HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana University linebacker Jake Dalmado was named to the Phil Steele FCS Preseason All-America Teams and was one of nine Lions to earn Preseason All-Southland Conference honors from the publication Monday.
 
Dalmado, who was previously named to the Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List and Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team last month, joined the Lion roster prior to spring practice after starting his collegiate career at Southland Conference rival Nicholls.
 
Originally a running back for the Colonels, he made the switch to defense in 2024. He was a two-time All-Southland Conference performer for the Colonels, recording 142 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks over the past two seasons.
 
Dalmado was joined on the All-America team by fellow Southland Conference student-athletes SFA punt returner Bugs Mortimer, UIW wide receiver Roy Alexander, SFA linebacker Malachi Williams, Lamar defensive lineman Andrew Huff and SFA linebacker Eli Ennis.
 
Dalmado was also named Phil Steele SLC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and was joined on the preseason all-conference first team by SLU running back Deantre Jackson, tight end Adyn Wilkinson, offensive lineman Corin Boudreaux and defensive end Evan Aubrey.
 
Representing the Lions on the second team were quarterback Kyle Lowe, offensive lineman Logan Potter, linebacker Jirrea Johnson Jr. and punt returner Dkhai Joseph.
 
Jackson returned to SLU in 2025 and earned All-Southland Conference honors. The New Orleans native finished with 586 yards rushing and scored 10 total touchdowns.
 
Wilkinson is a key part of a talented tight end corps for the Lions. The Baton Rouge, La. product is poised for a bigger role in 2026 after finishing with 10 catches for 81 yards and a score last fall.
 
Boudreaux is one of three returning Lion starters on the offensive line, along with Potter and Riley Whitten. The New Orleans native and high school teammate of Jackson at Edna Karr started all 13 games at right guard after starting at right tackle in 2024.
 
Aubrey earned FCS Football Freshman All-America honors last fall. The Orleans, Ontario, Canada posted 4.5 sacks in 2025, working his way into the starting lineup in the season's final month.
 
Lowe was a key member of the Lion offense last season, while splitting time at quarterback. The Collierville, Tenn. native threw for 864 yards and eight touchdowns in his debut season in Hammond, while also rushing for 452 yards and five scores.
 
Potter moved into the starting left tackle role last fall. The Covington, Louisiana played primarily at guard in 2024.
 
Johnson Jr. was one of the leading tackles for one of the top defenses in FCS last fall. The New Orleans product finished with 57 tackles, four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble for the Lions in 2025.
 
Joseph was one of the nation's most dynamic punt returners last fall. The Reserve, La. native was 13^th nationally with 12.8 yards per punt return and finished second in FCS with a pair of punt return touchdowns.
 
Southeastern, which returns to the practice field Tuesday at 9 a.m., will open the 2026 season Aug. 27, hosting HCU at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
 
2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-Southland Conference Teams
 
First Team Offense
QB | Gavin Rutherford | SFA
RB | Deantre Jackson | Southeastern
RB | Shane Lee | Nicholls
WR | Roy Alexander | UIW
WR | Clayton Wayland | SFA
WR | Jameson Garcia | UIW
TE | Adyn Wilkinson | Southeastern
OL | Corin Boudreaux | Southeastern
OL | Erik Gray | SFA
OL | Nick Hughes | UTRGV
OL | John Hester | Lamar
OL | Wes Thompson | UTRGV
 
First Team Defense
DL | Evan Aubrey | Southeastern
DL | Andrew Huff | Lamar
DL | Tim Muhammad | SFA
DL | Alex Villavaso | Nicholls
LB | Jake Dalmado | Southeastern
LB | Malachi Williams | SFA
LB | Eli Ennis | SFA
LB | Jaiden Haygood | UTRGV
DB | Javon Davis | McNeese
DB | Alijah Prosser | UTRGV
DB | Jaiydyn Johnson | SFA
DB | TJ Neal | UTRGV
 
First Team Specialists
K | Carlos Alvarado | SFA
P | Nathaniel Wallace-Dilling | UTRGV
KR | LaDamion McDowell | Lamar
PR | Bugs Mortimer | SFA
AP | Bugs Mortimer | SFA
LS | Pierson Parent | McNeese
 
Second Team Offense
QB | Kyle Lowe | Southeastern
RB | Champ Dozier | HCU
RB | EJ Oakmon | East Texas A&M
WR | Karaaz Johnson | Nicholls
WR | Kameran Senegal | McNeese
WR | Tavian Cord | UTRGV
TE | Sean Sallis | East Texas A&M
OL | Logan Potter | Southeastern
OL | Giovanni Alegria | SFA
OL | Scotty Parker | HCU
OL | Abram Nicklas | UTRGV
OL | Ryan Dirksen | UIW
 
Second Team Defense
DL | Josh Cashiola | UTRGV
DL | Terrell Elliott | UIW
DL | Chase Carter | UIW
DL | Lowote Jukin | SFA
LB | Jirrea Johnson Jr. | Southeastern
LB | Spencer Rich | UTRGV
LB | Landon Barrett | McNeese
LB | Danny Sears | Northwestern State
DB | Jamel Acosta Lewis | SFA
DB | Lamar Kelly | Lamar
DB | Thio Georges | HCU
DB | A.J. Tisdell | UIW
 
Second Team Specialists
K | Brysen Gardner | UTRGV
P | Ben Mehan | East Texas A&M
KR | Bugs Mortimer | SFA
PR | Dkhai Joseph | Southeastern
AP | LaDamion McDowell | Lamar
LS | Connor Cortez | UIW
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jake Dalmado, Southeastern
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Roy Alexander, WR, UIW
 
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
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