The Big South Conference announced its Football Preseason All-Conference teams Thursday, with Tobi Antigha, Jeremiah McKie and Cannon Jordan earning honors. Antigha earned a nod as a wide receiver, while McKie secured a spot as a punt returner. Jordan was selected the Special Teams as a long snapper. PC was picked to finish sixth, as voted on by the league coaches and media members.
An 11-game starter this past season, Antigha led the team in receiving and was seventh in rushing. He led the Blue Hose and was fifth in the conference in scoring TDs with eight as well. Antigha, a senior wide receiver from Tampa, Fla., was second on the team and 10th in the league in all-purpose yards, as well as third in the conference in receptions per game (4.91), receiving yards per game (69.5) and ninth in scoring per game (4.4).
As a punt returner, McKie caught 12 punt returns for a total of 150 yards, 12.5 yards per carry. The senior from Simpsonville, S.C., returned a punt against Brevard 50 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, just one of two in the conference to do so last year. His 63 total punt yards was a PC Division I record as well against Brevard. McKie led the league in punt return yards with his 150 and was fifth in punt returns overall.
Jordan has served as the long snapper for last two seasons. The redshirt senior from Conway, S.C., snapped the ball to Stephen Doar (Landrum, S.C.), allowing him to get 58 punts off with none being blocked. Doar averaged 37.9 yard per punt, with 17 hitting inside the 20-yard line, three over 50 yards and 19 resulting in fair catches.
PC, which finished 3-8 in 2013, opens the football season Aug. 28, at Northern Illinois. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. ET.
2014 Big South Football Preseason All-Conference Team
OFFENSE
QB Alex Ross Coastal Carolina R-Jr.
RB Christian Reyes Charleston Southern Sr.
RB Juanne Blount Gardner-Webb R-Sr.
WR Kenny Cook Gardner-Webb R-Sr.
WR Darrin Peterson Liberty Jr.
WR Tobi Antigha Presbyterian College Sr.
TE Mike Estes Gardner-Webb R-Soph.
OL Chad Hamilton Coastal Carolina R-Sr.
OL Jonathan Burgess Liberty Jr.
OL Greg Ray Liberty R-Jr.
OL Clayton Truitt Charleston Southern Sr.
OL Mitch Hanson Liberty R-Sr.
DEFENSE
DL O.J. Le'iatua Mau Gardner-Webb Jr.
DL Chima Uzowihe Liberty Jr.
DL Calvin Hollenhorst Coastal Carolina R-Jr.
DL Dylan Black Charleston Southern Sr.
LB Quinn Backus Coastal Carolina Sr.
LB Nick Sigmon Liberty R-Sr.
LB Tanner Burch Gardner-Webb Sr.
LB Chad Geter Gardner-Webb Jr.
DB Jacob Hagen Liberty R-Sr.
DB Richie Sampson Coastal Carolina Jr.
DB Demaris Freeman Charleston Southern R-Sr.
DB Denzel Rice Coastal Carolina Sr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Alex Catron Coastal Carolina Sr.
P Austin Cain Coastal Carolina R-Sr.
LS Cannon Jordan Presbyterian College R-Sr.
KR Devin Brown Coastal Carolina Soph.
PR Jeremiah McKie Presbyterian College Sr.
PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alex Ross, R-Jr., QB, Alpharetta, Ga.
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Quinn Backus, Sr., LB, Greenwood, S.C.
2014 Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
1. Coastal Carolina (14)
2. Liberty (4)
3. Charleston Southern
4. Gardner-Webb
5. Monmouth
6. Presbyterian College
