ROCK HILL, S.C. - - UVa-Wise redshirt junior Marcus Tarrer has been named Preseason Second-Team All-SAC. The defensive back is coming off a breakout campaign in 2018 that saw the Richmond, Va. product lead the Cavaliers with 78 tackles. Tarrer earned first-team all-conference and third-team all-region accolades following a season that saw him add six pass break ups, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.

Tarrer finished with a team-leading 49 solo tackles to anchor a defensive unit that finished 18th nationally in passing yards allowed per game at 168.1 yards per game. The strong secondary play allowed UVa-Wise to finish 19th in total defense at 302.6 yards per game.

The Cavs will be playing their first season in the SAC after spending the last six seasons as part of the Mountain East Conference. UVa-Wise will begin the 2019 season at home on Sept. 7 when Chowan visits Smith Stadium for a 12 p.m. kickoff.

The complete Preseason SAC Teams may be found below:

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB –       Derrick Evans, Carson-Newman

RB –        Antonio Wimbush, Carson-Newman

RB –        Jordon Shippy, Tusculum

RB –        Nijere Peoples, Wingate

WR –     BJ Muckelvene, Wingate

WR –     Will Sweeper, Catawba

WR –     Craig Rucker, Mars Hill

OL –       Phil McDowell, Carson-Newman

OL –       Jordan Seal, Carson-Newman

OL –       Travis James, Mars Hill

OL –       Keveon Broadwater, Tusculum

OL –       Jason Poe, Lenoir-Rhyne

TE –       Drake Starks, Lenoir-Rhyne

PK –       McLean Robertson, Wingate

LS –        Dawson Campbell, Carson-Newman

RS –        Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne

 

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL –       Montel Presley, Carson-Newman

DL –       Brian Bemby, Carson-Newman

DL –       Dan Louba, Lenoir-Rhyne

DL –       Colton Strickland, Tusculum

LB –        Jeremiah Ferguson, Catawba

LB –        Ivan Hogans, Tusculum

LB –        Sherrod Williams, Lenoir-Rhyne

LB –        Robbie Wallace, Wingate

DB –       Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne

DB –       Desmond Fairell, Carson-Newman

DB –       Davion Washington, Wingate

DB –       Malik Goodman, Tusculum

P –         Shea Rodgers, Newberry

 

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB –      Shaw Crocker, Wingate

RB –       Ameen Stevens, Lenoir-Rhyne

RB –       Xzavion Huff, Lenoir-Rhyne

RB –       Austin Barnes, Newberry

WR –     Ajay Belanger, Tusculum

WR –     Tyler Ferguson, Mars Hill

WR –     Bobby Irby, Newberry

OL –       Connor Baroniunas, Wingate

OL –       Demetrius Blackwell, Catawba

OL –       Ronnie Cliffton, Lenoir-Rhyne

OL –       Reese Fain, Carson-Newman

OL –       Tyler Anderson, Newberry

TE –       Carter Mangel, Tusculum

PK –       Chase Allbaugh, Lenoir-Rhyne

LS –        AJ Covan, Limestone

RS –       BJ Muckelvene, Wingate

 

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL –       Jaquan Artis, Lenoir-Rhyne

DL –       Cameron Davis, Catawba

DL –       Cal Hanford, Wingate

DL –       Keito Jordon, Newberry

LB –        Elijah Gilmore, Wingate

LB –        Antonio Henderson, Carson-Newman

LB –        Clayton Horn, Lenoir-Rhyne

LB –        LJ Melvin, Catawba

DB –       David Vereen, Newberry

DB –       Dee Alford, Tusculum

DB –       Cris Page, Catawba

DB –       Eric Jackson, Lenoir-Rhyne

DB –       Marcus Tarrer, UVa-Wise

P –          Thomas Cook, Limestone