Four Colonels selected as preseason All-UAC, team selected to finish fourth

Football
23-07-2024 12:40:00 hrs

ARLINGTON, Texas — Four Eastern Kentucky University student-athletes were named to the United Athletic Conference (UAC) Preseason All-Conference Team Tuesday morning during the league’s official media day in Arlington.

As a team, EKU finished fourth in the preseason coaches poll, while Central Arkansas was seen as the favorite.

The full press release from the UAC preseason poll and conference team can be found here.

Offensive lineman Payton Collins and tight end Hunter Brown were appointed as the attacking team, while on the other side of the ball the defensive back Mike Smith Jr. deserved the pre-season recognition.

Completing the selections for EKU was a kicker Patrick Nations as a member of the specialist team of all conferences.

Collins earns the selection up front after an impressive 2023 season that saw him earn multiple first-team selections from the UAC, FCS Football Central and Phil Steele.

The Columbus, Ohio native started every game in 2023 and helped EKU create the league’s best offense with 4,811 yards of total offense and 37 touchdowns.

Collins was also recently selected to the FCS Football Central Preseason All-American Team.

As a tight end, Brown made an immediate impact in his first year at Richmond, ranking as the conference’s leading tight end with 387 receiving yards and three touchdowns on just 33 receptions.

His play on the field earned him a unanimous selection to the All-UAC First Team, while also being selected to the Phil Steele and FCS Football Central All-UAC First Teams.

On defense, Smith Jr. earns preseason honors after finishing 2023 tied for the conference’s most passes defensed with 13.

In his second season in Maroon and White, Smith Jr. played in 11 games, recording two interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He also added 56 total tackles.

For the Specialists, Nations finished 2023 with the most field goals per game in the FCS, earning All-UAC honors from FCS Football Central and Phil Steele. They were also named the conference’s special teams player of the week twice.

That year, Nations made 19 of 25 field goal attempts and converted 31 extra points.

The Colonels open the 2024 season on August 31 with an away game against Mississippi State.


Season tickets for the 2024 season remain on sale for just $50 and can be purchased HERE . If you have any questions, please call the EKU Ticket Office at 859-622-2122 or email [email protected].



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