SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE RELEASE

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Anderson University football team continues to climb up the rankings in the minds of the South Atlantic Conference coaches as the league announced that the Trojans were picked to finish seventh on the season, their highest preseason ranking.

The Trojans were selected to finish 12th in their first ever season of competition and were then picked to finish eighth in the 10-team league last season.

Anderson was predicted to finish seventh for the 2026 season, the same spot that Newberry was picked to finish in the 2025 preseason poll before winning the league. In its second year as a program, Anderson won five games, including a three-game winning streak to open the season during which it outscored its opponents 99-14.

In addition, six members of the 2026 squad were named as players to watch. Those players included wide receiver Kenneth Brown, running back Darren Lloyd, tight end Tre Broughton, defensive lineman Scotty Miley, defensive back Carter Wit, and outside linebacker Chase Brightharp.

The Trojans kicked off their practice slate for the 2026 campaign this morning, with 139 members of the squad entering preseason camp.

2026 SAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Wingate (2)                                     72
2. Newberry (5)                                   67
3. Lenoir-Rhyne (2)                            64
4. Carson-Newman (1)                       59
5. Emory & Henry                               56
6. Catawba                                         46
7. Anderson                                        31
8. Mars Hill                                         27
9. UVA Wise                                       16
10. Tusculum                                      12

Preseason Players to Watch

Anderson

Kenneth Brown, WR, R-Jr., Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Darren Lloyd, RB, R-So., Florence, S.C.
Tre Broughton, TE, Jr., Piedmont, S.C.
Scotty Miley, DL, R-So., Catawba, N.C.
Carter Wit, DB, R-Jr., Johns Creek, Ga.
Chase Brightharp, OLB, R-Jr., Trenton, S.C.

Carson-Newman

Josh Adams, RB, So., Monroe, Ga.
Terry Lemon, LB, Jr., McDonough, Ga.
Martavis Mason, DL, Sr., Ninety Six, S.C.
Isaiah Cane, DB, Sr., Antioch, Tenn.
Cruz Temple, LB, Sr., Abbeville, S.C.
Jay'Den Williams, OL, So., Moultrie, Ga.
Bennett Smith, K, Jr., Cleveland, Tenn.

Catawba

Bennett Galloway, RB, R-Jr., Chapin, S.C.
Sean McFarland, OL, Jr., Waxhaw, N.C.
Braylon Baker, DE, So., Harrisburg, N.C.
Jymiek Samson, DT, Sr., Clinton, N.C.
Jaylen Hinton, LB, Jr., Irmo, S.C.
Luke Raykovicz, DB, R-Jr., Waxhaw, N.C.

Emory & Henry

Josh Gooding, DL, Jr., Glen Allen, Va.
Connor Roberts, DL, Jr., Bluefield, Va.
Brennan Hanley, P, Jr., Smithtown, N.Y.
Cole Lambert, QB, Sr., Abingdon, Va.
Trey Secrist, OL, Sr., Buena Vista, Va.
Parker Prioleau, WR, Jr., Radford, Va.

Lenoir-Rhyne

Tye Roberson, RB, Sr., Laurens, S.C.
Rubens Joseph, OL, R-Jr., Marietta, Ga.
LJ Turner, RB, Sr., Palm Bay, Fla.
Carnell Ferguson, DL, So., Los Angeles, Calif.
Brodie Bradburn, LB, So., Carrollton, Ga.
KJ Whitehead, DB, Fr., Athens, Ga.

Mars Hill

Charlie Guinade, WR, Sr., Griffin, Ga.
Lukas Kachillo, QB, R-Jr., Mills River, N.C.
JT Way, RB, So., Atlanta, Ga.
Russell Barnette, DT, Sr., Asheville, N.C.
Jayden Alberty, C, Sr., Orlando, Fla.
Isaac Weaver, LB, Sr., Andrews, N.C.

Newberry

DeAndre Colman, WR, Jr., Hueytown, Ala.
Jonah Norris, RB, R-Jr., Lexington, S.C.
Mason Kidd, QB, R-Jr., Lawrenceville, Ga.
Mikey Blandin, LB, Sr., Charleston, S.C.
Avery McFadden, DB, R-So., Simpsonville, S.C.
Mason Grier, LB, So., Rock Hill, S.C.

Tusculum

Teddy Gleaton, QB, Jr., Waldorf, Md.
Cam Ferguson, RB, Sr., Rockmart, Ga.
Gabe McLamb, OL, Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Malachi Jim-Lawson, DL, Jr., London, England
Jimi Olarinde, LB, Jr., Austell, Ga.
Cam Garnett, LB, Sr., Harlem, Ga.

UVA Wise

Daniel Thomas, RB, Jr., Middlesboro, Ky.
McCalan Beason, QB, So., Hoover, Ala.
Jack Tews, OL, So., Brandon, S.D.
KD Long, DL, Sr., Huntsville, Ala.
Jalen Pickens, LB, R-Jr., Gainestown, Ala.
Braylon Henry, DB, So., Birmingham, Ala.

Wingate

Xavier Jackson, WR, R-Jr., Kennesaw, Ga.
Jesse Clinesmith, TE, R-Jr., Chinquapin, N.C.
Ethan Wallace, RB, R-Jr., Tallahassee, Fla.
Brandon Perry, DB, Sr., Indian Trail, N.C.
Tyson Brown, DE, R-Jr., Rome, Ga.
Jaden White, DB, R-Sr., Flowery Branch, Ga.