HOUSTON - Four Southeastern Louisiana football players were named to the 2007 All-Southland Conference Football Preseason Teams, which were announced by the league office in conjunction with the annual SLC Football Media Days on Tuesday.

Southeastern junior running back Jay Lucas and sophomore defensive back Tommy Connors both represent the Lions on the first team. Highly touted junior college transfers Marquis Powell and Travis Williams were second team selections for Southeastern in the secondary.

Lucas, a Baton Rouge native, made an immediate impact for the Lions after transferring from Texas A&M prior to the 2006 season. Last season, the Redemptorist High School product finished fifth in the Southland Conference with 684 yards.

Lucas was a multi-threat option for the Lions, ranking among the league leaders with 37 receptions and 44 points scored. A second team All-SLC selection and the Louisiana Newcomer of the Year in 2006, Lucas is expected to team with senior Mario Gilbert to give the Lions one of the top running back tandems in the SLC in the coming year.

Connors, who hails from Marrero, was one of Southeastern's top defenders as a true freshman in 2006. Connors, who prepped at Archbishop Shaw High School, was one of two freshmen to be named to the 2006 All-Southland Conference Teams. A second team selection, Connors was second on the team and 12th in the SLC with 68 tackles.

Connors, along with preseason All-SLC newcomers Powell and Williams, will make the defensive backfield one of the team's deepest positions. The new Lion pair is expected to greatly improve the Southeastern pass defense in their first season out of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Powell, a Madison, Fla. native, was a first team All-American in 2006, while also earning first team All-State and All-Region accolades. Powell was also selected the Southeastern Region Defensive Most Valuable Player in his sophomore season.

Williams, who hails from Ocean Springs, Miss., teamed with Powell to help Gulf Coast earn state runner up honors in 2006. Williams was named to the All-American, All-State and All-Region teams in both of his junior college seasons.

Preseason league favorite McNeese State led all league members with nine preseason All-SLC selections led by 2006 Southland Conference Player of the Year Steven Whitehead and Defensive Player of the Year Bryan Smith.

2007 All-Southland Conference Football Preseason Teams

First Team Offense
QB - Danny Southall, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., Hitchcock, Texas
RB - Louie Runnells, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., Bellville, Texas
RB - Jay Lucas, Southeastern Louisiana, Jr., Baton Rouge, La.
FB - Blake Burton, Texas State, Jr., Hungerford, Texas
WR - Steven Whitehead, McNeese State, Sr., Slidell, La.
WR - Carlese Franklin, McNeese State, Sr., Kentwood, La.
TE - Blake Martin, Sam Houston State, Sr., Hemphill, Texas
OL - Brandon Hale, Sam Houston State, Sr., Grand Prairie, Texas
OL - Eman Naghavi, McNeese State, Jr., Katy, Texas
OL - Taylor Cobb, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., Conroe, Texas
OL - Brock Pasteur, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., Orlando, Fla.
OL - Matt Jenkins, Texas State, Sr., San Antonio, Texas
PK - Blake Bercegeay, McNeese State, Jr., Gonzales, La.

First Team Defense
DL - Bryan Smith, McNeese State, Sr., Newton, Texas
DL - Nate Langford, Texas State, Sr., San Marcos, Texas
DL - Kirby Joseph, McNeese State, Sr., Lake Charles, La.
DL - David Branch, Sam Houston State, Sr., Houston, Texas
LB - Trey Bennett, McNeese State, Sr., Newton, Texas
LB - Damian Perkins, Stephen F. Austin, Jr., Hallsville, Texas
DB - Kareem Moore, Nicholls State, Sr., Okolona, Miss.
DB - Jonathan Walker, McNeese State, Sr., Lake Charles, La.
DB - Tommy Connors, Southeastern Louisiana, So., Marrero, La.
DB - Daniel Varvel, Texas State, Sr., Patterson, La.
P - Chris MacDonald, Texas State, Sr., Mesa, Ariz.
RS - Steven Whitehead, McNeese State, Sr., Slidell, La.

Second Team Offense
QB - Bradley George, Texas State, So., New Braunfels, Texas
RB - Zach Morgan, Nicholls State, Jr., Marianna, Fla.
RB - Ross Brown, Central Arkansas, Sr., Gosnell, Ark.
FB - Leonard Lynce, Stephen F. Austin, Jr., Yokosuka, Japan
WR - Quinten Lawrence, McNeese State, Jr., Carencro, La.
WR - Dominique Edison, Stephen F. Austin, Jr., San Augustine, Texas
TE - Clay Broyles, Northwestern State, Sr., Hallsville, Texas
OL - Ben Gombossy, Nicholls State, Sr., Monroe, La.
OL - James Jordan, McNeese State, Sr., Eunica, La.
OL - Crawford May, Texas State, Sr., Miami, Fla.
OL - Demetrius Bell, Northwestern State, Sr., Summerfield, La.
OL - Brennan Williams, Sam Houston State, Sr., Decatur, Texas
PK - Andrew Ireland, Texas State, Jr., Cedar Hill, Texas

Second Team Defense
DL - Ray Martin, Northwestern State, Sr., Lafayette, La.
DL - Nick Clark, Texas State, Sr., Everman, Texas
DL - Jordan Stone, Nicholls State, Sr., Chicago, Ill.
DL - Ramel Borner, Texas State, Sr., Dallas, Texas
LB - Allen Nelson, McNeese State, Jr., Beaumont, Texas
LB - Dominic Cooper, Nicholls State, Sr., New Orleans, La.
DB - Tristan Jackson, Central Arkansas, Sr., Beaumont, Miss.
DB - Marquis Powell, Southeastern Louisiana, Jr., Madison, Fla.
DB - Jarrod Dale, Central Arkansas, So., Memphis, Tenn.
DB - Travis Williams, Southeastern Louisiana, Jr., Ocean Springs, Miss.
DB - Johnny Thacker, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., Alto, Texas
P - James Paul, Central Arkansas, Sr., Jacksonville, Ark.
RS - Tristan Jackson, Central Arkansas, Sr., Beaumont, Miss.