Lewis Claims FCS Football Central Preseason All-America Honors – Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics

HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana University senior wide receiver/punt returner Darius Lewis represented the Lion football team on the FCS Football Central Preseason All-America Team released Monday.
 
Lewis was a second team selection at punt returner. The New Orleans native is one of three Southland Conference student-athletes on the preseason All-America list, along with McNeese linebacker Micah Davey and Nicholls all-purpose performer Jaylon Spears. Southeastern has had a postseason All-America selection each of the past 12 seasons, dating back to SLU Athletics Hall of Famer Robert Alford in 2012.
 
Lewis was a first team All-Southland Conference pick at punt returner last fall, while also earning second team All-SLC accolades at wide receiver. He averaged 13.8 yards per punt return to lead the SLC and rank 10^th in all of FCS, while also leading SLU with 48 receptions for 568 yards and four touchdowns.
 
Lewis and the Lions will report to campus July 28 and open fall practice July 29. Southeastern opens the 2024 season with a 7 p.m. contest at Tulane Aug. 29 on ESPN+ and the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM).
 
Southeastern will participate in the 2024 Southland Conference Football Opening Drive July 22 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. SLU head coach Frank Scelfo, along with offensive linemen Jhy Orgeron and Brockhim Wicks will represent the Lions.
 
2024 FCS Football Central Preseason All-American Team
 
First Team Offense
QB: Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State
RB: Lan Larson, UC Davis
RB: Jamar Curtis, Lafayette
RB: SunDerrick Powell, Central Arkansas
WR: Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington
WR: Javin Whatley, Chattanooga
WR: Darius Cooper, Tarleton State
WR: Nick DeGennaro, Richmond
TE: JJ Galbreath, South Dakota
OL: Marcus Wehr, Montana State

OL: Charles Grant, William & Mary
OL: Gus Miller, South Dakota State
OL: Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
OL: Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
OL: Nick Taiste, South Carolina State
AP: Marcus Yarris, Delaware
 
First Team Defense
DL: David Walker, Central Arkansas
DL: Elijah Williams, Morgan State
DL: Marlon Taylor, Chattanooga
DL: Dylan Hendricks, North Dakota State
DL: Brock Grebe, Montana State
LB: Adam Bock, South Dakota State
LB: Micah Davey, McNeese State
LB: Noah Martin, Samford
LB: Erick Hunter, Morgan State
LB: Amir Abdullah, Illinois State
DB: Tucker Large, South Dakota State
DB: Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State
DB: Isas Waxter, Villanova
DB: Dalys Beanum, South Dakota State
DB: Kenny Gallop Jr., Howard
 
First Team Special Teams
K: Will Leyland, South Dakota

P: Trey Wilhoit, Florida A&M
KR: Abraham Williams, Idaho
PR: Tucker Large, South Dakota State
AP: Junior Bergen, Montana
 
Second Team Offense
QB: Cole Gonzales, Western Carolina
QB: Cam Miller, North Dakota State

RB: Bronson Yoder, William & Mary
RB: Kayvon Britten, Tarleton State
RB: Amar Johnson, South Dakota State
WR: Bo Belquist, North Dakota
WR: Jared Richardson, Penn
WR: Carter Bell, South Dakota
WR: Daniel Sobkowicz, Illinois State
TE: Carter Runyon, Towson
TE: Cole Grossman, Montana
OL: Julius Perkins, Montana State
OL: Ryder Langsdale, Lafayette
OL: Payton Collins, Eastern Kentucky
OL: Evan Beernsten, South Dakota State
OL: Jaison Williams, Youngstown State
OL: Reid Williams, Chattanooga
AP: Tommy Mellott, Montana State
AP: Griffin Woodell, UAlbany
 
Second Team Defense
DL: Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly
DL: Dalas Afalaya, Idaho
DL: Eli Mostaert, North Dakota State
DL: Ckelby Givens, Southern
DL: Finn Claypool, Drake
LB: Riley Wilson, Montana
LB: Logan Kopp, North Dakota State
LB: Shane Hartzell, Villanova
LB: Ken Standley, Mercer
LB: William McRainey, ETSU
LB: A.J. Pena, Rhode Island
DB: Saiku White, Lafayette
DB: Trevin Gradney, Montana
DB: Caleb Curtain, Elon
DB: Isaiah Reed, Brown
DB: Oshae Baker, UT Martin
DB: TaMuarion Wilson, Central Arkansas
 
Second Team Special Teams
K: Griffen Crosa, North Dakota State
P: Matt Noll, Jackson State
KR: Donovan Wadley, Merrimak
PR: Darius Lewis, Southeastern
AP: Jaylon Spears, Nicholls
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on X, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and follow lionupfootball on Instagram.
 
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics observes a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.