Big South Announces 2015 Football Preseason All-Conference Team, Players of the Year

Release from the Big South Conference:

Coastal Carolina redshirt-senior quarterback Alex Ross (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Gardner-Webb senior defensive lineman O.J. Mau (Masefau, American Somoa) have been voted the Big South Conference’s 2015 Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, by the league’s head football coaches and media panel, it was announced today at Big South Football Media Day at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria Hotel in Atlanta, Ga.

Ross is the reigning Big South Offensive Player of the Year and was a near unanimous selection for the honor in 2014.  Named a 2015 national player of the year candidate on July 13 by STATS LLC, Ross set conference and school single-season records in 2014 for passing yards (3,389), completions (271) and total offense (4,080) while rushing for 691 yards — second-most in a season by a Big South quarterback — and had seven games with at least 300 yards of total offense.  Ross led the Big South in six offensive categories last season while ranking among the FCS leaders in passing yards (8th, 3,389), total offense (11th, 291.4 ypg), completion percentage (14th, 64.2), points responsible for (18th, 176), yards per passing attempt (20th, 8.03), passing efficiency (20th, 144.0 rating) and passing touchdowns (30th, 20). Under Ross’ leadership, Coastal ranked first in the nation in fourth down conversions, fourth in first downs, eighth in fewest passes intercepted, ninth in third down conversions and 13th in scoring offense.

In Ross’ 30 career starts, Coastal Carolina is 25-5 and has been the starter under center in seven of Coastal Carolina’s 10 most prolific offensive games.  Ross, who is the first back-to-back preseason offensive honoree since Liberty’s Mike Brown in 2010 and 2011, is on pace to become the Big South’s all-time leader in passing yards (currently fifth), rushing yards by a quarterback (currently fourth) and total offense (currently second).  Ross received 18 first-place votes and 39 total points in the voting, ahead of Liberty quarterback Josh Woodrum (three first-place votes, 22 points).

Mau, named a 2015 national defensive player of the year candidate and preseason All-American by STATS, totaled 11 first-place votes and 29 points.  He earned postseason All-America honors from Phil Steele (2013) and College Sporting News (2014) over the past two seasons, and was a finalist for the 2014 Buck Buchanan Award as a junior.  Mau was the lynchpin for a defense that ranked No. 5 nationally as a sophomore in 2013, and last season posted a career-high 60 total tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks from his spot in the middle of the trenches.  He forced a career-best two fumbles and had a 27-yard fumble return in the season finale.  Mau also blocked a field goal for the first time in his career in 2014.  In 2014, 82 percent of Mau’s tackles came on run plays, and he had double figures stops in wins over both Wofford and Charlotte, and collected a season-best 3.0 tackles for loss in the season opener vs. Furman.  He has totaled 20.5 career tackles for loss and burst onto the scene as a first-year starter in 2013.

Finishing behind Mau in the voting were fellow national defensive player of the year candidate Chima Uzowihe of Liberty (four first-place votes and 11 points), Charleston Southern’s Aaron Brown (three first-place votes and 11 points) and Presbyterian College’s Ed Britt (three first-place votes and nine points).

Ross and Mau were also voted to the preseason All-Conference team.  The preseason team is comprised of 12 offensive players, 12 defensive players and five special teams selections, plus any ties.  Coastal Carolina and Liberty had the most players on the preseason squad with eight each, followed by Charleston Southern (4), Gardner-Webb (4), Monmouth (3) and Presbyterian College (2).

2015 Big South Football Preseason All-Conference Team

OFFENSE
QB – Alex Ross, Coastal Carolina, R-Sr
RB – De’Angelo Henderson, Coastal Carolina, R-Jr.
RB – D.J. Abnar, Liberty, R-Sr.
WR – Darrin Peterson, Liberty, Sr.
WR – Bruce Mapp, Coastal Carolina, R-Jr.
WR – John Israel, Coastal Carolina, R-Sr.
TE – Mike Estes, Gardner-Webb, R-Jr.
OL – Jonathan Burgess, Liberty, Sr.
OL – Erik Austell, Charleston Southern, R-Jr.
OL – Max Sommer, Liberty, R-Sr.
OL – Voghens Larrieux, Coastal Carolina, R-Jr.
OL – Alex Thompson, Monmouth, Soph.

DEFENSE
DL – O.J. Mau, Gardner-Webb, Sr.
DL – Chima Uzowihe, Liberty, Sr.
DL – Roderick Holder, Coastal Carolina, Sr.
DL – Calvin Hollenhorst, Coastal Carolina, R-Sr.
LB – Donelle Williams, Presbyterian, R-Sr.
LB – Aaron Brown, Charleston Southern, Sr.
LB – Aaron Cook, Gardner-Webb, Jr.
LB – John Sieczkowski, Monmouth, Sr.
DB – Mike Basile, Monmouth, Soph.
DB – Ed Britt, Presbyterian, Sr.
DB – Ivan Toomer, Gardner-Webb, R-Sr.
DB – Troy McGowens, Charleston Southern, Jr.

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – John Lunsford, Liberty, Sr.
P – Trey Turner, Liberty, R-Soph.
LS – Hunter Winstead, Liberty, R-Soph.
KR – Devin Brown, Coastal Carolina, Jr.
PR – Darius Hammond, Charleston Southern, Jr.

PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alex Ross, R-Sr., QB, Alpharetta, Ga.

PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
O.J. Mau, Sr., DL, Masefau, American Samoa