseason co-champions in the Big South Conference. The preseason picks were announced Tuesday at the conference's annual Football Media Day in Charlotte, N.C., where a league-leading eight Owls were honored on the Preseason All-Conference Team.
The Owls, who finished 8-3 overall last season and came one win shy of a BSC title, and reigning champion Charleston Southern were picked to share the 2017 crown. KSU and CSU each received 80 votes, including nine first-place votes each. The two teams clash in Kennesaw Nov. 11 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. This marks the highest preseason pick for Kennesaw State.
"We're excited that the season in here, and we're excited for this recognition for our young program and our guys," said head coach
Brian Bohannon, who was one of 15 finalists for the STATS Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award in 2016. "But you've got to be ready to play every Saturday in this league, and that's a credit to these coaches here. We've got a great challenge for us to go out and continue to improve as a program."
The eight Owls voted to the Preseason All-Conference Team included junior RB
Darnell Holland, junior WR
Justin Sumpter, and junior OL
Zach Mitchler on offense. On defense, senior DL
Tonarius Portress, sophomore DL
Desmond Johnson, Jr., junior LB
Anthony Gore, Jr., senior LB
Izzy Sam, and junior DB
Taylor Henkle were honored.
Kennesaw State's eight positional players named to the preseason team led the league, while Charleston Southern had six. Liberty had four positional players and four specialists.
The 2017 season opens for Kennesaw State on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Samford. The 2017 home opener is slated for Saturday, Sept. 9 versus Tennessee Tech. Training Camp for the Owls commences Thursday, July 27.
Season tickets for the 2017 campaign are on sale for $99 – that's less than $17 per game, plus your Owls Fund donation. For ticket information, visit KSUOwls.com/tickets or call 470-KSU-OWLS.
2017 Big South Preseason Poll (first-place votes) -- Points
T-1. Kennesaw State (9) -- 80
T-1. Charleston Southern (9) – 80
3. Gardner-Webb – 54
4. Monmouth – 36
5. Presbyterian -- 20
-- Liberty *
* - not eligible for preseason poll due to transition to FBS
Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the signature athletics landmark on the Kennesaw State University campus, is a world-class facility that has been recognized as one of the premier multi-use outdoor athletics venues in the country. In the fall of 2015, it become the official home of Owls football team and is home to Owls soccer and lacrosse as well.
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Keep up with Kennesaw State Athletics by following KSU on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook. You also can follow Kennesaw State football at @KennesawSTFB and The Owls fund on Twitter at @TheOwlsFund.
--#GoKSUOwls--
