TnSt Picked to Finish Fourth
Four Tennessee State University football players, three on offense and one on defense, were named to the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason football team and football team was selected fourth in the predicted order of finish.
The OVC preseason team and predicted order of finish, selected in a vote of the league’s coaches and sports information directors was announced on Tuesday, July 22nd at the OVC Football Media day held in Nashville at LP Field. All four TSU selectees are seniors and are headed by running back Javarris Williams, along with wide receiver Chris Johnson and lineman Cornelius Lewis. On defense, linebacker Ramond Willis is the lone Tiger selected.
Javarris Williams (5-11, 215, Richmond, TX), returns in 2008 as the OVC’s leader in Rushing (1,287), All-Purpose Yardage (1,427 / 129.7 ypg) and TD Scoring (12). Williams rushed averaged 107.9 ypg last year and is an OVC preseason selection for the second year in a row. He ranks second on the TSU Career Rushing list (3,292) and ranks third nationally among all active FCS running backs (3,292 career yards). He has been tabbed as a preseason OVC Offensive Player of the year by The Sporting News and Phil Steele’s Football Preseason Magazines Chris Johnson, (6-2, 180, Nashville, TN).
Chris Johnson (6-2, 180, Nashville, TN) a wide receiver, is the OVC’s top returning receiver (740 yds, 41 rec.). Last season, he gained 991 yds in Total Offense (90.1 ypg) adding 251 yds in kick return yardage to his receiving yardage.
Cornelius Lewis (6-5, 310, Jacksonville, FL) an offensive lineman, a 2007 transfer from Florida State, was one of the leaders of the TSU offensive line that returns as the OVC’s top rushing offense (210.8 ypg) and third in Total Offense (400.5 ypg). Lewis has already been named to several preseason All-American teams.
On defense, linebacker Ramond Willis (6-2, 245, New Madrid, IL), a 2007 transfer from the University of Illinois, led the Tigers in tackles in 2007 with 84 total stops (50 solo). He had 9 TFLs (31), two QB hurries, one sack (13) and one interception.
The Tigers were tabbed to finish fourth in the OVC preseason Predicted Order of Finish, behind Jacksonville State (1st), Eastern Kentucky (2nd) and Eastern Illinois(3rd). Teams after TSU are UT Martin (5th) , Tnessee Tech (6th), Austin Peay (7th), Murray State (8th) and Southeast Missouri (9th)
