Southeast lands three on preseason list

NASVHILLE, Tenn. — Southeast Missouri State is at least getting a little more individual respect from the rest of the Ohio Valley Conference this year.

At Tuesday's annual OVC media day, the Redhawks placed three players on the preseason all-conference team. In 2007, they had one preseason selection.

Redhawks picked Tuesday, in voting by the league's head coaches and sports information directors, were senior running back Timmy Holloman, junior linebacker Jared Goodson and junior punter Doug Spada.

"All three are very deserving," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said.

Holloman's selection was surprising since he will be ineligible for the first five games of the season under NCAA guidelines.

Holloman was ruled ineligible by the NCAA midway through last season and missed the final six games. At the time, he ranked second in the OVC and eighth nationally in rushing with an average of 131 yards per game. He finished the season with 655 yards and a 5.7-yard average in only five contests.

"The way I see it, they [the voters] know he's only going to miss one conference game," Samuel said of the speedy Holloman.

Holloman, Southeast's top rusher in each of his three seasons, ranks fourth on the school's career rushing list with 1,996 yards.

"He's had a great career so far," Samuel said.

Goodson was the OVC's fourth-leading tackler last year with 98.

"He is extremely fast and has a great nose for the football," Samuel said. "This year he'll have a lot more experience. I think he's only scratched the surface of his potential."

Spada, an honorable mention All-America pick by The Sports Network last season, was first-team all-OVC after averaging 42.5 yards per punt. He also handled all of Southeast's place-kicking duties.

"He's a very good kicker with a strong leg. He has a great history with his punting," Samuel said.

Defending OVC champion Eastern Kentucky had the most preseason all-conference selections with five. Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State followed with four each.