San Marcos — Preseason accolades continued to pour in for a pair of Texas State football players, as the Bobcats placed two on The Sports Network FCS Preseason All-America Team, which was released  Monday.

Bobcat junior offensive lineman D.J. Hall was a first-team selection on offense, while senior wide receiver Da’Marcus Griggs was a third-team choice on defense.

It marks the third publication to list two Bobcats as preseason All-Americans.

A native of Palestine, Hall also was named an All-America First-Team selection by Phil Steele and an All-FCS Second-Team selection by Lindy’s. He was an All-Southland Conference First-Team performer as an offensive lineman in 2009 after being named a Second-Team selection in 2008.

Hall (6-3, 305) started 11 games and helped the Bobcats hold their opponents to an average of 1.36 sacks per game. He and the Bobcat offensive line paved the way for the offense to gain an average of 422 yards and score 32 points per game. He has started 24 straight games for Texas State entering the 2010 campaign.

Griggs is a 6-1, 185-pound senior wide receiver from Bay City who was chosen an All-FCS First-Team selection by Lindy’s and a FCS All-America Second-Team wide receiver by Phil Steele.

Earlier this year, he also was chosen one of the Top 10 FCS wide receivers by The Sports Network and a preseason Honorable Mention All-American by Consensus Draft Service.

He set a school record with 80 receptions last year and ranked 12th nationally in receiving yards with an average of 88.1 yards per game. He ended the season with 969 yards and caught eight touchdown passes.

Overall, the Southland Conference had seven players named on the list, with Texas State and Stephen F. Austin leading the way with two players each.

SFA senior linebacker Jabra Williams was a first-team defensive selection, while senior quarterback Jeremy Moses was named second-team offense.

Other SLC players included Southeastern Louisiana junior wide receiver (second-team offense), Central Arkansas senior defensive end Markell Carter (second-team defense) and Nicholls State senior punter Patrick Dolan (third-team defense).

The Southern Conference led all schools nationally with 15 selections, followed by the Big Sky Conference with 12 and the Missouri Valley Football Conference with 11 players.



New turf for Lamar

BEAUMONT – Football fans have reason to be getting excited in the Golden Triangle area now with Lamar University getting ready for its first season since in 1988.

Renovations at Beaumont’s Provost Umphrey Stadium were recently completed, which included the addition of stadium seats, remodeled press and luxury boxes and a brand new playing surface.

Beaumont’s 21-year collegiate football hiatus will come to an end Sept. 11 when the Cardinals host Webber International.

Lamar will play a schedule that includes four current Southland Conference members (McNeese State, Southeastern Louisiana, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin. Cardinals plan to join the SLC after a mandatory, two-season probationary period.



’Hog pipeline at UCA

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas continued its trend of luring FBS transfers from the University of Arkansas with the recent addition of Jim Youngblood, a 6-2, 225-pound dual-threat quarterback with three years of eligibility remaining.

Youngblood passed for 5,562 yards and 43 touchdowns during his high school career, while also rushing for more than 1,600 yards. He had 27 rushing touchdowns as a junior and senior.

Youngblood was rated the No. 29 quarterback in the nation and the No. 6 overall prospect in Arkansas by Scout.com as a senior.

Youngblood redshirted at Arkansas in 2008, then lettered on special teams last season for the Razorbacks.

Youngblood will join junior Nathan Dick, who also transferred from Arkansas in January 2009, as well as red-shirt freshman Wynrick Smothers and true freshman Ryan Howard.