Tech Football picked second in SoCon preseason poll, four named to preseason teams

By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The new era of Tennessee Tech football continued on Tuesday as the Golden Eagles attended their first Southern Conference football media day at Hotel Hartness and the Tech squad already made a statement as it was picked second in the preseason poll.

Reigning SoCon champ Mercer earned the top spot with six first-place votes and 76 points overall, while Tech garnered three first-place nods and 70 total points. ETSU claimed the other first-place vote and 61 total points.

Western Carolina (58 pts.) and Chattanooga (48 pts.) rounded out the top five, while Furman (46 pts.), Wofford (36 pts.), Samford (23 pts.), The Citadel (22 pts.) and VMI (10 pts.) filled out the rest of the poll.

The poll and preseason teams were voted on by the SoCon head coaches and they were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players.

The Golden Eagles earned four spots on the SoCon Preseason All-Conference team – all on the second-team offense – as quarterback Jax Leatherwood, running back Marcus Harris, offensive lineman Eric Nunez and tight end Gerard Grewe were all named to the preseason squad.

Leatherwood, who starred at Southeast Missouri last season, threw for 1,969 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. He completed 174 of his 277 passes with two interceptions, while also rushing for two scores. The San Diego, Calif., native also spent time at San Diego Mesa College before transferring to Cape Girardeau.

Harris, who had a solid career at Alabama State, rushed for 426 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, including 103 yards and a score against Mississippi Valley State and three TDs against Florida A&M and Texas Southern. The Jackson, Miss., native also caught four passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. In his career at ASU, he rushed for 1,018 yards and 21 touchdowns and caught eight passes for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Eric Nunez provided plenty of protection up front with his 6-7, 338-pound frame for Central Connecticut State, helping the Blue Devils rush for 139.4 yards and pass for 242.2 yards per game with the team averaging 26.7 points per game.

Tight end Gerard Grewe was a second-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference pick at Truman State, catching 44 passes for 573 yards with six touchdowns.

The Golden Eagles open camp in August, leading up to the season opener at home against Monmouth on August 29.

Tickets are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit TTUsportstickets.com or by visiting the ticket office in the Hooper Eblen Center. Group tickets are also available by contacting Carter Saulat at (931) 372-3790 or v-cmsaulat@tntech.edu.