Western Carolina was picked to finish fourth in the Southern Conference preseason poll, and three Catamounts made the preseason all-conference team.
Two-time reigning champion Mercer was voted the team to beat by SoCon coaches, receiving six of 10 first-place ballots. Newcomer Tennessee Tech, moving to the Southern Conference from the Ohio Valley, was picked second, followed by East Tennessee State, WCU, Chattanooga, Furman, Wofford, Samford, The Citadel and VMI.
Western Carolina finished second in the league standings a year ago with a 6-2 mark. This is the lowest preseason prediction for the Catamounts since the 2022 and 2023 teams were voted fifth.
Preseason all-conference selections include defensive back first-teamer Ken Moore Jr. and second-teamers wide receiver A.J. Colombo and offensive lineman Zach Watson.
Western Carolina put three — DB Ken Moore Jr., WR AJ Colombo, and OL Zach Watson — on the 2026 preseason All-@SoConSports team. The Catamounts were picked fourth in the preseason coaches' poll.https://t.co/U36kCkjZ5i#CatamountCountry | #LOTE | #OurTime26 pic.twitter.com/pLVYqE1fO4 — Western Carolina Football (@CatamountsFB) July 21, 2026
Western Carolina is participating in Southern Conference Media Days on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
NC Football News is in Greenville, SC will have more coverage of WCU’s preseason standing and media days later this week and in our newsletter, Small-College Saturdays
2026 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Total
1. Mercer (6) – 76
2. Tennessee Tech (3) – 70
3. ETSU (1) – 61
4. Western Carolina – 58
5. Chattanooga – 48
6. Furman – 46
7. Wofford – 36
8. Samford – 23
9. The Citadel – 22
10. VMI – 10
2026 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Brayden Smith, WR/RS, Mercer
Defensive Player of the Year: Joshua Stoneking, DL, Furman
First team offense
QB – Quentin Hayes, The Citadel
RB – Jason Albritton, ETSU
RB – Leo Boehling, VMI
OL – Tyler Heggins-Hill, The Citadel
OL – Will McCraw, ETSU
OL – Brody Balliew, Mercer
OL – Tyler Murray, Mercer
OL – Aiden Donald, Chattanooga
TE – Charlie Browder, ETSU
WR – Brayden Smith, Mercer
WR – Preston Bird, Samford
First team defense
DL – Brenden LeBlanc, ETSU
DL – Joshua Stoneking, Furman
DL – Kobe McInnis, Mercer
DL – Orlando Daniels, Chattanooga
LB – Raleigh Herbert, Furman
LB – Jyarius Carter, Mercer
LB – Zion Rutledge, Chattanooga
DB – Mike Jenkins, ETSU
DB – Kam Baah-Slay, Chattanooga
DB – Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina
DB – Eli Campbell, Wofford
First team specialists
PK – Ewan Johnson, ETSU
P – Ben Shrewsbury, VMI
LS – Tommy DiLiegro, The Citadel
RS – Brayden Smith, Mercer
Second team offense
QB – Jax Leatherwood, Tennessee Tech
RB – Marcus Harris, Tennessee Tech
RB – Gerald Modest, Wofford
OL – Chris Luna, Furman
OL – Noah Watts, Samford
OL – Eric Nunez, Tennessee Tech
OL – Bryce Burnett, VMI
OL – Zach Watson, Western Carolina
OL – Reggie Houston, Wofford
TE – Gerard Grewe, Tennessee Tech
WR – Josh Williams, Chattanooga
WR – AJ Colombo, Western Carolina
Second team defense
DL – Demetrius Baldwin, Furman
DL – Elihu Lipscomb, Furman
DL – Ky Tayo, Chattanooga
DL – Ramon McCollough, Wofford
LB – Dre Delinois, ETSU
LB – Isaiah Grevious, VMI
LB – Wyatt Ward, Wofford
DB – Jivon Oggs, ETSU
DB – AK Burrell, Furman
DB – Josh Tarver, Furman
DB – Jalen Nelson, Samford
Second team specialists
PK – Sam Spence, Wofford
P – Heath Jehu, Chattanooga
LS – Brock Winstead, ETSU
LS – Aidan Barr, Samford
RS – Caleb Easterling, Furman
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or team.
