UACFootball -- Heading into its inaugural season of competition, the United Athletic Conference (UAC) saw 11 players, representing four programs, garner 23 preseason All-America football accolades recently announced by national publications including STATS Perform, HERO Sports, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele/DraftScout.

Central Arkansas led the league with five players named, resulting in 15 honors. Junior defensive lineman David Walker and junior defensive back TaMuarion Wilson were consensus preseason selections as both were included on all four listings. Senior Jarrod Barnes was selected on three lists while senior defensive lineman Logan Jessup and junior running back ShunDerrick Powell nabbed two nods and junior all-purpose performer Braedon Sloan also was recognized with a selection.

A trio of EKU players garnered recognitions with senior quarterback Parker McKinney named on two lists while senior offensive lineman Josiah Ezirim and junior all-purpose performer Braedon Sloan were each tabbed for a team.

The Tarleton State wide receiver duo of junior Jaden Smith and sophomore Darius Cooper each collected one preseason honor with Stephen F. Austin kicker Chris Campos rounding out the UAC awards with a pair of selections.

In addition to naming a preseason All-America team, Phil Steele/DraftScout also named a preseason All-UAC team which can be viewed on the publication site at the link at top of this story.

The UAC will officially begin play as a conference this fall when North Alabama meets Mercer in the FCS Kickoff Classic in Montgomery, Ala., on Aug. 26. The first head-to-head UAC league game comes Sept. 9 when Tarleton State welcomes UNA to town.

UAC PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA HONOREES
Central Arkansas
Jarrod Barnes, ST/PR | STATS Perform (1st), HERO Sports, Phil Steele (2nd)
Logan Jessup, DL | STATS Perform (3rd), Phil Steele (4th)
ShunDerrick Powell, RB | STATS Perform (2nd), Phil Steele (3rd)
David Walker, DE/DL | STATS Perform (1st), HERO Sports, Athlon Sports, Phil Steele (1st)
TaMuarion Wilson, DB | STATS Perform (2nd), HERO Sports, Athlon Sports, Phil Steele (2nd)

EKU
Josiah Ezirim, OL | Phil Steele (3rd)
Parker McKinney, QB | STATS Perform (3rd), Phil Steele (3rd)
Braedon Sloan, AP | Phil Steele (4th)

Stephen F. Austin
Chris Campos, K | STATS Perform (3rd), Phil Steele (3rd)

Tarleton State
Darius Cooper, WR | Phil Steele (3rd)
Jaden Smith, WR | Phil Steele (4th)