SEWANEE, Tenn. – Sewanee football was picked eighth in the Southern Athletic Association Preseason Coaches' Poll released Wednesday by the league office.
The Tigers and third-year head coach
Andy McCollum return 13 starters from last year's team, including 10 on offense and three on defense.
Junior wide receiver
Dyer Barnes garnered Second Team All-SAA accolades in 2024, posting 46 receptions for 762 yards (16.57 per catch) with eight touchdowns. He registered six catches for 167 yards and one TD versus Trinity University and collected six receptions for 119 yards and one score in the season finale against Centre College.
Junior quarterback
Jacorin Thomas earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors, amassing 2,024 yards of total offense and 11 touchdowns. He passed for 1,344 yards and 11 TDs, including 237 and three touchdowns versus Millsaps College, 256 and one score on 15-of-24 completions against Trinity and 214 and one TD versus Centre.
Thomas also rushed for 157 yards at Guilford College, 127 yards and two touchdowns versus Westminster College and 108 yards against Berry College.
Senior
Buck Hardin started all 10 games on the offensive line for the Tigers, helping the squad average 314 yards per game in total offense and 20.7 points per contest, receiving Honorable Mention All-SAA accolades. Hardin, junior
Atticus Kowalski, sophomore
Austin Rudd, junior
Jacob Shockley and senior
Lukus White combined to start 46 games on the offensive line in 2024 along with nine starts for junior tight end
Cooper Alford.
Sophomore
Jaylen Mack was also an Honorable Mention selection last season at defensive back, posting 29 tackles with seven pass breakups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Junior defensive back
Malcolm Shaw posted 13 tackles with one INT and three pass breakups in nine games while senior defensive tackle
Max Grumbles collected 18 stops with five tackles-for-loss, three sacks and one forced fumble.
Berry College earned five first-place votes and 54 total points to edge Trinity University for the top spot in the poll. Trinity posted two first-place votes and 50 points and Maryville College got the other first-place vote and 43 points for third place. Centre College placed fourth with 41 points, followed by Millsaps College (27), Southwestern University (25), Rhodes College (24) and Sewanee (16).
The Tigers open the 2025 season this Saturday at Bethany College in Bethany, W.Va., and face Brevard College on Sept. 13 for the home opener at McGee Field-Harris Stadium.
2025 SAA Football Preseason Poll
1. Berry College – 54 (5)
2. Trinity University – 50 (2)
3. Maryville College – 43 (1)
4. Centre College – 41
5. Millsaps College – 27
6. Southwestern University – 25
7. Rhodes College – 24
8. Sewanee – 16
